History of the Rocking Horse

Horsing around

New toys for kids always come along and then fade from favor.  A rocking horse is in the tradition of the great traditional toys that always have a warm spot in our - and our children's - hearts. Classic rocking horses have been around for centuries, all the way back to the 1600s, and few toys have enjoyed such enduring popularity.

Playtime

Of course as long as toys have existed, horses have been part of every child's playtime. String pull-along horsse carved horses, stray ponies, and even crude hobby horses have been around for over 2000 years.   Of course childhood was different back then, and some historians assert that the rocking horse was originally a training tool for pages and young knights.  Whatever the origins of the rocking horse were, there's no denying it's beloved place in our culture now.

Dump truck or pony?

The rocking horse may be the most successful toy ever designed.  Endless hours of fun and exercise masquerading as play have been provided by this ubiquitous little invention.  Rocking horses were simply miniature versions of the time's chief mode of transportation, just as today's miniature toy cars and trucks reflect what we drive today.

The art of a toy

The earliest rocking horses were developed in Europe, and were only found in the wealthiest of homes. As rocking horses gained popularity, the upper classes of the Victorian and Georgian Eras widely believed that the rocking horse was an essential tool for preparing children for riding real horses. And as rocking horses became even more popular - and available to more classes of people -- rocking horses became ever more ornate and elaborately painted. Some even boasted precious metals and gems as well as real horse hair.  Rocking horse actually became an art of sorts.

Famous names

Famous artisans and companies who devoted their business to crafting rocking horses, particularly in England. F.H Ayres, Wilson, Collinson and Leeway, Lines Brothers were all well-known artists of the finest rocking horses in the 1800s.

Safety counts

Modern production methods greatly reduced the cost of producing rocking horses, and the invention of the safety stand in the U.S. in the late 1800s changed the industry.  Philip Marqua's safety stand provided a steady, and sturdy frame and a controlled gliding motion. Rocking horse with these innovations were not only safer, but they took up less space than the bowed legs of the older rocking horses. By the turn of the century, the safety stand rocking horse was far more popular than the traditional, and rocking horse herds were increasing in number everywhere.

An heirloom of a toy

Toys come and go.  But the classic elegance and timeless charm of Rocking horses give them a unique place in our lives and our homes. Rocking horses are now recognized as a part of our cultural heritage.

More information on rocking horses