The Rocking-Horse Maker: Nine Easy-To-Follow Projects

The traditional wooden rocking horse has long been an object of fascination for adults and children alike. Much more than mere toys, they are treasured beyond childhood and handed down from generation to generation as family heirlooms. This practical manual sets out to show that, with care, patience and some basic woodworking skills, anyone can make a rocking horse. It includes projects to suit all levels of ability, from a simple plywood hobby horse for the spare-time woodworker with limited time and tools at his disposal, to a fully-carved dapple grey on bow rockers for the more ambitious craftsman. Each design is accompanied by step-by-step instructions, photographs and drawings, with finished projects illustrated in colour. The projects include carved Victorian horses in several sizes and styles, a carousel horse, and a miniature rocking horse for the mantelpiece. There are also chapters on the history of rocking horses and on their repair and restoration.

A vague memory from childhood is brought back to real life by master crafter Dew, author of Making Rocking Horses. Though he claims at the very beginning that even novice woodworkers can tackle some of the simpler projects, the plethora of technical terms and materials, coupled with the lack of how-to-carve instructions, belies his initial statement. However, he very clearly sets forth directions, with step-by-step photographs for more difficult processes, along with a wealth of knowledge on appropriate age levels, decorations, and accessories. A number of chapters are devoted to aesthetic details: painting (the reason so many hobby horses are dapple gray is because solid colors magnify every imperfection); leather tack and hair; hoof notches and swing iron stands. The variety of color photographs will convince readers that the practice of this almost lost art is worth every nickel and every hour. Appended are woodworking tips and mail-order suppliers of tools, accessories, and fittings. Barbara Jacobs