Bell Horses Lyrics
Line up, count the hours and go. Bell Horses is an old way of starting a race, and it is just two lines long.
Bell Horses
Bell horses, bell horses, what time of day?
One o'clock, two o'clock, three and away.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/bell-horses/
- Type
- Counting Rhymes
- Tune
- Chanted rhyme
- Best for ages
- 3 to 8 years
What Does Bell Horses Mean?
Bell horses were horses with bells on their harness, used on carts and coaches so people could hear them coming. In the rhyme, the question "what time of day?" is answered with a countdown: one o'clock, two o'clock, three and away, and the runners set off on "away".
History and Origin
The rhyme is printed in The Real Mother Goose (1916), and similar starting rhymes were used by children all over Britain. Like One for the Money, it builds a little suspense before the start, so nobody can be sure exactly when to run.
Learning Activities
- Race start: say it before every race in the garden or playground.
- Horse trot: trot like horses on the spot during the first line, then gallop off on "away".
- Clock practice: move the hands of a toy clock to one, two and three o'clock as you say them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are bell horses?
Horses wearing bells on their harness, so carts and coaches could be heard coming.
How is Bell Horses used?
To start a race or a game, with the runners setting off on the word away.