I was mentioning me making soft toys to our Mickey the other week, and he said - "Oooh I'd love a horse or pony!!". To say this surprised me is an understatement. Still I've really appreciated his friendship over these last 12 years or so, and the fact that we still talk to each other every night for an hour, shows just how precious our friendship is.

Needless to say, I decided immediately to make him a horse. It started with a donkey, but the instructions were quite awkward and so I changed my mind and decided on a horse instead.

This is the empty carcass of the horse, the legs have already been added.....


The ears have been added.......


These are the dopey eyes - they have to be sewn all together before you add them to the face.......


Now they've been placed on head. You can see what I'm aiming for on the pattern below him - I've never managed to replicate the picture of a pattern before, and today I still haven't managed to do it!!!!

Now he's stuffed and standing up. I had to stuff more filling in his legs, otherwise he didn't stand up well enough.


Aha - now he has a mane - a tad heavy - a bit like dreadlocks!!!


He even has a tail - lol.

I decided on a blanket, and it's all finished

He's finished - I've given him a blanket, because the saddle looked way too complicated to do!!!!

I've called him Arthur - first name that came into my mind. I do hope Mickey likes him.

As for the bunny that I started for my neighbour's new grandson, when she saw Arthur, she said that her grandson would love him - so now I'm halfway to making another little "Arthur"!!! This time though - he'll be a cream coloured horse.

I love making these soft toys, but my grandchildren say they're too old for soft toys now!!!! Maybe I'll make some, when I have time, and donate them to a childrens' ward in the hospital.

Well Mickey - I do hope you enjoy Arthur. Any other animals you want? Just let me know!!!