Are you looking for the perfect gift for the young horse lover in your life? At The Cheshire Horse, we are proud to carry a line of educational equestrian toys that are a must-have for horse-crazy kids. The Crafty Ponies and their realistic accessories will ignite your child’s passion for horses while encouraging their imagination to soar.
Crafty Ponies are appealing plush horses that are designed to integrate play and learning. Many of our customers comment on these charming stuffed animals, but, the truth is, they are so much more than their wide eyes and sweet faces. “Crafty Ponies’ ethos is to help children to learn about ponies in a fun, safe way,” Karen Clithero, the founder of Crafty Ponies, tells us. “The heart of our business is to bring joy and learning and help to develop children’s creativity and imagination through realistic role-play.”
Born from humble beginnings in the United Kingdom, The Crafty Ponies have risen from the ranks to become a sought-after collectible toy. “The very first Crafty Ponies were made for my three daughters in December of 1991,” Karen reminisces. “I had very little money, so I made each of them a Crafty Pony complete with tack and accessories. The ponies were made from an old cotton sheet and the manes and tails were made from knitting wool. I had a small business hand painting T-shirts, and I used fabric paints to paint the ponies different colors: Tamzin had a chestnut pony, Zara had a brown pony, and Amy had a dapple grey pony. I made the saddles and bridles from an old leather jacket that I bought at a charity shop, and my brother made each of them a wooden stable. I made little instruction booklets to help the girls understand the parts of the tack and how to put it on. I had the paper for the booklets printed at the local photocopiers and stapled the sheets together to make the booklets. The girls had a fantastic Christmas and loved their ponies.”
Karen quickly discovered that these toys were more than a plaything for her children. The following year, her girls received their first real live pony, and they already knew how to put the tack on, properly tie the pony, and groom the pony—all from playing with their toy Crafty Ponies! It became clear that the skills that her children learned with Crafty Ponies transferred directly into hands-on experience at the barn. She realized that she had a gem on her hands, and went to work putting the toys into full-scale production so that other children could learn just the way that her children had.
The plush Ponies feature a sweet face, a soft coat, and braidable manes and tails. Every Crafty Pony comes complete with a booklet that teaches children how to care for their new friend properly. The Ponies measure over 18 inches long and just over 10 inches tall and come in a wide variety of colors so that you can choose a Pony that matches the real-life horses in your life or select one that your child dreams about.
“Not long after we launched the ready-made Crafty Ponies, I discovered an online printer of booklets. I learned how to use a drawing pad attached to my laptop and made the first Crafty Ponies booklets which now accompany all the products,” Karen continues. Karen’s expansive experience with horses and ponies and her years spent teaching at their riding school helped her to be able to write the booklets in a fun and easy-to-understand way that assists the children in learning hands-on skills. From how to properly tack their ponies to how to run up their stirrups, Crafty Ponies teach proper horsemanship skills from the ground up.
Crafty Ponies expanded its range, as children began requesting accessories for their beloved little steeds. Now, the product line-up includes English and Western tack, lunging equipment, harnesses, leg wraps, pony clothing, grooming sets, and even farrier and veterinary sets, with additional items being released on a regular basis. Holding to Karen’s mission, the items are realistic and accurate to their true-life counterparts. The blankets go on the Ponies like real blankets, the polo wraps are applied in the same fashion as real ones, and the Ponies are tacked up just like real live horses are. They also have riders and equine health professionals that are perfectly sized for the Ponies, measuring 14.5 inches tall. Each product is accompanied by a booklet that teaches the child how to properly use the tack and equipment, a detail that transcends playtime and translates to real-life horsemanship experience.
“Crafty Ponies have won many awards for creativity and learning, they are used by teachers, schools, and riding centers to help both children and adults learn about ponies in a fun, safe way,” Karen tells us. Throughout their growth and expansion, Crafty Ponies is still a thriving family business based in West Yorkshire, England. Karen designs the new products and illustrates the booklets while her daughter Tamzin is the chief packer, customer service, and social media manager; Solomon, her son, deals with manufacturing, shipping, and international sales, and Karen’s husband Darren helps with the oversight of the various departments.
From screen-free playtime to learning hands-on horsemanship skills, Crafty Ponies are beloved toys for the equine-loving child. But—Crafty Ponies are more than just toys, they are helping a new generation of horse people build their knowledge and develop a passion that will last a lifetime.
The Cheshire Horse is proud to import and carry a full selection of Crafty Ponies and Crafty Pony accessories. With everything from barns and play mats to veterinary sets and riders, we have the perfect toy to put a smile on your young equestrian’s face and fill their heart with joy. For assistance with your Crafty Pony purchase, we encourage you to reach out to a member of our friendly and knowledgeable sales team.
