So I tried stick horse racing last weekend thinking it’d be simple. Just a stick with a horse head, right? Wrong. I faceplanted three times straight before even getting five feet. Embarrassing stuff.
The First Disaster Runs
Grabbed a basic hobby horse my nephew left behind – flimsy plastic head on a thin wood stick. Got excited, pretended to gallop down the driveway. Made it two strides when BAM. Feet tangled, stick wobbled like crazy, and I ate gravel. Tried again. More wobbling. Stuck some duct tape around the handle thinking that’d fix it. Spoiler: it didn’t. Just made it sticky. Third try? Fell backwards onto my butt. Hard.
Time to Actually Fix Things
Decided this was ridiculous. Needed a proper plan. Went hunting around the garage:
- Wood Dowel Rod: Found a thick, solid one covered in dust. Heavy enough to not flail around like a noodle.
- Old Garden Hose: Cut a long chunk for the handle. Slippery? Yeah, but cushioned the grip. Less hand shock.
- Rope: Thick, scratchy stuff from the shed. Had to rip off the splintery bits.
- Sandpaper & Tape: For finishing edges. Safety first-ish.
Shoved the hose over one end of the dowel for a handle. Taped it down good. Sanded the dowel smooth. Strapped the rope “reins” tight around the top. No horse head yet – focused on making the stick itself not fight me.
The Actual Winning Part (Finally)
Took my Franken-stick outside. Stance felt different – way more solid. Held the cushioned hose handle loose but firm, elbows bent. Kept my back straight-ish this time. Pushed off with my back foot instead of just jumping like a maniac. Small steps at first. Focused on keeping the stick slightly tilted forward, rope taut.
Weirdly, it clicked. Less wild flailing, more controlled galloping motion. Practiced short sprints – ten feet, turn around, ten feet back. Didn’t fall once! Added the dorky horse head back on later. The stick stayed stable. Felt like my knees and butt quit yelling at me.
Key takeaways? Use a heavy, solid stick, add a comfy grip, keep your motions tight, and for crying out loud, don’t run like you’re escaping bees. Controlled gallop = way less gravel eating.
