Welcome to my latest crochet pattern, this crochet rocking horse.

If you would like to follow along with the crochet video tutorial it’s available on my YouTube channel at Crochet Rocking Horse Tutorial.

You can view the full pattern on this page by continuing to scroll down, or if you would like to download the pattern it’s available on Ravelry at Crochet Rocking Horse Pattern.

This pattern will be using UK terminology. If you would like to view the US version go to Crochet Rocking Horse (US Version).

Rocking Horse Crochet Pattern

Abbreviations

• st –  stitch
• sts –  stitches
• ch –  chain
• sl st –  slip stitch
• dc –  double crochet
• htr –  half treble crochet
• tr –  treble crochet
• dtr –  double treble crochet

Materials Used

• Four colours and black crochet cotton or wool.
• Crochet hook.
• Scissors.
• Thread to sew together.
• Sewing needle.
• Darning needle to weave in ends.
• Black cotton to embroider on the nostrils.
• Seed beads if desired to attach the flowers.

Rocking Piece

45 ch.

Row 1:  Miss 1^st ch and work (1 dc in each of next 5 sts, 1 joined dc over following 2 sts) repeat to end.  Turn.
Row 2:  1 ch, 1 joined dc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 dc in each st across to last 2 sts, 1 joined dc over last 2 sts.  Do not turn.

Neatening Row

1 ch, work 1 dc in each st around and join with a sl st in ch.  Fasten off.

Head

Make a magic loop.

Row 1:  1 ch, work 7 dc into circle, pull circle tight and join with a sl st in ch.
Row 2:  1 ch, 1 dc in each of next 5 sts.  Turn.
Row 3:  1 ch, 1 dc in each st to end.  Turn.
Row 4: 1 ch, 1 dc in each st to last st, 2 dc in last st.  Turn.
Row 5:  1 ch, 1 dc in each st to last st, 2 dc in last st.  Turn.
Row 6:  1 ch, 1 dc in each st to end.  Turn.
Row 7:  1 ch, 1 joined dc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 dc in each st to last 2 sts, joined dc over last 2 sts.  Turn.
Row 8:  1 ch, 1 dc in each st to end.  Turn.
Row 9:  1 ch, 1 joined dc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 dc in next st, 1 joined dc over last 2 sts. Turn.
Row 10:  1 ch, 1 dc in each st to end.  Don’t fasten off.

Neatening Row

1 ch, 1 dc in each st around to end. Sl st in ch.  Don’t fasten off.

1^st Ear

3 ch, a joined tr into same st as ch and next st.  Fasten off.

2^nd Ear

Join cotton 6 sts back from 1^st ear.
3 ch, a joined tr into same st as ch and next st.  Fasten off.

Front Mane Piece

7 ch.

Miss 1^st ch, 1 sl st in next st, 1 dc in next and 1 htr in following st, sl st in next st, 4 ch, miss 1^st st, 1 sl st in next st, 1 dc in next st, 1 htr in following st, sl st into next of original ch, 3 ch, miss 1^st st, 1 sl st in next st, 1 dc in following st, sl st into last of original ch.  Fasten off.

Body

4 ch.

Row 1:  Miss 1^st ch, 1 dc in each remaining ch.  Turn.
Rows 2-4:  1 ch, 1 dc in each st to end.  Turn.
Row 5:  1 ch, 1 dc in each st to end.  Work 15 ch.
Row 6:  Miss 1^st ch, work 1 dc in each st to end.  Turn.
Rows 7-9:  1 ch, 2 dc in 1^st st, 1 dc in each st to end.  Turn.
Row 10:  1 ch, 1 dc in each st to end.  Turn.
Row 11:  1 ch, 1 joined dc over 1st 2 sts, 1 dc in each st to last 2 sts, 1 joined dc over last 2 sts.  Turn.
Row 12:  1 ch, 1 dc in each st to end.  Turn.
Row 13:  1 ch, 1 joined dc over 1st 2 sts, 1 dc in each st to last 2 sts, 1 joined dc over last 2 sts.  Turn.
Row 14:  1 ch, 2 dc in 1^st st, 1 joined dc over next 2 sts.  Turn.
Row 15:  1 ch, 1 joined dc over 1^st 2 sts, 2 dc in next st.  Turn.
Row 16:  1 ch, 1 joined dc over 1^st 2 sts, 2 dc in next st.  Turn.
Row 17:  1 ch, 2 dc in 1^st st, 1 joined dc over next 2 sts.  Turn.
Row 18:  1 ch, 1 joined dc over 1^st 2 sts, 2 dc in next st.  Turn.
Row 19:  1 ch, 1 joined dc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 joined dc over same st as last part of joined dc and next st.  Turn.
Row 20:  1 ch, 1 dc in each st.  Turn.
Row 21:  1 ch, 1 dc in each st.   Fasten off.

