Why LarDen Is Number One

Materials

Choosing the right fabric and the right filling is a real craft. We tested countless combinations ourselves before we found the ideal solution. Our favorite reward is running into the very first LarDen horses again and seeing that, thanks to their quality, they have lasted until today. That is what makes a LarDen Hobby Horse so special.

Stable shape – thanks to high quality workmanship, our Hobby Horse keeps its look and firmness even after a long time.

Firm ears – they do not get damaged, even if you slide halters over them a thousand times. They keep their upright position like on the first day, so the Hobby Horse still looks like a proper horse even after many years. Ear bonnets and detailed bridles fit perfectly.

Mane – pleasant to the touch, firm, does not shed, does not fray and can be styled in many different ways, from simple braids and buns to a double French braid. You can find examples on our blog.

Firm muzzle – stays closed even when a bit is used. It does not loosen over time, so the Hobby Horse never looks like it is running around with its mouth open.

Ideal Weight × Comfortable Grip

This topic could fill an entire article, so here is the short version. The distribution of the filling plays a key role in how comfortable a Hobby Horse is to use. Balance, weight and the width and length of the stick decide whether a Hobby Horse really feels good in the hand.

A horse with an unbalanced shape will make riding heavy, uncomfortable and less fun over time. In the end nobody really wants to use it.

Our horses are tested long term, both in leisure riding and in sport. You can compare it to a hockey stick. Everyone prefers a light, balanced and ergonomic stick. A well designed product is simply more enjoyable to use.

Space-Saving

Thanks to the two part stick that we were the first to develop and test, transporting a Hobby Horse has become much easier. The stick can be unscrewed in a few seconds and the Hobby Horse fits easily into a backpack. Travelling with it is much more practical. Even though the stick is made from two parts, it stays stable and reliable thanks to the precisely made screw connection.

The two part stick has another advantage. You can replace the lower part with a longer version at any time, which is especially useful for dressage tasks. If you grow quickly or need a longer stick, you can simply extend your Hobby Horse without having to buy a new horse.

Stable Neck and Lasting Shape

Very early on we realised how important it is to prevent the head from twisting over time. This is exactly what happens with many low quality Hobby Horses. The deformation becomes very obvious when using reins, because the head loses its stability. The look is one thing, but even more important is the changed balance, which makes riding uncomfortable. A LarDen Hobby Horse keeps its head stable and in the right position thanks to a well thought through internal construction.

Uniqueness

Our team is small, but over the years we have built a group of experienced specialists. This allows us to create realistic copies of real horses, unique premium Hobby Horses and mascots for clubs and individual riders.

Every Hobby Horse combines many different handcraft techniques, from sewing to painting to shading. Painting is a craft of its own. We mix all colours ourselves so they match the specific horse and we only use certified paints. Thanks to the right painting technique the colours stay strong and beautiful for a long time.

Seam Quality

It may look unimportant at first glance, but the seams are the heart of a Hobby Horse. They hold everything together and decide how long it lasts. From the beginning we have used different types of seams and threads for different parts of the horse. Areas that are under a lot of stress are reinforced with multiple seams, so they do not fail even with very intensive use.

This is why LarDen Hobby Horses last such a long time. Even after many years we rarely meet damaged or torn horses. Loose manes, floppy ears or ripped seams are some of the most common problems with poorly made Hobby Horses. With ours, these issues practically do not occur.

Customer Care

Apart from production, our LarDen team is really not big. You could count us on one hand. That is exactly why our customer care is so warm, friendly and fast. We answer all questions and requests personally, without agencies or external service teams.

Our motto “Our customer, our friend” is something the whole team lives by. Your positive feedback shows us that our work makes sense and we are incredibly grateful for that.