Hobby Horse & Donkey

Our realistic interpretation of this traditional toy has a hardwood pole, handle and wheels, real leather harness and a brass bell. They are made from the finest life-like fur fabrics which enhances their appeal.

For centuries the hobby horse has been a favourite plaything for the young. As one of the classic toys, it is recorded in ancient Greece, but achieved universal popularity during the Middle Ages, at a time when people spent so much of their lives on horseback.

The hobby horses are suitable for riding by children from about two years upwards, although we have come across toddlers as young as fifteen months who are determined to try! We generally recommend that if a child can walk confidently and well, they will be able to manage the hobby horse: with its handles to hold on to and wheels to roll along the ground, it is simply a matter of riding away! Have a look at our Gallery for photographs of happy children doing just that!

We find that once a child owns a hobby horse, it tends to continue to be ridden for many years. Many imaginative games will need a horse in the story, apart from the sheer pleasure of trotting around the garden, not to mention putting up jumps!

As such a classic and traditional toy, our hobby horse is frequently given as an unusual Christening present. This is a present that will look attractive in the nursery until the child is old enough to ride it, by which time it will have become a real friend.

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Due to the high international shipping costs for this item, we regret that our hobby horses are available only for shipment to UK mainland addresses.