If you grew up dreaming of ponies, collected model horses on every shelf, or simply cannot resist those long faces and flowing manes, this roundup was made with you in mind. I have gathered twenty of my favourite free patterns so you can stitch your own little herd, from big huggable stablemates to tiny palm-sized ponies. Every single crochet horse on this list links straight to the designer's own page, where the pattern is genuinely free to follow.
There is something here for every mood and every skill level, whether you fancy a no-sew plush you can finish in an evening, a classic amigurumi with a braided mane, a cosy horse hat in sizes for the whole family, or a corner-to-corner square for your next blanket. A few designers also offer an optional paid ad-free PDF alongside the free version, and I have noted those honestly under each idea so there are no surprises. Pick your favourite, raid the yarn stash, and let's fill the stable!
1. Heidi the Horse
Heidi is the grand lady of this roundup, a big, beautiful amigurumi horse who stands about 14 inches tall and holds her own on a shelf without flopping over. She is worked in worsted weight yarn with simple stitches only — chains, single crochet, back-loop-only stitches and invisible decreases — so confident beginners can absolutely take her on. I love her sturdy legs, her sweet muzzle and the generous mane that begs to be styled. Jess Huff shares every one of her patterns completely free on her site, PDFs included, which makes Heidi a wonderfully generous place to start. Make her in classic chestnut browns, or go dreamy with a cream coat and a pastel mane for a nursery gift.
Pattern: Heidi the Horse by Jess Huff — Get the free pattern
2. Amigurumi Horse and Donkey
This full-size farm friend from Grace and Yarn finishes around 14 inches tall, and the complete pattern is written out free on the blog post, bandana and all. The legs, body and head are built with neat colour changes that give you those classic white socks, and a little half-double-crochet bandana ties around the neck for instant personality. Stephanie even includes a short video showing how she joins the legs, which is the one step that can puzzle first-time amigurumi makers. Because the same construction also makes a donkey, you can stitch a matched pair for a farm-themed nursery. Choose a long flowing mane for the horse version and trim it however you like.
Pattern: Amigurumi Horse and Donkey by Grace and Yarn — Get the free pattern
3. Mini Amigurumi Horse and Donkey
Everything adorable about the big Grace and Yarn horse, shrunk down to a mini size that works up in a fraction of the time. The legs, body and head are crocheted as one continuous piece, which keeps the sewing to just the nose, ears and arms, and the tiny bandana is included here too. At half the size of the original, a mini horse slips beautifully into a stocking, a party favour bag or a child's pocket for adventures. The mane is made from short yarn strands looped through the stitches, so you can keep it neat or trim it into a spunky mohawk. It is written with a 3.5 mm hook and worsted yarn you probably already own.
Pattern: Mini Amigurumi Horse and Donkey by Grace and Yarn — Get the free pattern
4. No-Sew Crochet Horse
If sewing amigurumi parts together is your least favourite chore, Ana's clever design from Little Crochet Farm will make your day, because this chubby little horse needs no sewing at all. It is worked in super bulky chenille yarn with a 6 mm hook, so it grows quickly and finishes around 17 centimetres tall with the softest squish. The white blaze down the face is worked right into the stitches as you go, giving you that unmistakable horse marking without any surface embroidery. The full written pattern is free on the page, and a printable PDF version is offered to her Patreon members if you prefer paper. This is the perfect first plush for chenille yarn fans.
Pattern: No-Sew Crochet Horse by Little Crochet Farm — Get the free pattern
5. Crochet Mini Horse
Sarah Zimmerman of Repeat Crafter Me designed this sweet mini horse as a school mascot gift, and it stands about five and a half inches tall. She uses affordable Red Heart Super Saver in café latte and buff beige tones, with a little bridle worked in a coffee colour that gives the face so much character. Small 9 mm safety eyes and a simple yarn mane keep the whole project friendly for newer crocheters. Because it is small and quick, you can make a whole row of them in different coat colours for party favours or craft fair tables. It is also a lovely stash-buster, since each horse needs only small amounts of yarn.
Pattern: Crochet Mini Horse by Sarah Zimmerman, Repeat Crafter Me — Get the free pattern
6. Hessy the Horse
Hessy has that relaxed, huggable look that makes Craft Passion's amigurumi so popular, and she sits up entirely on her own, which makes her a charming shelf or desk companion. Her glorious mane is the real project joy here — it is built from dozens of cut yarn strands, longer at the back and shorter in front, so you can leave it flowing, gather it up, or even braid it. The pattern page walks you through the assembly with plenty of guidance, and it is written for aran weight yarn like Vanna's Choice. Simple button eyes give her a sweet vintage toy feel. Hessy is the one to make when you want a horse that looks like a beloved heirloom.
