Hitching Post Pony

This darling little pony is actually a hitching post from the days when horses were the mainstay of everyday travel. It’s such a whimsical piece — the idea of tying a real horse to a cute miniature is so amusing. The two would have been tied together, literally joined at the mouth by looping the leather reins through the metal ring. What a lovely detail!

I found a pair of these hitching posts at an antique store in the nearby town of Bungendore. I’d have them in my garden, probably guarding a gate or pathway, if only the price tag featured far fewer numbers.