Almost every child has been fascinated with cowboys, even girls. So why not make a simple stick horse that your child can ride the range with or make two so he can take along a buddy for the ride.
Supplies Needed:
1 ½-inch wide wood dowel or PVC pipe 2 ½ feet long
A large sock (the color you want the head to be)
Yarn (for the mane)
Brown and small piece of white and black felt
Pillow stuffing
Glue gun and glue
You start by stuffing the sock with pillow stuffing. This will be the horse’s head. The toe of the sock will become the horse’s nose. Once the head is stuffed tie the end of the sock with a piece of yarn.
Then you will want to add the facial details to your horse. Be careful when using the glue gun the glue is very hot. Craft sticks or toothpicks work well to press down the facial details and prevents fingers from getting burned.
Cut out two nostrils and glue them on either side of the toe.
For the eyes cut two eye shapes out of the white felt and circles out of the black. Then use the glue gun and glue them on both sides of the sock.
Cut ears out of the brown felt (or you can choose a color that matches your sock) and glue them onto the sock.
Use the yarn to make the mane. Cut pieces between six and eight inches. Then glue the ends of each piece onto the sock. Start with the bottom of the mane and then work your way up to the ears.
You can make reins and bridle by gluing the yarn around the nose and then looping it around the mane.
After the details of the face are finished it is time to add your stick. You can paint the stick to match the sock head or leave it unfinished. Make sure that you sand any rough edges especially around the bottom and glue a piece of felt to the bottom of the stick. Untie the horse’s head and push the stick up into the head until you reach the heel of the sock. Glue the opening of the sock to the stick by overlapping the edges. Then finish it by tying the sock to the stick with a piece of yarn.
After your stick horse is finished have your little cowboy put on their hat, play some cowboy music (the William Tell Overture is great), and go for a ride.