Recommendations
Hobbyhorses made by me are primarily piece of art and collectibles, so they are not suitable as children’s toys. The recommended age limit is about 13 years – or the age to understand the proper use of the item. The following recommendations will help the hobbyhorse stay beautiful for a long time.
-Avoid the horse getting wet
-Keeping the horse upright, not the head above in the closet for example. The ears may warp, and the filling may collapse.
-Avoid bending the horse. For example, not pulling the horse from the rains while riding.
-The horse can be brushed with a soft brush, but touching eyes, nostrils and shaded areas should be avoided.
-The filling must not be disassembled and I do not recommend modifying the horse anyway (shading, ears etc.). Refillings are large burden to fabric and stitches, and the horse will not look as it was. If you resell the horse, please appreciate my work and sell it with fillings. If the horse needs rehabilitation, I do them myself occasionally. Please contact me by email if the horse need rehabilitation.
-Try to remove dirt primarily by brushing the dried dirt off. If the stain does not come off, you can also try with a damp cloth and detergent.
-Any opening of the mouth, twisting and tearing of the horse is not a proper use and the horse may be damaged.
Maintenance of the hobbyhorse
The following independently “maintenance procedures” will help the horse stay in good condition for a long time, especially if the horse is actively ridden or wearing tacks. In decorative use, the horse stays flawless without the operations mentioned below.
-Holes caused by heavy use should be repaired with a needle and thread, never by gluing.
-Horses ears should be straightened after wearing tacks. Use fingers to stroke the ears up.
-The filling can be fixed after riding, for example by pushing the horse by hands or between the knees, especially at the junction of the head and neck. The goal is to keep the horse “flat” when viewed from the front and the filling smooth.
-If empty spots appear in the filling, they can be corrected with a thick needle by moving the filling inside the horse. Insert the needle through the fabric next to the empty spot and turn the needle to move the filling to the empty spot.
-If the mouth is not staying close anymore because of using bits, closing the mouth with sewing pins helps the mouth staying close again. Put the pin though the upper and lower lip, and then pressure it inside the lip. The same for both sides of the lip, the pins should be kept in place overnight, for example. Remove the pins and the mouth is tight again!
-Mohair mane sometimes needs to separate the yarns from each other to stay thick. Avoid keeping the mane on the braids for too long (more than a day, otherwise the thickness of the mane disappears.