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The Best Toys for Kids Who Love Horses

Michelle D. Milliman/Shutterstock.com
🕚 Updated August 2022

There's something children love about the gentle giant of the barnyard: the horse. So, if you're interested in a toy for the equine admirer in your household, then here are a few toy horses that you should check out.

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  Best Grooming Horse Best Stable Kit Classic Design Best Plush Toy Best for Toddlers
 
  Sunny Days Entertainment
Quarter Horse with Moveable Head
Schleich
Horse Club, 44-Piece Playset
Linzy
Hobby Horse
Franco
Kids Plush Spirit Riding Free Horse
Melissa & Doug
Take-Along Show-Horse Stable Play Set
 
Our SummaryThis toy steed includes 14 accessory pieces to create the perfect show horse for competitions.This detailed and realistic horse stable playset inspires imaginative play and can grow with your child.A quintessential children's toy for cowboys, cowgirls, and horse appreciators who love to travel down the imaginary dusty trail.For little horse lovers, this adorable plush toy doubles as a soft mini pillow, perfect for sleepovers and nighttime snuggling.This mini horse stable includes eight beautifully designed horses that can travel with your child wherever she goes.
ProsBrushable hair, real-life sounds, collectible, durable, good size for Barbies.Experienced German toy maker, beautifully detailed, unisex, many accessories included.Easy to assemble, adjustable telescopic pole, realistic sounds, plush and cute.Looks like the character from the show, easy to clean, ultra-soft.Trusted brand, ages 3 and up, nice details, unisex, durable.
ConsNo container for small parts.Tricky to assemble.Batteries aren't replaceable.Mane may become matted or tangled.Tricky for small hands to remove horses from their stalls.
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The Best Toys for Kids Who Love Horses

Portrait of a beautiful preschooler out in the garden on a wooden rocking horse.
Michelle D. Milliman/Shutterstock.com

Among all of the animals you can find on a farm, it’s the horse that somehow finds a way to garner most of a child’s sweet attention. The cattle dog may wag its tail and deliver soft kisses on a child’s face, and the pygmy goat is always around to deliver a gut-busting bleat, but it’s the horse—exuding an uncanny beauty behind its marble eyes—that will always bring a child to a full stop and smile. So if your child loves animals and especially horses, we’ve found some wonderful toys for them to treasure.

Buying Guide for Toys for Kids Who Love Horses

A little girl is putting toy horse figurines into a pretty toy horse trailer.
Melissa and Doug

Why buy horse toys?

Horses aren’t just barnyard animals. They’re highly intelligent, social creatures who form bonds with people and other animals. People have gravitated toward the majestic horse for centuries as companions, noble steeds, working animals, and racing partners. They were even our “horsepower” before cars. We have such a deep connection with these animals that continues through today and into tomorrow. And children love them just as much as many adults, if not more. Horses continue to be a part of our pop culture and even one of our favorite Olympic sports.

What should you consider when choosing toys for kids who love horses?

  • Design Style: A cute caricature of a horse is sure to win over toddlers and younger children, whereas some older children will appreciate an option that’s a little more lifelike and detailed in its overall depiction.
  • Interactivity: Another factor that a child’s age can directly influence is interactivity—how much fun a child may have with a single horse versus multiple horses or several accommodating features. Of course, the more a child can play with it will often translate into more fun, but it’s important to note that while young kids may never tire of their favorite plush horse, an older child may want something beyond a cuddle buddy.
  • Child Care: Additionally, it’s important to scope out potential safety hazards in toys and how a product will care for your child during playtime. Your next toy should make it absolutely clear that it was constructed from high-quality materials, meaning toxic-free inside and out.

What’s the most popular horse toy of all time?

Throughout the years, the most popular toys for horse lovers have had one thing in common: your child can ride on them. From the classic rocking horse popular in nurseries in Europe and North America to the hobby horse, which was beloved in so many countries all over the world, ride-on horse toys have always been a favorite. Today, there are even ride-on horse toys that have real-feel fur or make sounds.

Our Picks for the Best Toys for Kids Who Love Horses

Best Grooming Horse

Sunny Days Entertainment Quarter Horse with Moveable Head

This toy steed includes 14 accessory pieces to create the perfect show horse for competitions.

