Kids are all about “horsing around.”
I can still hear the sound of my mom yelling at us four rambunctious kids to “stop horsing around” and I can imagine I’ll say it to Julia and Sophia too.
But I thought it’d be fun to take a moment and embrace the craziness of childhood play — especially the “rough-housing” and “horsing around.”
So, of course, what better way to celebrate our children’s memories in the making than with a photo contest!
The theme of the contest is “horsing around” and you can interpret that as children playing or take it more literally and let your photo display an equestrian theme.
UPDATE: Win one of three $100 Gift Certificates to A Rocking Horse To Love
When we announced this photo contest, we listed the prizes as one of three Henry Horse Rocking Horses. But because of the new CPSIA testing requirements it looks like popular Henry Horse hasn’t got his testing done and we won’t be able to sell him or give him away in the near future. I’m sure it’ll get sorted out soon, but likely not in time for our contest.
So… instead we are offering each winner a $100 Gift Certificate towards any available products from A Rocking Horse To Love.
Here are just a few examples of what you might select as a prize if you are one of the lucky three winners.
![]() Rock and Trot Plush Rocking Horse |
![]() Ellie the Elephant |
![]() Childrens 3 Way Easel |
![]() Ziggy Giraffe Rocker |
As we said, there will be three lucky winners.
- The first winner will be awarded to the entrant whose photo receives the most votes.
- The second winner will be the runner-up in the tally of votes
- The third winner will be selected randomly from the entrants
The prizes are being donated from one of our online stores: A Rocking Horse To Love.
To read how to enter and get to the Mr. Linky, click on the read more below.
How to Enter
Here is how our “Horsing Around” photo contest/carnival will work:
- For the next two weeks, we will accept entries. Entry deadline is Friday, February 6th, 3pm Eastern.
- If you are a blogger, post your photo on your site and then come back here and add your link to the Mr. Linky. In your post on your blog, you can explain that it is a part of this contest and link back here.
Also, we would really love it if you could also include in your post a link to our sponsoring store A Rocking Horse To Love.
- If you are not a blogger – you can still play!!! Just email us your photo, with the subject line HORSING AROUND Photo Contest, to 5minutesformom @ gmail dot com. (Please add your image into the copy of the email so that we do not have to open attachments.)
- Please enter only one photo in the contest.
- We will post the finalists on Tuesday, February 10th.
Important Note: We will select about 20 finalists to enter the final stage of voting. We will be influenced by comments on this post… so it is FAIR GAME to ask your friends to leave a comment here on this post recommending we select your photo as a finalist.
(We mention this because we’ve noticed in past photo contests that some entrants have had their friends comment and recommend a photo submission as a finalist.
We want to let everyone know that it is fair to do that and we will be influenced by those comments, but the final selection of finalists will be a subjective selection of photos that we think best fit the theme. As Janice and I seem to be terrible with decisions, it’ll likely be Erica that makes the finalist selections.)
We will use Democracy Poll for readers to vote on their favorite photo. Please Note: Democracy Poll only allows one vote per IP address.
If you are selected as a finalist, feel free to announce it on your blog, facebook, twitter, etc and get your friends to vote for you. That is fair game. But please play fair and do not use proxy servers or other black hat methods of increasing your votes. If we do discover unfair practices, we will have to disqualify the parties involved. Remember the spirit of our site and play nice! - Voting will end Friday, February 27th, 3pm Eastern. We will announce the winner the same day!
This contest is open only to US shipping addresses.
Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions of Use for a complete list of our Contest and Giveaway Rules. This promotion is void where prohibited.
Okay — so grab your camera and let your kids go wild!
Written by 5 Minutes for Mom Co-Founder: Susan
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{ 78 comments… read them below or add one }
Exciting!
My vote is for Carrie Moore. Her little cowboy needs some company…and a rocking horse would suite.
This is a great toy! My two little ones would adore it! Thanks for the opportunity.
What a great contest! I can’t wait to see all of the entries, and of course, I’d love to win a rocking horse for my baby grandson. Thanks for the opportunity!
I’m looking forward to seeing all of the entries too. I hope we win. Thanks for hosting this!
I left my URL in the Mr.Linky box.
It will be fun to see all the great pictures.
Good Luck everyone!
Cool contest! I’m in!
What a great prize for my baby daughter!
Cute horse. I’ve looked at everyone pics so far and they are adorable!!
Awww – can’t wait to look at everyone’s pictures! Love the rocking horse and all the other cute rocking toys at A Rocking Horse to Love!
Oh my GOODNESS! I have two toddler boys that would go absolutely crazy for this. Thanks for a great giveaway
What a cute idea!!!
Hugs,
Heidi
My son and new arriving baby bother would love this. I love your picture contest, it’s so sweet.
All the pics are soooo adorable! Can’t wait to see more :O)
How fun! I’ve never done anything like this!
Thanks for the chance!
I am an Aunt and GreatAunt. Grandmother to many I have children in my home 4 day each week this would really be a hit with them. Thanks for the give away
What a fun contest! I love all the cute pictures. Thanks for the opportunity to win this lovely rocking horse.
