1.19 The Rocking Horse Badge
In contrast to the previous episode (The Show and Tell Badge), The Rocking Horse Badge is a far more creative way of showing off each of the Squirrels’ traits. Both episodes have similar a set-up but the conclusion of this one feels delightful and not at all forced. There is also a building montage which I never get tired of.
Badge Design
Round with a blue rocking horse.
Episode Summary
Episode written by Jo Clegg.
Opening Squirrel
Betty reading while having breakfast.
Start
Tag is playing with the toy cars. Roly is spinning the spinning top. Betty is reading about horses. Happy is playing with the building blocks. Norrie is having a tea party with a polar bear.
Set-Up
Duggee is trying to pull something out of the cupboard. The Squirrels helo and out pops a tatty, old rocking horse called Bucky. Duggee remembers riding Bucky when he was a puppy. Duggee has his Rocking Horse Badge.
Story
Duggee hops on and shows the Squirrels how to ride Bucky. Bucky seems ok but when Enid bats him he falls apart. The Squirrels help Duggee clean and refurbish Bucky. Norrie dusts the cobwebs away. Roly cleans him with a sponge. Duggee uses the drill. Tag oils the rails. They give him a lick of paint. Roly makes lots of bubbles. Betty brushes his mane. Norrie pops on a new saddle. Happy paints on a smile.
The finished product is adorable and they all love him. They take it in turns to have a ride:
- Roly dresses up as a cowboy and rides Bucky through the American west. He lassos a bad guy bank robber (teddy).
- Norrie and Bucky put on a show.
- Tag is a knight. He and Bucky battle a dragon. He pokes it with his lance and it runs away.
- Betty and Bucky beat the other horses in a horse race.
- Happy doesn’t ride Bucky. He has worked hard today so Bucky feeds him an apple.
All the Squirrels give Bucky a hug.
Close and Credits
Duggee puts on a cowboy hat and jumps on Bucky.
Outfits
Each Squirrel has their own outfit for riding Bucky.
- Roly has a cowboy hat and belt (more usually seen on Happy).
- Norrie has a pink outfit on for her show. She also has a matching umbrella.
- Tag has a knight outfit, complete with broom lance.
- Betty has a jokey’s hat.
Get Your Rocking Horse Badge
If you don’t have a rocking horse handy, don’t worry, toy horses can be created out of any suitably sized stick. Once you have a horse you can let your imagination run wild. Try out each of the Squirrels’ games or come up with your own.