Looking out the window driving down Old Sudbury Road in Wayland, the woods suddenly retreat, revealing a quiet road between two open fields. At first, one might find themselves captivated by the sheep, grazing lazily in the summer sun, or the frenzy of chickens squawking around towards your right. However, as the end of the field approaches, something strange may catch one’s eye. There, on the far right corner of the field, nestled in an offset in the field’s fencing, is an abnormal collection of antique rocking horses that came to be known as “Ponyhenge.”
Ponyhenge is a play on words named after the prehistoric United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site, Stonehenge, which is famous for its mysterious origins.
The first rocking horse in Ponyhenge originally belonged to Wayland residents Elizabeth Graver and James Pingeon. According to an article from the Boston Globe, they had purchased the rocking horse at their local swap shop after visiting the store with their daughter, who loved it so much that they eventually took it home.
However, as time went on, the family began to outgrow the horse. After hosting a Halloween show in 2010, where the horse was used as a prop for a headless horseman, Pingeon and Graver left the horse on the field.
What they didn’t expect was that one day, a second horse would appear next to the original one. Then, some time later, another one was added. Then another. And another. Despite being a little town with a population of around 7,000, the number of rocking horses reached as many as 50 when more and more were anonymously added. Today, the number of rocking horses in Ponyhenge stays at a somewhat constant 30 occupants.
As for the horses themselves, there is a great variety of types. Some are new and modern, while others are old and battered. Some ponies carry sentimental value, having dedications engraved on them for children who have passed away, serving as memorials to the children. Pingeon and Graver usually leave the collection alone, but they do mow the grass in the field and discard any horses that have been worn down over the years.
Every so often, the herd changes positions, sometimes aligning with holidays and current events, like during the COVID-19 pandemic, where some horses had masks on them. Although the land is owned by Pingeon and Graver, neither knows who comes by and arranges the horses.
These mysterious changes have caught the attention of historians, photographers and authors, all interested in the oddity of the rocking horse farm. Historian and writer Megan Kate Nelson kept track of the changes and growth of Ponyhenge from when it first started until the winter of 2015. Additionally, photographer Marnie Crawford Samuelson also produced a short film called “ROCKERS“, that centered around the horses.
“It’s kind of got a little story to tell, and kind of a big story to tell,” Samuelson said. “There’s a big metaphor about aging, and in this case, aging with company.”
Ponyhenge has also captured the attention of historians in Wayland such as the Executive Director of the Wayland Museum & Historical Society, Scarlett Hoey.
“For outdoor installations, it is impressive the idea, [if not the actual horses], have had such longevity given that it is supported mostly by the anonymous collective community,” Hoey said.
Today, Ponyhenge remains somewhat hidden, with some residents in the area still unaware of its existence. This may be because of its location on an otherwise quiet road. Additionally, it’s located on private property, which could lead to people being mistaken that it is not available to the public.
“No one advertised [Ponyhenge], so maybe very few people know of it, and it’s great because there are not a lot of kids here, so we can enjoy quiet time here,” Newton resident Yolanda Chang said.
Chang stopped by Ponyhenge after discovering it on Rednote, a Chinese social media platform that is structured similarly to TikTok or Instagram. According to Chang, she initially thought it was strange, but overall had a positive first impression.
With an array of colorful and varying horses, one can imagine that visiting Ponyhenge as a child could have been seen as a magical experience. To be placed in a field surrounded by so many vibrant toy horses can mimic the experience of being on a carousel, and the ever changing formations of horses can capture the hearts of children.
“From a little kid’s imagination, [the horses at Ponyhenge] were going somewhere,” Samuelson said.“They were on an adventure.”
Although it started out as just an unwanted horse, Ponyhenge has grown into something that is much more, fueled by the residents of Lincoln. And for adults, Ponyhenge could even evoke feelings of nostalgia for their own childhood.
“It is unusual in this litigious world to have something that’s just such a pure offering,” Samuelson said.
Charles Meng • May 21, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Oh very interesting, I had never heard about this ever pretty interesting.