A nice soft horse to ride! I am enjoying this contest. Thanks!
I love the one Shelly put up at Write for a Reader. That cute little cowgirl sure needs a rocking horse to help her with all that hay!
Thanks for the chance!
I love Jeanette@temporary insanity’s photo. And the little girl is so photogenic!!!
I entered but of course HAD to check out the “competition” and I have to say there are some stinkin’ cute kids out there. I of course vote for mine but if I wasn’t in the contest, Stacy G. would have my vote. Totally in theme!! Loved it!!
Still waiting for my photo (I sent it in an email) to be posted.
Oops… I added a Mister Linky when all I ment to do was comment. I love the Fabulous Baker Boys picture! Those boys clearly need a rocking horse. Can you imagine their little grins?!? Please pick them as one of the finalists!!
My two little buckaroos need more than their toy car to ride – just imagine what they could do with a toy horse! YEEHA!
Cool giveaway…have added you as a favorite. Will visit again soon.
thanks and keeping my fingers crossed.
That’s adorable! My boys would absolutely LOVE this – their cousins (my nephew/niece) have a wooden one that their grandpa made them and my boys play on it every time we go over there!
Hands down, 35. Kari@A Giveaway Addicted Mommy captures essence of “horsing around.” Just look at his cute face.
I just left the link to my lil Horsing around photo!
i also like to nominat Sandy@Cheeky*Bowtique i LOVE her caption to her photo! and i think the poor lil one needs a horse to ride~
I’d like to vote for 4everMom.
Thanks for the chance to participate!
I vote for Fresh Girl!
I vote for #33. This little boy is 3 1/2 years old. Ian “Horses Around” everyday. He does things to make his mother laugh and cry all in one day. Isn’t that a child’s job?…Ian has been through alot of late, Just read Kristin Harmons’ webpage. You will not complain after reading her’s. I am Ian’s gram-gram, and I know he would love this giveaway prize
I love Butterfly Mama’s, picture!
My favorite is Kari @ Giveaway Addicted Mommy. That little boy has such a joyful & enthusiastic expression, and looks like he would love a little company in “horsing around.” And probably his mother, too!
I pick Kari@GiveawayAddictedMommy
Who couldn’t love that goofy smile.
Of course, I think my pic should win (#31) but there are some REALLY great photos out there!
I sent an email several days ago with my photo in it and I don’t see it listing here. Does that mean you didn’t like it well enough to include it? My email is one6ylady(at)aol(dot)com.
How can I get votes when my photo link isn’t posted? I feel so left out.
I vote for #31!!
i always like entering your contest!
I really like Charlotte (Life’s a Charm!) entry. It’s awesome!
I hope you include Charlotte (Life’s a Charm!) entry. The photos are so cute!!!!
Charlotte (Life’s a Charm!) i love this one! 2 thumbs up for you!
Charlotte rocks! I hope your entry wins! Cute pics!
I’m voting for the kid with the big smile at Kari’s site – A Giveaway Addicted Mommy! What a smile – you can’t help but think how much fun he was having when that photo was taken.
I vote for me! My grandson and granddaughter would love one of those horses!
They are all very cute! But I want to cast my vote for #18 Sandy@Cheeky*Bowtique. That is the funniest picture…please pick her daughter so she has something safe to “horse around” on.
My vote is for #35, Kari @ Giveaway mama. Her little guy is hilarious.
I would have to say number 23 Maria@Nehemiahsmommy should be a finalist. Both of them are too cute and in cowboy outfits! Love this picture!!
I love Izzy n Emmy – #50!:)
Hi, I came over her to vote for #51 Donna! She has an adorable photo of one of her grandkids with their horse!
The rocking horses are So cute!! Grams
#35! so adorable! ^_^
Voting for Donna (Mosie). Cute picture of her granddaughter and horse.
I vote for #50 – Izzy n Emmy
My vote is for #51 Donna W.
I vote for # 51
I like Izzy and Emmy’s! #50!!
My vote: #51
I like the horse giving the razzberry in #51.
I am stopping by to vote for #18 Sandy@Cheeky*Bowtique. The little girl is my granddaughter and I can verify that she loves to horse around! This picture is a perfect example.
I vote for #50 – Izzy and Emmy are adorable on their rocking horses!
Charlotte (Life’s a Charm!).. so cute!!
I vote for #50 izzy & emmy
I like #51.
Who says you need a horse to “horse around?” Too bad Henry Horse won’t be ready to ride, but as you can see, My Fabulous Baker Boys (#36) can ride anything in style. They get my vote!
I’m in. This sounds like a blast!
I am so happy about this contest! This company has some adorable things that my girls could fall in love with! Thanks for hosting such an awesome giveaway!
I vote for #10 Grasping for objectivity in my subjective life.
I want to put my vote in for #18 Sandy@Cheeky*Bowitque. Great contest!!!!
Last minute entry from me. What a fun contest!
I vote for #31
My vote is for #10, her expression is too cute.
I vote for #48!
I vote for #54
Is there an update on this?