A HORSE OF YOUR OWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 271, 15 November 1930, Page 3 (Supplement)

A HORSE OF YOUR OWN.

"RATTLER," AND HOW TO MAKE HIM,

My Dear Little Friends,— In the picture which accompanies this letter "Rattler" is to be seen. It is plain that he is a very nice pony which any little boy or grl would love to own. Astride on his back boys could ride to hunt in Africa or India, where tigers and lions, and even fierce rhinoceros could fall to their rifles, or they could ride him in strange lands where never before had a white explorer dared to travel. The girls could follow the hounds upon him in pursuit of some scurrying fox, though one must be a very good rider before attempting to set "Rattler-' at a hurdle. "Rattler" can be owned by any boy or girl who cares to go to a little trouble in order to make him. Mother or big sister will have to be asked to help, but I am sure that if you are very good and run messages without complaining, either mother or sister will be only too pleased to do what you want them to. First of all obtain two sheets of very stiff cardboard ten inches square and upon them draw the horse's head to . the dimensions shown in the sketch. One side of each of the shapes thus made should then be covered with some material of a suitable colour. Buttons are sewn into place for eyes and the pony's nostrils are suggested by a few stitches of cotton. When this has been done the two pieces of cloth-covered cardboard are stitched together, a piece of the neck being left unfastened to allow one end of a stick 33 inches long to be inserted. For this an old broom handle would be just the thing. When the length of wood has been pushed into place, fasten the head securely to it with of broad-headed tacks. The mane is made from wool, which is wound round a piece of cardboard as shown in Fig. 3, and the wool cut by inserting the blade of the scissors at the top of the cardboard. Wool thus cut is sewn along the top of the horse's head, a little bit coming down over his forehead to form a fringe. All that now needs to be done in order to complete "Rattler" is_ the nailing of a couple of wooden wheels on to the free end of the 33-inch stick. If wooden wheels cannot be obtained round tin lids ■' will do. Wooden wheels are best, though, because tin lids make a terrible noise when "Rattler" is a-galloping. «—> With "Rattler" all complete, his y*~\ *s^\?f'^m-^** 0 ** harness of straps may be. put on, and he f 1/ §. -J &^£iP > y will be all ready to carry explorers to \J\f OAfi^**^^^ strange lands or to follow the hounds v//^^*^*^*^ with his mistress.