Pros: There are so many things we love about this beautifully detailed horse figurine. First, it has real brushable hair on the mane and tail. It makes real-life sounds and has a poseable head and a saddle for hours of play. It fits standard Barbie dolls as riders, too! There are five different horses in this collection, so this is a wonderful gift for collectors. And finally, all the parts are made from durable materials that will last through rough play.

Cons: This toy does not come with a container for the small parts, so it might be easy to lose them.

Bottom Line: Do you love the old-style collector’s horses? This one is similar, beautifully detailed, and costs a lot less. And it makes a fantastic gift for all horse lovers ages 4 and up.

 

Best Stable Kit

Schleich Horse Club, 44-Piece Playset

This detailed and realistic horse stable playset inspires imaginative play and can grow with your child.

Pros: This intricate stable set is made by an 85-year-old German toy company that prides itself on creating realistic toys to boost children’s imaginations. And they’ve stood by their promise with this set! Each piece is beautifully detailed with the highest quality in mind. Not only does this playset come with tons of accessories, but you can grow your stables by purchasing some of the many extra parts that are available. This toy is also unisex and fun for all ages.

Cons: It can be tricky to put together some of the parts.

Bottom Line: For the horse lovers in your life, this stable set makes a fantastic gift that will blow them away. The set comes with easy-to-follow instructions. After it’s put together just the way your child likes, they can enjoy hours of fun, imaginative play.

 

Classic Design

Linzy Hobby Horse

A quintessential children's toy for cowboys, cowgirls, and horse appreciators who love to travel down the imaginary dusty trail.

Pros: This hobby horse is a breeze to put together when it arrives, even if you aren’t great at assembling things. It’s also simple to use. The adjustable telescopic pole easily adjusts to three sizes, so it can be shared or it can grow with your child. Your child can also operate the horse’s sound effects with a touch of a button on the horse’s ear. And the horse’s face is plush and very cute.

Cons: The batteries are not replaceable.

Bottom Line: A classic hit, this lovely hobby horse is great for kids as young as 3 years old. It has adorable reins and other sweet details. And it’s a great unisex toy option, perfect for kids to share.

 

Best Plush Toy

Franco Kids Plush Spirit Riding Free Horse

For little horse lovers, this adorable plush toy doubles as a soft mini pillow, perfect for sleepovers and nighttime snuggling.

Pros: There are many things we love about this horse plush toy. First, it looks exactly like the character from the show and movie Spirit. Second, it’s easy to clean. It can either be spot cleaned or washed on gentle then air dried. Third, it’s the perfect size for a kids’ bed. And it even makes a fun mini pillow or room decoration. And of best of all, it’s ultra soft.

Cons: Hair in the mane may get matted or tangled.

Bottom Line: If your child loves the Spirit TV show or movie, this toy will make a fantastic gift! It fits beautifully into a horse-themed bedroom or playroom. And it’s ultra plush and huggable, perfect for a toddler.

 

Best for Toddlers

Melissa & Doug Take-Along Show-Horse Stable Play Set

This mini horse stable includes eight beautifully designed horses that can travel with your child wherever she goes.

Pros: This little stable is made by a trusted brand known for crafting durable toys for young kids. It’s perfect for children as young as 3 years old. The horses are nicely detailed. And the case has a convenient and easy-to-use handle. Plus, the theme and color scheme are perfect for any kids.

Cons: It’s a little tricky for small hands to get the horses in and out of their stalls.

Bottom Line: With everything that’s included in this adorable stable, this horse toy is a fantastic value. It’s a classic-style toy that helps ignite the imagination. And it’s made from durable materials that will stand the test of time.

Final Thoughts

There are many toys on the market for horse lovers, whether they’re for a collector or a young child. Horse toys can boost a child’s imagination, creating a world of equestrian fun. And whether your child prefers figurines or plush toys, there’s something fantastic waiting for them as their next big gift!

Hollis Mills Hollis Mills
Hollis Mills is a freelance journalist and a content writer for LifeSavvy. He has a bachelor's degree in English literature, and as an undergraduate at Texas A&M University, Hollis wrote and edited for the nationally recognized student newspaper, The Battalion. When he's not writing, you can find him complaining about Boston Celtics basketball or giving plenty of peanut butter biscuits to his always-hungry Catahoula dog, Blue. Read Full Bio »
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