Pattern: Hessy the Horse by Craft Passion — Get the free pattern
7. Hazel the Horse
Hazel is a graceful standing horse from Cuddly Stitches Craft, and her party trick is the set of tiny horseshoes surface-crocheted onto her feet — such a satisfying detail for real horse lovers. Her mane is attached in neat latch-hook style lines, which keeps it tidy while still giving you that lovely full look. The written pattern is free on the blog, and if you prefer stitching from paper, the designer also sells an optional ad-free PDF in her Etsy and Ravelry shops. The proportions are elegant rather than chibi-cute, so Hazel suits older kids and grown-up collectors alike. Try her in dapple grey with a black mane for a realistic finish.
Pattern: Hazel the Horse by Cuddly Stitches Craft — Get the free pattern
8. Hailey the Horse
Hailey sits down sweetly at about five and a half inches tall, which makes her one of the smallest horses in this collection, but her personality is anything but small. Her mane and tail are worked as gentle curls in mixed shades, and her nostrils are embroidered on for the softest expression. Nicole Chase writes the full pattern free on her site, with an optional ad-free PDF available in her Etsy and Ravelry shops if you like a printed copy. The sitting pose means no wobbly standing to worry about, and she perches beautifully on a bookshelf or a child's bedside table. She is a fast, satisfying weekend make.
Pattern: Hailey the Horse by Nicole Chase — Get the free pattern
9. Jeremy the Cart Horse
Jeremy is a good, honest working horse designed by Lucy Kate Crochet, worked in brown and cream double knitting yarn with a 3.5 mm hook and kind 16 mm safety eyes. His mane is made from looped chains, a simple technique that gives a wonderfully full, shaggy look without cutting hundreds of strands. The pattern is written to be beginner-friendly, with clear rounds for the head and the two-part ears. He has that sturdy, dependable cart-horse build that horse lovers will recognise straight away. Jeremy would be a thoughtful gift for anyone who keeps or rides heavy horses.
Pattern: Jeremy the Cart Horse by Lucy Kate Crochet — Get the free pattern
10. Pony
Stephanie Lau of All About Ami created this tiny white pony to celebrate the Year of the Horse, and it remains one of the most loved little pony patterns on the internet. Worked with a fine 2 mm hook, she fits in the palm of your hand, with coral-red hooves and a wonderfully puffy five-part mane and tail. Her legs are subtly curved as you crochet them, front and back worked slightly differently, which gives her a surprisingly lifelike stance for such a small toy. The complete pattern is free on the page, and an inexpensive ad-free PDF is sold on Etsy and LoveCrochet if you want the condensed photo version. Make a rainbow herd in different mane colours for a truly magical gift set.
Pattern: Pony by Stephanie Lau, All About Ami — Get the free pattern
11. Flip Flop Horse
If you adore the plush-yarn trend, this soft fellow from Darling Maple Designs is worked in Bernat Velvet bulky yarn, so the stitches are big, the fabric is gap-free, and the finished horse is pure cuddle. It is a low-sew design with the option to crochet the limbs directly onto the body as you go, and the nostrils are outlined with cute little bobble stitches. His mane and tail are made from chained loops, which keep the velvet look clean and modern. The free pattern on the page even links short video tutorials for the special stitches and the no-sew joins. He makes a gorgeous comfort toy for children and anxious grown-ups alike.
Pattern: Flip Flop Horse by Darling Maple Designs — Get the free pattern
12. Happy the Horse
Happy earns his name with a cheerful, rounded shape that is cleverly constructed so the neck, body and legs come together with far less sewing than most amigurumi horses. The pattern is worked with a small 2.75 mm hook, which keeps the stitches tight and the finish neat and firm. Because the shaping does so much of the work, the whole horse comes together quickly once the main piece is done. He is a brilliant choice if you love the look of amigurumi but dread the assembly stage. Work him in a warm tan with a darker mane, or make a whole happy herd in rainbow colours.
Pattern: Happy the Horse by Amigurumi — Get the free pattern
13. Horse in a Coat
This dapper fellow is a horse wearing his very own little coat, and at around 35 centimetres tall he is a proper armful of a plush. The Dormidont pattern from AmigurumiBook dresses the horse as carefully as it builds him, which gives the finished toy a storybook charm that children absolutely adore. A removable coat means little hands can dress and undress him during play, doubling the fun. The full pattern is shared free on the page, translated for English-speaking makers. Choose coat colours to match a child's favourite riding jacket for an extra-personal gift.
Pattern: Horse Dormidont by AmigurumiBook — Get the free pattern
14. Classic Amigurumi Horse
Sometimes you just want a classic, and this friendly amigurumi horse from AmigurumiBook delivers exactly that — a well-proportioned body, a kind face and a full yarn mane and tail. The pattern is shared free on the page with step-by-step rounds for every piece, so it is a comfortable project for anyone who has made a simple amigurumi before. It is an ideal base pattern to keep in your library, because changing the coat and mane colours gives you a bay, a palomino or a black beauty from the same instructions. Add a tiny crocheted saddle blanket if you like a little extra detail. A dependable, giftable horse for any occasion.
