Child's Wood Rocking Horse

rocking horse of black walnut

This sturdy wooden rocking horse

(pictured above in Black Walnut and below in Black Cherry)

is offered in three classic American hardwoods, Black Walnut, Black Cherry or Red Oak. All of these woods offer the durability of very hard and strong wood, and each has its own unique beauty. Measuring 24 inches high it is sized for the 1 year old beginner through the 5 year old trick rider. Joints are fastened with Hickory dowels glued into bored holes, giving the rocking horse a 300 pound capacity. This over-capacity will ensure generations of use. All edges are rounded over and carefully sanded. Children begin rocking at about 10-14 months old and lose interest at the time they outgrow the horse when 5-6 years old. Fine Woodworking magazine included my horse in its collection of outstanding woodwork in America. 24 inches high and 31

"The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery than any of the others. He was so old that his brown coat was bald in patches and showed the seams underneath, and most of the hairs in his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces. He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive ... and pass away, and he knew they were only toys and would never turn into anything else. For nursery magic is strange and wonderful, and only those playthings that are old and wise and experienced like the Skin Horse understand all about it."

"What is REAL? asked the Rabbit one day ... Real isn't how you are made, said the Skin Horse. It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real ... It lasts for always."

From The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. 1922

Black Walnut (above) Rocking Horse . $390.00

Black Cherry (below) $355.00

Natural Red Oak (way below). $330.00

Free shipping in 48 U.S. States. Other destinations please ask.

Riding in the shadow of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square – London

london rocking horse

Elmgreen and Dragset
Powerless Structures, Fig.101
Proposed material: bronze
To be unveiled in 2012
In this portrayal of a boy astride his rocking horse, a child has been elevated to the status of a historical hero, though there is not yet a history to commemorate only a future to hope for. Elmgreen & Dragset's work proposes a paraphrase of a traditional war monument beyond a dualistic worldview predicated on either victory or defeat. Instead of acknowledging the heroism of the powerful, Powerless Structures, Fig 101 celebrates the heroism of growing up. It is a visual statement celebrating expectation and change rather than glorifying the past.
The rocking horse, a toy originally dating from the 17th Century, and later popularised in Britain, is here depicted in a stylized version merging a Victorian model with a contemporary mass-produced design.
The boy's features and gestures underscore a character that has its own 'infantile' logic, one that is not yet influenced by the classic masculine expression. As in a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, this 'enfant terrible' gently questions the authoritarian pose often found in the tradition of equestrian sculptures. His wild gesture, mimicking the adult cavalier, is one of pure excitement. There will be no tragic consequences resulting from his imaginary conquest.

 

Wooden Rocking Horse 550 pixel

 

Dear John,

We recently received your block set and rocking horse. They are wonderful! I am an amateur woodworker and I have a great appreciation for fine craftsmanship. In addition, I know how much work goes into those pieces. I look forward to purchasing more toys from you in the future and I will certainly recommend your pieces to our friends. Again many thanks. These are truly toys to hand down to other generations.

Richard & Debbie

King Agesilaus was excessively fond of his children. Once when they were very small, he bestrode a stick, and was playing horse with them in the house, and when he was spied doing this by one of his friends, he entreated him not to tell anyone until he himself should be a father of children.

King Agesilaus XXV, 5

Plutarch, 46-120 AD

More rocking horse information . . .

I choose hardwoods in 5/4 thickness. This finishes to 1 and 1/16 inch thick. This heft makes a heavy and strong horse. Each wooden piece is cut from a larger board on my band saw, then shaped and sanded. Next I begin to assemble the pieces, often gluing pieces together before boring holes for the hickory dowels which provide the enduring strength. Once assembly is complete I go over the entire horse with a very fine sandpaper for the silky feel I like. Next I rub on walnut oil for beauty and soil resistance. Then the tail goes on and the rocking horse is ready to ride. Happy Trails!

John,
This is a picture of Thomas riding his horse on 2/17/13. He was 13 months old at that time and was really getting the hang of it. Ron and I both want to tell you how much we love the horse you made for Thomas. The workmanship is beautiful, and it's such a perfect size! Our son and daughter-in-law were thrilled with it and its heirloom quality. We're sure Thomas will spend many wonderful moments riding his trusty steed.

We'll be contacting you in July to place an order for November 17 for Ryder, our second grandson. We'll probably ask for his to be made out of black walnut.

Enjoy the rest of our winter,
Barb and Ron

For in the true nature of things,

if we rightly consider,

every green tree is far more glorious than

if it were made of gold and silver.

Martin Luther

Building my toys consumes 15 to 20 trees per year. And while I feel my toys are a pretty good use, at least better than junk mail, I feel a bit guilty. I try to plant at least twice that number each year. Join me. One way is to support the National Arbor Day Foundation. Your small contribution will help us all and you will receive 10 free trees to plant yourself.

Celebrate Arbor Day on April 29th.

National Arbor Day Foundation

This child's rocking horse is made of Red Oak

(for a better picture of red oak see the riding airplane)

 

Go to John's homepage

 

Learn more of how I build this horse by reading my free book

"How to Build an Heirloom Rocking Horse".

 

John Michael Linck - Toymaker - 2618 Van Hise Avenue - Madison, Wisconsin 53705

Web site catalog at - www.woodentoy.com

Telephone ( 608 ) 231 - 2808

email - john@woodentoy.com

 

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