The pony supports children up to 160 pounds. View larger.

The Giddyup 'N Go Pony is design for both indoor and outdoor play. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Toy is sturdy; provides outlet for physical activity. The Bad: Toy is somewhat heavy; brake is not intuitive or quick to use. In a Nutshell: Adorable, child-sized riding pony moves with your child's movements, offering plenty of physical, imaginative fun. At a Glance Ages: 3 to 6 years Requires: 3 AA batteries (included)

A brake lever tightens the pony's wheels.

To make the pony move, the child sits in the saddle and places her feet on the footrests. By alternating a sitting position and standing up onto the footrests, she makes a bouncing action that causes the pony's legs to splay out and then come together, making the pony roll forward. Bouncing smoothly and continuously will make the pony continue to roll forward. The child can steer the pony using the handlebars. A brake lever is located at the right handlebar. It can be ratcheted up or down to loosen or completely tighten the pony's wheels.

Imaginative Fun That Comes With a Workout!
In these days of rising childhood obesity, we're happy to have found find an innovative toy that's powered by a child's sheer physical exertion, rather than by remote control or batteries. (Yes, this toy takes 3 AA batteries -- but only to create its sound effects. Squeeze its ears, and it will neigh and make trotting sounds.)

The Giddyup 'N Go Pony offers plenty of fun physical challenges: the rider is challenged to master the bouncing action that makes the pony go, and she must maintain balance while driving and steering at the same time. The pony is built for both indoor and outdoor use, which expands its versatility and gives kids the opportunity to go outside and play.

Some Wise Precautions
But whether the pony and rider are inside or out, make sure an adult is always on hand. For safety reasons, the pony will not roll backwards, and because of its weight and height, only an adult can lift and move it away from "dead ends" or other obstacles. Smaller children will definitely need some help getting in and out of the saddle. And even though the horse has a break, it's not intuitive or quick to use -- so you'll want to keep a watchful eye to ensure that pony and rider don't stray off into steep or otherwise hazardous territory.

If you keep these precautions in mind, your little adventurer can have plenty of fun imagining rustling up cattle, chasing down outlaws, or riding off into the sunset.