Sam Loyd might have called this a ‘pretty puzzle’. I don’t know where it comes from, but it’s one of my favourites.
All you have to do is arrange these three pictures to produce two identical pictures of a horse and rider.
If you click on the picture, you’ll get a larger version that you can print and cut out. The lines themselves don’t figure into the solution — they’re just there to show you where to cut.
You don’t have to tear or fold any of the pieces of paper. At least, the solution doesn’t rely on those kinds of tactics. It’s really quite straightforward.
Keep at it!
UPDATE: Found the source of the puzzle! It appears there’s a patent for it. Check out the original drawings here.
25 April 2006 at 12:19 am
The solution is here.
2 May 2006 at 3:29 pm
well, thats the first thing I tried. It would seem that this solution is impossible, at least with the way the page of graphics printed out for me.
But I like my solution even better.
20 November 2006 at 5:00 pm
Another version I heard was to make 2 horses with only one rider. The other solurtion is very simple…
20 November 2006 at 5:18 pm
And to Jeff, the solution is completly possible, you are just not turning the horses the right way. Try placing the rider on the horses neck…
16 June 2008 at 12:01 am
I got the solution, but the riders are too small for the horses to line up unless I overlap them. Is that the way you intended for them to be?
16 June 2008 at 2:31 am
Yes, you will need to overlap them. Check the solution to make sure you’ve got it.
9 August 2008 at 10:06 am
Hello,
Would you allow me to publish your pictures in a new French (associative)children’s magazine ?
Or are your pictures protected by a copyright ?
Thank you in advance for your answer.
Julie CLEDOR
La Malle aux Mille Trésors
25 August 2009 at 9:18 pm
Do you have to rip or cut the horses in half in order for the solution to work?