Pattern: Free Horse Amigurumi Pattern by AmigurumiBook — Get the free pattern
15. Poseable Wire-Frame Horse
For makers who love a project with a little engineering, this horse from Emekce is built over a simple wire frame, so the finished animal can be posed — head up, head down, mid-gallop on a display shelf. The full pattern is shared free on the page and talks you through shaping the body over the frame. Posed horses make stunning photography props and collectors' pieces, and older children love arranging them into scenes. Because of the wire inside, this one is a display piece rather than a cuddle toy for little ones. It is the most advanced project in this roundup, and a real showpiece when finished.
Pattern: Amigurumi Horse by Emekce — Get the free pattern
16. Horse Head C2C Square
Melissa Hassler of Lovable Loops shares this handsome horse head square as a corner-to-corner pattern, and unusually generous, the page includes both the graph and the full written colour counts, so you can follow whichever style suits you. Worked in tan and brown, the profile has a lovely classic feel, and a single square makes a striking cushion front or tote panel. Join several squares with other farm animals for a blanket any horse-mad child would treasure. Because the written rows are printed on the page, there is nothing extra to buy to complete it. It is a great first C2C project if the technique is new to you.
Pattern: Horse Head C2C Square by Melissa Hassler, Lovable Loops — Get the free pattern
17. Horse With Rainbow Mane C2C Graph
A white horse with a flowing rainbow mane — could anything be more joyful on a blanket? Ariana Wimsett of Magic Yarn Pixels offers the full graph for this design as a free download, and at 100 squares high by 80 wide it makes a generous throw worked in corner-to-corner crochet. To be clear, the free download is the chart itself, while the written row-by-row pattern is sold separately in her Etsy and Patreon shops, so confident graph readers are all set at no cost. The design also works for tapestry crochet, cross stitch and other pixel crafts if you fancy a change. It is a dream baby-shower blanket for a horse-loving family.
Pattern: Horse With Rainbow Mane C2C Graph by Ariana Wimsett, Magic Yarn Pixels — Get the free pattern
18. Tapestry Crochet Horse Potholder
Raffamusa Designs brings the horse into the kitchen with this smart tapestry crochet potholder, part of her much-loved Farmhouse Collection of hot pads. The whole design is worked in single crochet with two contrasting colours of cotton DK, and every written row is given free on the blog post. One honest note: the colour chart itself lives inside the optional paid ad-free PDF sold in her Ravelry, LoveCrafts and Etsy shops, so you can follow the free written rows, or treat yourself to the chart version. Finished, it measures about 17 by 18.5 centimetres and has a hanging loop for display. A set of these makes a wonderful housewarming gift for equestrian friends.
Pattern: Tapestry Crochet Horse Potholder by Raffamusa Designs — Get the free pattern
19. Crochet Horse Hat
This playful beanie from Lovable Loops turns a simple tan hat into a full horse face, complete with an oval snout, a white blaze running up the front, upright ears and a shaggy brown yarn mane. The pattern is written in four sizes — baby, toddler, child and adult — so the whole family can match for farm visits and photo days. Everything is spelled out free on the page, from the separately crocheted nostrils and eyes to the embroidered smile, and a printable PDF is available in the designer's Etsy shop if you prefer one. It works up in worsted yarn with basic stitches, joined rounds and a little easy sewing. Expect compliments everywhere this hat goes.
Pattern: Crochet Horse Hat by Melissa Hassler, Lovable Loops — Get the free pattern
20. Trusty Old Dobbin Hobby Horse
We finish with pure nostalgia: a classic hobby horse on a stick, ready for galloping around the garden. Lion Brand's Trusty Old Dobbin stands about 38 inches high, is worked in bulky yarn at an intermediate level, and the pattern download is priced at zero dollars on their site — you just need a free Lion Brand account to download it. A crocheted horse head on a sturdy stick is the kind of toy that gets played with for years and then kept as a childhood treasure. It would also make the most charming nursery décor propped in a corner between rides. Every stable of handmade horses deserves one grand old Dobbin to lead the herd.
Pattern: Trusty Old Dobbin Hobby Horse by Lion Brand Yarn — Get the free pattern
Conclusion
From a 14-inch shelf-worthy Heidi to a palm-sized pony, a poseable display horse to a potholder for your kitchen, I hope this stable of twenty free patterns has your fingers itching to pick up a hook. Every design here is genuinely free at the link provided, so the only hard part is choosing which horse joins your herd first. Make one for the horse lover in your life, or be gloriously selfish and keep the whole stable for yourself — I will not judge! Which of these horses will you make first, and what colours will you choose for its coat and mane? Tell me in the comments below, and do share a photo of your finished pony — I love seeing your makes!
