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Useful Resources 2

Choosing A Horse

It pays to understand something of the care that goes into creating a craft object which aims quite simply to be the best.

It all starts with the quality of wood from which the rocking horse is made.The hardwood should be selected for its stability, its grain and its suitability for carving. If it is a tropical hardwood, it should carry the assurance that it is from a managed forest where replanting is the regular practice.

After the already seasoned wood is delivered to the workshop, it is cut into the component pieces from which a rocking horse body is made. These pieces should be stored for a further period of seasoning, to eliminate any risk that the finished rocking horse might split or crack.

In due course the components are assembled, using high-strength glue, into the rough-blocked shape of a horse.

Then the hand-carving begins by craftsmen who know that a moment's carelessness could destroy their whole creation. Slowly the fine features, the set of the head, the neck muscles and the whole graceful shape of the body emerge.

Next comes the process of fine sanding to produce a smooth unblemished surface ready for its final finish. This is best achieved by the traditional process of french polishing by hand, enhancing the natural wood grain and giving a richness and colour that cannot be matched in any other way.

Alternatively, a painted dapple-grey finish may be applied. But it should be much more than a coat of paint: it should be built up by stages, the darker dappling effect delicately applied to simulate that of a real dapple-grey horse. And the final coat, silky to the touch, should be robust in withstanding hard wear.

The mane and tail should be of real horsehair, professionally cleaned and cured. They should be securely fixed so that the hair lies naturally and withstands repeated tugs from small hands.

The rocker mountings should be strong, wear- resistant, quiet in use and unobtrusively good looking. Nothing else is the equal of hand-cast brass fittings.

The quality of saddle and harness are all -important to the overall finished appearance, as is their method of attachment. All should be made of bridle leather, hand-stitched in exactly the same way as the real thing. And they should be secured by adjustable straps like real 'tack', not nailed to the body, greatly enhancing the overall appearance, avoiding damage to the wood and adding to the play value to the child.

Saddle stability is all-important, aided by the provision of a crupper from the back of the saddle and round the tail. Stability of the whole animal when ridden is also essential; here the Victorian safety stand is to be recommended, although some prefer the Georgian bow rocker for its traditional appearance.

Lastly, there are the finishing touches: the opportunity to have additional or more elaborate tack; individual naming and registration of each horse, with name, date and personal message on a brass plate; the silver plating of nickel steel harness fittings; membership of the British Rocking Horse Society.

In short, the choice of a rocking horse means deciding between a workaday plaything and an example of supreme skill and craftmanship which, while giving immense pleasure to children, will also represent a sound investment and a family heirloom in the making.

Now that you know what to look for, you are equipped to ask the right questions and make your judgement in the light of the answers. If you choose top quality, you can't go far wrong.