It’s Fall Camp! The craft we did today was: Pool Noodle Stick Horses!
Our coordinator found this craft idea on a Michigan therapeutic riding center’s Facebook page (who unfortunately we can’t remember! was it you? LMK and I’ll reference you!) – and there are lots of internet blogs with instructions for making them as well.
Supplies:
- pool noodles (think summertime purchase)
- hot glue gun & glue sticks
- felt
- construction paper
- scissors
- googly eyes
- ribbons
- sharpies
- other decorative items (sticker sequines, etc.)
Directions:
Why reinvent the wheel? Click here for other blogs’ directions:
This is the most basic version I made as an example with construction paper ears and mane:
Our riders, however, got super creative! The longer we let them work, and the more supplies we gave them, the more they added to their ponies!
This one folded felt over for two layered mane, added a forelock, used sharpie for face markings, glued ribbon for reins, and construction paper for a saddle.
This rider added ribbon in the mane, and a crown:
Sharpies were a hit for drawing designs on and writing their names on their ponies. Some riders even added tails!
One rider even made carrots that fit up her Noodle Pony’s mouth (the hole in the middle of the noodle), as well as a construction paper bag to hold paper hay, paper carrots, and paper horse cares notes.
Later we used their Noodle Ponies to play games in the arena:
- Tag
- Ring Delivery (whoever gets all their rings from one cone to another first wins)
- Obstacle Course (weave cones, around barrels, over jump, avoid the “potholes” (rings))
After the Noodle Pony games we had to stop and check our ponies out, to make sure they were okay. Many had ruined tack and lost tails, so we had to take them to the vet for repairs – back to the craft room!
Enjoy!
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Note: This is not professional advice, this is a blog. I am not liable for what you do with or how you use this information. The activities explained in this blog may not be fit for every rider, riding instructor, or riding center depending on their current condition and resources. Use your best personal judgement!