Make your own hobby horse — the most fun sport & craft hobby
What is hobby horsing and how do you make your own hobby horse? All the craft parts explained: the stick horse, the eyes, mane, bridle and more.
By Sonja ·
What is hobby horsing?
Hobby horsing — riding a stick horse — started in Finland around 2010 and has since made its way to the Netherlands. It began as a playful, creative way for children and teenagers to express their passion for equestrian sport without a horse of their own, and quickly grew into a fully-fledged, serious sport with real competitions. That’s exactly what makes it so special: it’s an accessible and affordable way to experience equestrian sport, in which two things come together perfectly — sport and creativity.
Sporty: riders jump over obstacles, ride dressage tests and take part in real competitions. It trains balance, fitness and perseverance — and it’s wonderful to be so active with it.
Creative: and just as much fun: you make your own most beautiful horse! You come up with a name, choose a breed, the colour of the mane, a bridle and the loveliest accessories — so your hobby horse becomes completely unique and exactly how you want it. It’s precisely that making it yourself that turns it into such a personal and special gift to give and to receive.
Make it yourself: all the parts in a row
Below we go through all the parts you use to put together and dress up your hobby horse — from the basics to the eyes, mane and bridle.
At Pipoos (a Dutch craft and hobby shop) you’ll find absolutely everything to make your own most beautiful hobby horse, with lovely examples for inspiration. You’ll also find a handy step-by-step description there and links to useful YouTube videos with instructions — ideal for getting started. The product links in this article go to Pipoos.
The product links are affiliate links: if you order through one, you support Kindkado with a small commission — at no extra cost to you. The shops are Dutch online shops that deliver in the Netherlands and Belgium, and the product names are in Dutch.
The stick horse itself
You start with the basics: a lovely stick horse to turn into your very own hobby horse. Choose the breed that suits you — from a sweet Dartmoor pony to a tough Welsh — and from here you put your horse together and pimp it all by yourself until it’s your most beautiful hobby horse ever.
🛠️ How to use it: First choose the base you like best and get styling straight away: start at the top with the mane, then the eyes and eyelashes, and finish with a bridle and accessories. Work from top to bottom and everything stays neat and firmly in place.
Hobby Horse - luxe stokpaard - Dartmoorpony
Hobby Horse - luxe stokpaard - Welsh
Hobby Horse - luxe stokpaard - Connemara
Eyes & eyelashes
The eyes give your horse its character — cheerful, tough or sweet. With a ready-made eye kit and a set of eyelashes you conjure up a lively look in no time.
🛠️ How to use it: First hold the eyes loosely against the head to find the best spot (slightly to the side looks most natural). Press the safety eyes firmly in place before the head is completely stuffed, or iron on the iron-on eyes. Eyelashes make the look instantly adorable.
Hobby Horse ogen kit — bruin
Hobby Horse wimpers
Hobby Horse iron-on ogen en figuren
Mane & tail
The mane really finishes off your horse — from tough and straight to a cheerful unicorn mane in colour. Choose a ready-made mane kit with enough yarn for a full mane (and sometimes the tail), or make the mane and tail entirely yourself from yarn in your own favourite colour.
🛠️ How to use it: Cut the mane to size — a bit for the forelock and the rest for the neck — and sew it on with needle and thread in a straight line, from the ears downwards. Work in thin tufts for a full result; you attach the tail to the back in the same way. You can see exactly how to do this step by step in the instruction videos (YouTube) at Pipoos.
Hobby Horse - manen kit - beige
Hobby Horse - manen kit - unicorn
Scheepjes Colour Crafter garen — chocoladebruin
Bridle, halter & reins
With a bridle, halter and reins your child can ‘steer’ the horse — just like a real one. There are ready-made sets in different colours, from a tough black bridle to a cheerful pink halter with a lead rope.
🛠️ How to use it: Measure around the nose and behind the ears so the bridle fits nicely, and clip or tie it on firmly. Keep the reins long enough for your child to hold them comfortably while running and jumping.
Hobby Pony hoofdstel — zwart
Hobby Horse teugels — 3 kleuren
Hobby Horse - halster met halstertouw
Decorations & accessories
The loveliest details make your horse complete: a cheerful blanket and sparkly jewellery. Great fun for pimping — and fun to save up for and collect.
🛠️ How to use it: Let your child choose and combine things themselves; a blanket with matching jewellery gives the horse its own ‘look’. The blanket simply ties or clips around the stick — perfect for a photo moment or a competition.
Hobby Horse sieraad — strass bloemen
Hobby Horse deken set — silver glitter unicorn
For the sport: course & jumps
Hobby horsing is a real sport: jumping, dressage and courses. With jumps you can lay out your own course at home or in the garden — ideal for practising and holding fun little competitions.
🛠️ How to use it: Start low and build up the height gradually. Set up a few jumps at a distance from each other and keep time for an extra competition feel. A stable gives the horses a fixed, tidy place to go afterwards.
Hobby Horse hindernis — cavaletti
Hobby Horse houten hindernis met steunberen
Hobby Horse houten stalling — extra stevig
A hobby horse on a wish list
Is your child saving up for their own stable too? Put the parts they want on a free wish list on Kindkado. That way the family knows exactly which mane, eyes or accessories are still missing — and you won’t get any doubles.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hobby horse?+
A hobby horse is a stick horse that you ‘ride’: you run, jump over obstacles and even ride dressage tests. It came over from Finland and is now a popular hobby and competitive sport, especially among children and teenagers.
Can you make a hobby horse yourself?+
Definitely, and that’s the best part! You start with a basic stick horse and then make it completely your own: mane, eyes and eyelashes, a bridle and accessories. With separate parts your hobby horse becomes truly unique — your own mane colour, a name and your own style.
What do you need to make a hobby horse?+
The basics: a stick horse to work from. Then you add a mane, eyes and eyelashes and a bridle or halter, and decorate endlessly with a blanket or jewellery. You can buy all the parts separately at a craft shop such as Pipoos.
From what age is hobby horsing fun?+
From about 5–6 it’s already a treat: young children especially love the running and jumping. Older children and teenagers often take it more seriously — with technique, their own course and even competitions.
Is hobby horsing a sport?+
Yes, it has grown into a real sport with competitions in jumping and dressage. It trains balance, fitness, coordination and perseverance — and it’s wonderful to be busy with it outdoors.
Which hobby horse makes a good gift?+
A basic stick horse with a set of separate parts is lovely: then you craft a completely unique horse together. Put the parts they want on a wish list, and you’ll get exactly what fits.
More gift inspiration?
Looking for even more gift inspiration? See our gift ideas for girls aged 7–8, 9–10, 11–12 and 13+ — packed with creative gifts, hobby horses and accessories. Or dive into our blogs with the best drawing supplies and the best drawing books for children.