Hobby horse (toy) facts for kids

A hobby horse is a fun toy for children that looks like a horse. It's usually made from a stick with a horse's head on one end. The head can be made of wood or stuffed fabric. Sometimes, it even has reins! The bottom of the stick might have small wheels to make it easier to "ride." This toy is also known as a stick horse or a cock horse, like in the famous nursery rhyme Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross.

Hobby horses are important in some cultures. For example, in Rajasthan, India, wooden toy horses are offered at the temple of the folk deity Baba Ramdevji. This is because of a story about his childhood. Hobby horses also played a part in the public dances of the Romanian Călușari group.

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  An old woodcut picture from 1542 showing a hobby horse.

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  A small part of a painting called Children's games by Pieter Breugel the Elder, from 1560.

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  Portrait of the infant Don Diego by Coello, 1577.

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  A child playing with a hobby horse.

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  Colorful Mexican papier-mâché hobby horses.

What Does "Hobby" Mean?

The word "hobby" in "hobby horse" used to mean a small or medium-sized horse. It was also used for a horse that walked with a smooth, easy pace. The word has been used in English since the 1300s.

It seems the word "hobby" might have come from a nickname like "Hobin" or "Hobby," which was a short form of "Robin." This name was often given to cart-horses. Another similar name, "Dobbin," also became a common name for a cart-horse.

In 1755, a famous dictionary by Samuel Johnson described a "hobby" as "A strong, active horse, of a middle size, said to have been originally from Ireland."

Other Uses of "Hobby"

In the past, there were people called hobblers or hovellers. They kept light, fast horses. Their job was to quickly share news about possible invasions. These riders were like spies. They would scout ahead, carry messages, bother enemy groups, and chase after people trying to escape.

These horses, sometimes called hobblers or hobbies, were small and quick. They were trained to move through tough, muddy land. They could go places where even soldiers on foot struggled to follow.

Hobby Horse Polo

Did you know there's a sport called hobby horse polo? It's a fun game that uses some of the rules of regular polo. But instead of real ponies, players ride hobby horses! This version of polo started in 1998 in Germany as a fun sport. It even led to the creation of the First Kurfürstlich-Kurpfälzisch Polo-Club in Mannheim in 2002. It's now popular in other German cities too.

Hobby Horses in Cartoons

Hobby horses have appeared many times in classic cartoons and even in some newer ones, especially those with a Wild West theme.

• In the Looney Tunes cartoon Buckaroo Bugs, Bugs Bunny rides a hobby horse while shooting a gun to escape from Red Hot Ryder.
• Another Looney Tunes cartoon, Wagon Heels, shows Injun Joe using a toy hobby horse.
• There's a Looney Tunes cartoon called Hobby Horse Laffs. But instead of a hobby horse, the title card actually shows a rocking horse.
• In a Merrie Melodies cartoon called I've Got to Sing a Torch Song, a cartoon version of Ed Wynn rides a hobby horse to a microphone to make an announcement.
• In the Sheriff Callie's Wild West episode Peck Clowns Around, Peck dresses as a rodeo clown. He rides a hobby horse instead of a real horse like Sparky, which Sheriff Callie uses. Peck felt embarrassed and was laughed at by the audience.
• One of Spot the Dog's toys is a hobby horse. It's often kept under the stairs or in a closet. It appeared many times in the Spot cartoons.
  • In the Discover Spot episode Spot's Hobby Horse, Spot rides his hobby horse outside. Then his friend Steve takes a turn. When Helen sees it, she wants to try it, so Steve gives it to her. Steve then uses a stick as his own hobby horse. Spot uses a broom as a hobby horse after trying to use a hose.
  • In the Discover Spot episode Spot's Show, Tom uses the hobby horse when he pretends to be a cowboy in Spot's play.
  • In The Adventures of Spot episode Spot Goes to a Party, Spot dresses as a cowboy for a costume party. Sally gives him his hobby horse to complete his outfit. Spot takes it to the party at Helen's house but leaves it there. It's not known if he ever took it home. Instead of his hobby horse, Spot rides home in a two-person yellow polka-dotted horse costume with Steve and Tom. He acts like a cowboy, shouting, "Howdy Mom! It was a great party!"

Images for kids

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  Portrait of the Infant Don Diego by Coello, 1577.

See also

In Spanish: Caballo de palo para niños