Rocking Horses

Rocking horses have been a popular children’s toy since the 1800s. These original rocking horses were carved from wood by skilled artisans and usually the playthings of children from royalty and rich families.

Rocking horses come in two main styles – swing stand or bow shaped. Bows were the original design and are the first thing that comes to mind when most people think of a rocking horse. Swing stands came a little later and are more complicated than the moving design, although they have the advantages of taking up less space and not moving around while ridden. Rocking horses were traditionally made for boys but these days children of both genders enjoy riding them.

Traditional rocking horses were constructed from several pieces before being painted in a life like way to resemble a real horse. The rockers were often also painted green to look like grass. Wooden rocking horses frequently came with saddles, bridles and other hardware and had tails made from real horse hair.

antique wooden rocking horse picture by egoant on flickr

Today you can buy rocking horses in a range of colors, styles, designs and prices. Traditionalists still love the handcrafted wooden rocking horses best which can be bought either as antiques or as modern recreations of traditional designs produced by skilled crafters. These artisan rocking horses can easily reach thousands of dollars and make a great family heirloom.

Modern toy companies also produce rocking horses, often incorporating popular characters such as My Little Pony. And you’re no longer limited to just horse shapes – it’s now possible to buy rocking sheep, cows, elephants and dinosaurs to meet your child’s preference.

Rocking horses are available in a range of sizes to suit different ages of children. Be careful if buying an antique rocking horse for your child as some models contain moving parts which can easily trap small fingers. Toddlers will enjoy a modern plush rocking horse which come in a variety of friendly characters. Older children probably prefer something approaching the traditional style which is more realistic. Carved and painted wooden horses can be expensive but make a great unique gift that will be treasured for many years and look great in children’s bedrooms.

If you’re not sure what sort of rocking horse will be best for your child, please take a look through the advice on this website which will help you choose the perfect horse. If you’re more interested in collecting antique rocking horses then we have information about that too, to help give you a starting point for your collection. Rocking horses are loved by both children and adults alike and this trend is sure to continue for many years more.