A Hobby Horse is a horse on a stick that kids play with indoors and outdoors, train with and compete on. If you are buying one for the first time this year, you are mainly deciding three things: the size, the collection, and whether to choose a ready-made horse or have one made to order. This article walks you through all the options to make choosing easier, and tells you the last day to order a made-to-order horse so it arrives in time for Christmas.
Order in-stock items by Wednesday 16 December for Christmas delivery with standard shipping
Order your horse from Build Your Horse by Tuesday 8 December.For a horse from Build Your Horse, choose express shipping and order by Thursday 10 December.There's no longer time to make and deliver a horse from Build Your Horse before Christmas.
After the standard shipping deadline, you can still order in-stock items for Christmas with express shipping. Place your order by Sunday 20 December.
For Christmas delivery of in-stock items, choose express shipping and order by Sunday 20 December
With standard shipping, your order would no longer arrive before Christmas.
Order your horse from Build Your Horse by Tuesday 8 December.For a horse from Build Your Horse, choose express shipping and order by Thursday 10 December.There's no longer time to make and deliver a horse from Build Your Horse before Christmas.
It is too late for delivery before Christmas
Order your horse from Build Your Horse by Tuesday 8 December.For a horse from Build Your Horse, choose express shipping and order by Thursday 10 December.There's no longer time to make and deliver a horse from Build Your Horse before Christmas.
We will email you a gift card, and the recipient can choose for themselves.
Which Hobby Horse size to choose
Before you choose, think about whether the horse will mainly be for play, for training or for competitions. The sizes differ in weight, handling and proportions. The child's age is a good guide, but what the horse will be used for matters just as much.
Size XS
The smallest and lightest
- Up to 400 g (14 oz) including the stick
- Ages 3 and up
- Fixed one-piece stick
- Experienced riders also choose this size for jumps over 100 cm (about 39 in)
Size S
The most versatile
- About 600 g (21 oz)
- Typically for kids ages 5 and up
- For beginners and every discipline
- Two-piece stick that makes travel easier
Size M
The biggest horse
- About 850 g (30 oz)
- Typically for kids ages 7 and up
- In competitions, mostly chosen by older and taller riders for dressage and western
- Younger kids love it for play
Weights include the stick. Every horse is sewn by hand, so measurements and weight may vary slightly. We cover sizes in more detail in our article on choosing the right Hobby Horse size.
Which collection to choose: Classic, ART, Magic or Limited
We sew our horses by hand in our family workshop using OEKO-TEX® certified fabrics. Each horse bears the CE mark. Most of them come with a black halter included in the price. The collections differ mainly in look, finish and how many of each horse we make. You will find all our horses in the Hobby Horse category.
Classic Collection: the widest choice for a first horse
The Classic Collection has 40 horses in different colors and breeds. These are our traditional horses, suited to everyday Hobby Horsing and to competitions. Each horse's description lists its breed, gender and a short profile. For example, Hobby Horse Sisi is a Hanoverian mare, a great jumper that can also do dressage and cross country.
We make every horse in this collection in sizes S and M, and many of them in XS too. If you are looking for a particular color, you can browse the horses by coat: bay, black, white, gray or chestnut.
ART Collection: hand-painted horses
The horses in the ART Collection are hand-painted by the artist Vanda. Thanks to special paints and technique, the coat stays soft to the touch after painting, and because the work is done by hand, every piece is one of a kind. The collection has 13 models inspired by real breeds. All of them come in size S, most in M as well, and five models also in XS. Each horse's description tells you its breed and the disciplines it excels in.
Magic Collection: fairy-tale horses and unicorns
The Magic Collection is full of fairy-tale horses and unicorns. Some have a body and mane that sparkle in the sun, others have rainbow colors in their eyes or a boldly colored mane. Right now you will find Hobby Horse Rainbow New with a rainbow mane and the Silver unicorn, whose bridle has a horn. Take the bridle off and it becomes an ordinary horse.
Limited Collection: horses we will not make again
The horses in the Limited Collection were inspired by real horses that caught our eye. They take more work to make and have unusual markings and colors, often an unusual eye color, and sometimes each eye is a different color. Once a horse from this collection sells out, we do not make the same one again. Most horses in the Limited Collection come in one size only.
Collections
Choose a horse for under the tree
A ready-made horse or a custom-made one for Christmas?
We ship ready-made horses that are in stock the next business day. Check the Christmas delivery dates above before you order. With Build Your Horse, we sew the horse to order, so it's a good option for a child who already knows exactly what they want.
