We’ve bought a horse – a garden horse

The first time we saw a wooden horse in our friends’ garden, my husband looked at me and said: «We’re never getting a beast like that for our garden!» Probably knowing full well that our two daughters would soon want that very same kind of outdoor toy. I agreed with him. The horse seemed too big, too bulky and, for whatever reason, a tad absurd. What would the kids be able to do besides sit on it, anyway?

Fast forward one year, there’s a wooden horse on our grass now too.

Rocking toys + Ride-on toys

Roba Garden Horse

5

Rocking toys + Ride-on toys

Roba Garden Horse

5

My husband and I gave in, gave up, were swayed. Call it what you will – after numerous discussions and negotiations with our daughters, we agreed to let them club together to buy an outdoor toy horse using their pocket money, savings and a modest loan from the Bank of Mum and Dad. Admittedly, this decision wasn’t entirely selfless. We thought our eldest’s desire for riding lessons and a horse of her own (something she’s been haranguing us about for months) might be tempered by a wooden horse. Or, if we were lucky, be squashed altogether.

Solana’s homebound

Solana, as our horse is called, has been in our garden for a few weeks now. Well, in our covered seating area by the living room door, for the most part. Let’s face it, this summer’s been a pretty soggy affair so far. Although Solana has a grey glaze and is, as claimed by the manufacturer, weatherproof, the rain certainly won’t make it any prettier. We’d rather be on the safe side until we buy a suitable cover. This is a precaution recommended by the manufacturer – though not because of the weather. The product description says: «Animals such as squirrels, birds or cats like to help themselves to the back, tail or mane, so it’s best to cover the horse overnight.»

The fact that the horse will essentially be living right under our noses for a while is a small price to pay. And besides, I have to admit that Solana’s one of the best toy purchases we’ve ever made. That is, one of the best our daughters have cajoled us into making.

Our prize horse

The girls have already spent hours on and around their horse. When they get home from school and kindergarten, the first thing they do is go to the seating area to say hello to Solana. They often gather around it with the neighbours’ kids, who then bring over their hobbyhorses. Together, they lose themselves in their role-playing games, working at a fictitious riding stable and transforming into the protagonists of Bibi & Tina. Or they take on the role of horse groomers, tying brightly coloured braids into Solana’s mane.

Despite being a bit sad-looking (Solana has poker-straight legs, no eyes or mouth and its mane’s more scraggly than silky), the wooden horse sparks unexpectedly creative ideas in the children. Their hairbrushes have morphed into horse combs, while our doormat has become a saddle. They’ve started using our tablecloth as a saddle pad, and have fashioned a bridle out of a homemade cord. They’ve even made their own stirrups out of paper.

They now want to get a «proper» saddle, a «proper» bridle and «proper» stirrups. In other words, toy accessories. They’ve started saving up again in order to make that investment. After all, the horse alone wasn’t exactly a bargain.

Rocking toys + Ride-on toys

EUR47,20

small foot Saddle and bridle set

1

Horse blankets

HKM Blanket -Hobby Horsing- pink

Pretend play professions

small foot Toy Horse Care Set with Bag

3

Rocking toys + Ride-on toys

EUR47,20

small foot Saddle and bridle set

1

Horse blankets

HKM Blanket -Hobby Horsing- pink

Pretend play professions

small foot Toy Horse Care Set with Bag

3

Long live Solana!

We could’ve got it cheaper. Depending on their size and condition, you can find garden horses starting at just under 100 francs. Solana was pricier. If we were going to invest in a wooden horse, it had to be a large, robust, durable model that the kids would enjoy for a long time to come.

We couldn’t make out which type of wood our horse was made of. Manufacturer Roba says it’s made from «weatherproof and environmentally friendly solid wood from sustainable forestry». Since it comes disassembled, my husband screwed it together, batten by batten. An additional strut has been fitted to the body to keep the horse stable. In total, the horse weighs in at about 22 kilogrammes. Working together, my kids can easily move it around the garden.

However, they need a stool to climb onto it. Mind you, my eight-year-old can manage it by taking an almighty jump onto the horse’s back. Solana measures a whopping 89 centimetres from ground to back. From ground to head, it’s 123 centimetres. The back is 119 centimetres long, creating enough room for two or even three little riders.

Roba says the horse is suitable for children aged three and up, but I’d recommend a minimum age of five. My little one’s five – and if she were younger, a smaller model would be a better fit for her. Not least because of the risk of falling off.

Mission failed

It remains to be seen how long Solana will stay robust and stable on our patio and in the garden. The horse is already sporting the first signs of wear and tear on its back, including flaking paint. Not only that, but a piece of wood has splintered off the foot. But that’s okay. At the end of the day, it’s a natural product. And as long as it’s being actively used, it’s fulfilling it’s purpose.

There is, however, one mission that it hasn’t accomplished. My eldest still wants to take riding lessons and get her own horse. More than ever, in fact.