Holiday Gift Guide: Tek Nek Toys Rockin' Rider Talking Plush Pony {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Karen F!}

When it comes time to shop for children's toys, the category can feel huge and often overwhelming. Do you want something active? Something educational? Something imaginative? Having recently wandered the aisles of a large toy store, I was baffled at how to even begin to make a decision.

Fortunately, there are companies that have found a way to combine multiple aspects that kids love all into one product. Their items are fun, original, and can inspire children to play in a multitude of ways... all things that can be found from Tek Nek Toys.

Based in Southlake Texas, Tek Nek Toys believes in the power of playtime and has been developing unique multifunctional toys that stimulate creativity and encourage interaction since 1997. When it comes to children's playtime, Tek Nek Toys creates products that provide learning and growth opportunities, as they strive to encourage children to become more imaginative, coordinated, and socialized.

With a goal of developing innovative, high quality toys that are built to last the longest in the playroom, I took one look at Tek Nek Toys' Rockin' Rider Plush Talking Pony and I knew that I was going to be hard-pressed to get it out of Little Sister B's hands, let alone the playroom.

Available in a variety of other colors and styles, the Rockin' Rider Talking Plush Pony is ideal for children ages 18 months and up (it has a weight limit of 65 pounds) and is America's top selling rocking pony.

And, really? With a laundry list of great features and such an adorable look, how could it not be?

Measuring only 23.5"L x 10"W x 18"H, this isn't a huge toy by any means, but just the right size for any young horse fan. The soft, cuddly plush design is immediately eye-catching to kids (as well as adults), and I found myself drawn to running my hand on our horse's back and down its mane anytime I was near it.

When it comes to riding, the easy-grip handles are well-placed so that a child can get a good grasp on them and the plastic rocking base is sturdy enough to withstand years of rock, rock, rocking.

But as well as the looks, the Rockin' Rider Talking Plush Pony is far more entertaining than a traditional rocking horse in that it includes a moving mouth and multiple sound effects. Due to the included 3 AA batteries, our pony was talking, singing, whinnying, galloping and snorting right out of the box!

Simply press on the ear embroidered with a horse...

...and you're rewarded with a variety of realistic horse noises and the phrases "Let's go for a ride" and "I like it when you brush me."

Or, press on the ear embroidered with a music note...

...and the Plush Rocker breaks into song, singing "I'm a Little Pony," a cute tune that is guaranteed to be stuck in your head for days.

Fortunately, Tek Nek Toys thought to include an easily-accessible battery pack that includes a parental volume control as well as an on/off switch for those times that you need a break from all of the "I'm a little pony, clippity clop, clippity clop..."

Little Sister B was amazed and thrilled with the Pink Pony's talking, singing and sounds, and even more at the whimsical way that it moved its mouth at the same time. What child wouldn't be delighted that their rocking horse is able to interact with them?

From the thick, soft, plush body to the realistic mane to the cheerful conversation, the Rockin' Rider Talking Plush Pony is able to provide the active movement of a rocking horse but with the technological advancements of a robotic friend.

Retailing for $60 at retail locations such as Toys 'R Us and online at Amazon, I think a Rockin' Rider would be a much-loved holiday gift for the 12-to-24-month old on your list. And, thanks to the generosity of Tek Nek Toys, one person will be able to see the joy in a child's face as they find a plush new pal under the tree this year, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of brown or pink
Talking Plush Rocker from Tek Nek Toys!

To enter to win: Visit Tek Nek Toys and tell me another of their amazingly fun items that you would like to own.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you head over and enter the Rockin' Rider Pony giveaway at A Nut in a Nutshell!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Rockin' Rider on Twitter, Like them on Facebook and/or Like Tek Nek Toys on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN a Rockin' Rider Talking Plush Pony (ARV $60)! Great gift for little ones! http://bit.ly/tLh5BH @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook, and/or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
2 Extra Entries if you have our Holiday Gift Guide button posted on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on November 30th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to Tek Nek Toys for providing a Talking Plush Pony for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.