Build Your Horse lets you choose the size, coat color and hand-knotted wool mane. You can also add hand-painted eyes, a blaze or spots. The price depends on the options you choose. It takes us 5 to 7 business days to sew your horse. To get the horse you design with Build Your Horse in time for Christmas, place your order by Tuesday 8 December.To get the horse you design with Build Your Horse in time for Christmas, choose express shipping and place your order by Thursday 10 December.There's no longer time to make and deliver a horse from Build Your Horse before Christmas. You can give a gift card so the recipient can design their own horse.
You can also have a Hobby Horse made from your photo. Just send us a photo of a horse, for example from the barn where your child rides or their favorite horse from a competition, and we will sew a horse based on it. Our workshop is fully booked before Christmas. We'll start taking orders for horses made from photos again on January 1, 2027.
What is in the box
The horse arrives carefully packed and ready to give, so it can go straight under the tree. In the box you will find:
- the horse with its halter on,
- a wooden stick,
- a horse passport in three languages,
- instructions and care tips.
If you want the horse to go on its first ride over the holidays, add one of our tack sets in the same size as the horse. We explain how to choose a set in the article A Christmas gift in one box: Hobby Horse tack sets.
Shipping and dates before Christmas
We ship horses in stock the next business day. Shipping is free on every horse, except to Canada and Norway. Delivery times and shipping costs for your country are on our shipping page. You can return or exchange a ready-made horse within 30 days of delivery, including after Christmas if you're still within that window.
Order in-stock items by Wednesday 16 December for Christmas delivery with standard shipping
Order your horse from Build Your Horse by Tuesday 8 December.For a horse from Build Your Horse, choose express shipping and order by Thursday 10 December.There's no longer time to make and deliver a horse from Build Your Horse before Christmas.
After the standard shipping deadline, you can still order in-stock items for Christmas with express shipping. Place your order by Sunday 20 December.
For Christmas delivery of in-stock items, choose express shipping and order by Sunday 20 December
With standard shipping, your order would no longer arrive before Christmas.
Order your horse from Build Your Horse by Tuesday 8 December.For a horse from Build Your Horse, choose express shipping and order by Thursday 10 December.There's no longer time to make and deliver a horse from Build Your Horse before Christmas.
It is too late for delivery before Christmas
Order your horse from Build Your Horse by Tuesday 8 December.For a horse from Build Your Horse, choose express shipping and order by Thursday 10 December.There's no longer time to make and deliver a horse from Build Your Horse before Christmas.
We will email you a gift card, and the recipient can choose for themselves.
Christmas gift ideas and help with choosing
If you are looking for something to go with the horse, take a look at our Christmas gift ideas. We picked the most popular Hobby Horsing accessories, from a stable for three horses to a stable blanket and an ear bonnet to the LarDen backpack. For a rider who already has a horse, see the article From bracelets to backpacks: Christmas gifts for Hobby Horse riders.
If you are not sure what to choose, write to us. We reply within 24 hours on business days.
FAQ
What's a good age to start with a Hobby Horse?
The smallest size, XS, is for ages 3 and up. Older kids will do well with size S, typically from age 5, or M, typically from age 7. You will find horses in each size in the Hobby Horse category.
Which Hobby Horse size is best for a beginner?
For most beginners, the versatile size S is a good choice, for example from the Classic Collection. It works for play and for the first training sessions.
What is the difference between the Classic and ART collections?
The Classic Collection offers the widest choice of horses in different colors and breeds. The horses in the ART Collection are hand-painted, so every piece is one of a kind.
When should I order a horse from Build Your Horse for Christmas?
It takes us 5 to 7 business days to sew your horse. To get the horse you design with Build Your Horse in time for Christmas, place your order by Tuesday 8 December.To get the horse you design with Build Your Horse in time for Christmas, choose express shipping and place your order by Thursday 10 December.There's no longer time to make and deliver a horse from Build Your Horse before Christmas. You can give a gift card so the recipient can design their own horse. You order it in the Build Your Horse configurator.
Will a horse in stock arrive before Christmas?
For Christmas delivery with standard shipping, place your order by Wednesday 16 December.Standard shipping is no longer available for Christmas delivery. Choose express shipping and place your order by Sunday 20 December.Unfortunately it is too late for delivery before Christmas. You can still give a gift card, and we will email it to you. We ship horses in stock the next business day.
Do I need to buy anything else with the horse?
No. The horse has its halter on, and the box includes a wooden stick, a horse passport and instructions. You can add reins, a lead rope or other tack from our tack sets.
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