Ma Kan Kluai (Banana-Stalk Hobby Horse) — a Large Banana Leaf Stalk Stripped of Leaf but for the Tip as a Tail, the Butt Cut Slantwise 5-10 cm Each Side and Bent into a Neck with Pricked Ears, a Cord to Sling It; Ridden in Races

"With a knife, cut slantwise at the butt of the leaf stalk on both sides, about 5-10 cm, and bend it into the horse's neck, so it looks like a head with two pricked ears." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author not named, CC BY 4.0)

Take a large banana leaf stalk and strip off all the leaf, leaving a little at the tip as the horse's tail. The middle of the stalk is the body.

The butt of the stalk, the thickest part, becomes the horse's head. Cut slantwise on both sides, about 5-10 cm, with a knife, and bend it into the horse's neck so two ears stand up.

Tie a cord or jute string from the horse's head to the tip of the tail, straddle the horse and sling the cord over the shoulder.

Drawings of the ma kan kluai and of play (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author not named, CC BY 4.0)

Run and leap like a galloping horse, neighing "hee". Children play in groups, sometimes as heroes and villains; whoever's horse breaks first loses. Or they race to find the "fast horse".

Adults of the past made these for their children to run about with: good exercise, easy to make and free. Mostly boys played, in groups. Take care with the knife when cutting. Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "ม้าก้านกล้วย", author not named (CC BY 4.0 licence). **Limits** The source gives no stalk length. The illustrations are drawings. There is no product line for banana stalks.