Make a Horse Wreath

Mix up tradition and show your outdoor spirit by adding this horse wreath to your holiday decorating.

By: Melissa Caughey

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Photo By: Photo by Melissa Caughey

Make a Horse Wreath

Learn how to make this beautiful horse wreath from evergreens and natural findings.

Gather Your Supplies

For this craft you will need: Assorted fresh greenery/ floral wire/ wire cutters/ chicken wire/ garden clippers/ natural elements for eyes and nose/ ribbon/ bells/ garden gloves (optional)

The Foundation

Cut a square piece of chicken wire with the wire cutters.

Rough Shape

Then cut a shape like so that resembles the general shape of the horse head and neck.

Lay the Greenery

Begin by laying a length of greenery on the neck. In a couple of places on the branch, using floral wire, wire it to the chicken wire foundation. Continue laying branches until the neck takes shape and you can no longer see exposed chicken wire. In this photo, there are about 5 branches. (In this step I used 'Carolina Sapphire' juniper.)

Across the Head

Next like you did in the previous step, wire on a couple of branches across the head and face of the horse.

Trim the Ends

Trim off the ends of the branches that extend out past the back of the head.

Smaller Bundle

Bundle and wire together some shorter branches to thicken up the face and nose to make it more substantial.

Taking Shape

At this point, trim off any excess branches to maintain the overall shape of the face and neck. Now we are onto making the mane.

Begin the Mane

With a single branch of cryptomeria, I shaped the mane and wired it into place on the chicken wire frame with floral wire.

Mane Accents

I trimmed off the excess cryptomeria branch and then began to fill in the mane with branches of blueberry cedar. Those too were wired into place on the mane.

Birch Bark Ear

With a length of birch bark approximately 12 inches long, I folded it in half and attached a floral wire.

Attach the Ear

Next I tucked the ear onto the head and wired it onto the chicken wire form.

Horse Noses

These eucalyptus nuts looked exactly like horse nostrils to me. So I added some floral wire to two of them.

Lotus Pod Eye

This lotus pod looked like an eye. I added floral wire to the bottom of that as well.

Eyes and Nose

Then I placed and attached the eyes and nose to the horse.

Sleigh Bells Ring

Horses need sleigh bells. So I strung up three like so on a length of floral wire and then twisted them tightly to form bell rosettes.

Decked Out

I loosely wired on a length of ribbon and added my bell rosettes.

Wire Tie

Add a loop of wire to the back of the chicken wire to hang the horse wreath in place. I added the wire right behind the ear.

Variety Is Key

By adding a variety of textures and colors in your evergreens, your horse will surely stand out. Pines, holly and magnolia leaves would also be beautiful too.

Wreath Care

This wreath can be hung indoors or outside. The life of the evergreen elements will be extended if left outdoors. This wreath should last the entire season.

Make a Horse Wreath

Related To:

Make a Horse Wreath

Gather Your Supplies

The Foundation

Rough Shape

Lay the Greenery

Across the Head

Trim the Ends

Smaller Bundle

Taking Shape

Begin the Mane

Mane Accents

Birch Bark Ear

Attach the Ear

Horse Noses

Lotus Pod Eye

Eyes and Nose

Sleigh Bells Ring

Decked Out

Wire Tie

Variety Is Key

Wreath Care

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