Front Leg

Join cotton 3 sts back from front of body.

Row 1:  1 ch, 1 joined dc over 1^st 2 sts, 2 dc in next st.  Turn.
Row 2:  1 ch, 2 dc in 1^st st, 1 joined dc over next 2 sts.  Turn.
Row 3: 1 ch, 1 joined dc over 1^st 2 sts, 2 dc in next st.  Turn.
Row 4:  1 ch, 2 dc in 1^st st, 1 joined dc over next 2 sts.  Turn.
Row 5:  1 ch, 1 joined dc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 joined dc over same st as last part of joined dc and next st.  Turn.
Rows 6-7:  1 ch, 1 dc in each st. Turn.
Row 8:  1 ch, 1 dc in each st.  Don’t fasten off.

Neatening Row

(I use sl st down the legs to keep them thinner but use dc if you prefer) 1 sl st in each st down leg, 1 dc in 1^st st on tummy, 1 htr in next st, 1 tr in following st, 1 htr in next st, 1 dc in each st to leg, 1 sl st in each st to top of leg, 1 dc in each st on top of leg, 1 sl st in each st down leg, 1 dc in each st to the top of the back, 1 dc in 1^st st, 1 htr in next st, 1 tr in each of following 2 sts, 1 htr in each of next 2 sts, 1 dc in each st to beginning of front leg, 1 sl st in each st up leg, 1 dc in each st on end of leg.  Fasten off.

Mane

12 ch.

1 sl st in 2^nd ch from hook, 1 dc in next st, 1 htr in following st, 1 tr in each of next 2 sts, sl st into  2^nd next st of original ch,  5 ch, 1 sl st in 2^nd ch from hook, 1 dc in next st, 1 htr in following st, 1 tr in last ch, sl st into 2^nd  next ch on original ch, 4 ch, 1 sl st in 2^nd ch from hook, 1 dc in next st, 1 htr in following st, sl st into last ch of original ch.  Fasten off.

Tail

14 ch.

Row 1:  work 1 dc in 2^nd ch from hook, work 1 joined dc over next 2 sts, 1 dc in next st, 1 htr in each of next 6 sts, 1 dc in next st, 3 dc in following st, 1 sl st in last st, 3 ch.  Turn.
Row 2:  work 1 sl st in 2^nd ch from hook, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in each of next 2 sts, 1 htr in each of next 6 sts, 1 dc in each of next 2 sts, 1 sl st in next st, Turn.
Row 3:  1 ch, miss 1^st st, sl st in next st, 1 dc in following st, 1 htr in next st, 1 tr in each of next 4 sts, 2 htr in next st, 1 htr in following st, 1 dc in next st, sl st in each of next 2 sts.  Fasten off.

Hoof

Join cotton to end of leg.
3 ch, work 1 tr in each st across end of leg.  Fasten off.

Saddle

8 ch.

Row 1:  Miss 1^st ch and work 1 dc in each st.  Turn.
Rows 2-3:  1 ch, 1 dc in each st to end.  Turn.
Row 4:  1 ch, 1 joined dc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 dc in each st to last 2 sts, 1 joined dc over last 2 sts.  Don’t fasten off.

Neatening Row

1 ch, work 1 dc in each st around and join with a sl st in ch.  Fasten off.

Flowers

Make a magic loop.

Into circle work 1 ch, 1 dc (3 ch, 1 dc) 4 times 3 ch and sl st in 1^st ch.  Pull circle tight and fasten off.

To Make Up

Weave in ends.  Embroider on nostrils.

Embroider on eyes and add a white dot in middle.

Sew on the front mane piece between the horse’s ears.

Crochet 2 pieces of chain for the bridle and stitch to horse where shown.

Stitch the head to the body.  Crochet a piece of chain for the saddle strap and attach to horse where shown.

Sew saddle to horse over the saddle strap, sewing the top of the saddle over the back of the horse.

Attach the tail.

Sew the mane to the neck starting just below the horse’s left ear.

Stitch a flower to the tail with a bead as shown, a flower to each end of the rocking piece and a flower in the middle of the rocking piece.

Attach the horse to the rocking piece.

There’s the finished crochet rocking horse.