Home >> Toys >> Other Toys

How to Make Your Own Stick Ponies

Riding off into the sunset on a fast horse is a favorite pretending game children like to play. It's easy to act out cowboy movies and go on adventures in your own backyard with not much more than a broomstick handle, horse puppet and cowboy hat. While buying a premade stick pony is always an option, you might be able to make one for less money and create a sentimental toy your child will think back on fondly, even after he's outgrown the toy and moved on to riding real horses.

Things You'll Need

Broom, wooden dowel rod or mop
Jigsaw or handsaw
150 grit sand paper
Clean, damp cloth
Horse puppet
Fabric or wood glue
Scissors
40 inches of string

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the broom end off a broom handle with a jigsaw or handsaw so that it measures 36 inches long. Purchase a 36-inch wooden dowel rod if you do not have an old wooden broom in your home. Sand the rod or broom stick smooth with 150-grit sandpaper. Wipe the ash off the handle with a clean, damp cloth.
- 2
  Purchase a horse puppet or cut the head off an stuffed horse. Alternatively, make your own horse puppet out of an old pair of jeans, wiggly eyes, buttons, yarn and polyester filling.
- 3
  Insert the dowel rod or broomstick into the horse head. Push the polyester filling down into the horse's head until you have some slack around the neck. Cinch the slack fabric around the stick or dowel rod. Secure it there by tying a piece of brown, white or black yarn matching the color of your horse around the rod in that spot. Make a double knot in the yarn.
- 4
  Pull the cinched fabric up gently. Spread fabric or wood glue inside the fabric around the rod. Press the fabric down onto the stick and hold your hand around the fabric and stick firmly for five minutes to secure a tight bond between the wood and the fabric.
- 5
  Use a pair of scissors to cut a piece of string to measure 40 inches long. Locate the middle of the string and place it around the horse's nose. Wrap a loop around the nose with the string. Tie a knot in the string at the nose. Find the ends of the string and tie them together in a double knot. Let the string hang down so the child can use it as a pair of reins for the horse.

Other Toys