The Wooden Horse Lyrics
A child explains why a wooden horse is better than a real one: it never needs feeding or brushing, never runs away, never kicks, and always brings you home safely.
The Wooden Horse
A real horse is good,
But a horse made of wood
Is a much better horsey for me;
For he needn't be tied,
And he's steady beside,
And never gets lazy, you see.
When pulled, he will go;
And he stops when you "whoa!"
For he always is willing to please;
And though you may stay
By the water all day,
Not once for a drink will he tease.
Not a handful of feed,
All his life, does he need;
And he never wants brushing or combing:
And after a race
All over the place,
He never stands panting and foaming.
He doesn't heed flies,
Though they light on his eyes;
Mosquitoes and gnats he won't mind:
And he never will shy,
Though a train whizzes by,
But always is gentle and kind.
A real horse, some day,
Will be running away;
A donkey is so apt to kick;
A goat will upset you,
A doggie will fret you,
Your wooden horse hasn't a trick!
No chance of a crash,
Or a runaway smash,
Though never so playful and free.
Oh! I like when I drive
To be brought home alive,
So a fine wooden horsey for me!
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/the-wooden-horse/
- Type
- Animal Rhymes
- Tune
- Spoken poem
- Best for ages
- 3 to 7 years
What Does The Wooden Horse Mean?
The poem is a list of everything a real horse needs, turned into reasons to love a toy one. A real horse must be tied up, fed, watered and brushed, and it might shy at a train or run away. A wooden horse needs none of that. Shy here means jump sideways in fright. The last verse sums it up: with a wooden horse you are always "brought home alive", safe and sound.
History and Origin
The poem comes from Rhymes and Jingles (1874) by Mary Mapes Dodge, the American writer best known for the novel Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates and as the editor of St. Nicholas, a famous magazine for children.
Learning Activities
- Real or toy: make two lists: what a real horse needs and what a toy horse needs.
- Hobby horse ride: gallop around on a broom or a stick horse while saying a verse.
- Your toy: write two lines about why your favorite toy is better than the real thing.