As toddlers' legs become more stable, their urge to "fork" and dominate their steeds becomes more pronounced. Except for the cutting out of safe, strong rockers (on about a 3-ft. radius), the construction of the traditional type hobby horse requires no special skill. Bodies may be padded logs of wood or small nail kegs set on broomstick legs, with a head and neck cut out of solid stock at one end, and a whiskbroom or rope tail at the other extremity. For younger equestrians a lively mount is illustrated in Figure 2.18. Its galloping feature is provided by a straight 30-in. section cut from an automobile bumper salvaged from the nearest junk yard.

Since spring steel is a tough material to drill, the home toymaker who is not equipped with a cutting torch will find it advisable to have the work done at a local garage. The two holes through which lag screws support the horse's head should be located to fit the small rider, or a third and fourth hole can be cut at equal distances above and below to permit adjustments.

An old tricycle seat, if available, will be most comfortable and can be attached with bolts thrust through holes cut to fit the fastenings with which the seat is equipped. Otherwise, a wooden seat similar to the one pictured can be cut from 3/4- or 1 1/3-in. stock, padded, and covered with a scrap of oilcloth or imitation leather tacked to the underside. As indicated in the drawing, a triangular wedge cut from a scrap of 4 x 4 (3 5/8 in. by 3 5/8 in.), will serve to keep the rider in a more or less horizontal position. The pair of small angle irons indicated by the dotted lines will add security to the seat. Referring to A and B in the drawing it will be noted that the triangular front base is made up from 2 x 2's (actually if in. square), mitered to and across a 1 5/8-in. by 3 5/8-in. tail or tongue 3 ft. long. The base 2x2 member of the triangle is cross lapped across the longer 2x4 "tail" member, as shown in the detail of B. All of the joints are held together with strong screws.

Fig. 2.18. Spring hobby horse.

The forward end of the bumper spring is attached to the front of the base by means of three heavy stove or carriage bolts which pass diagonally through a triangular block cut from 3 5/8-in. by 3 5/8-in. stock (see dotted lines). The heads of the bolts are countersunk in the bottom surface of the long, 3-ft. member and are cut off close to the nuts on the upper surface of the bumper and filed smooth. The angle which the spring makes with the base will be determined by the resiliency of the spring bumper and the weight of the rider; it will seldom exceed thirty degrees.

The horse, dog, cat, or rabbit head is a simple outline cut from 1 1/8-in. stock; it is fastened in place with two long lag screws. A tightly fitting 3/4-in. dowel 7 in. long makes the handles. The rider's feet rest against the cross-lapped 2 x 2 of the triangular base. Paint or enamel in bright colors.