Rocking Horses - The toy that has stood the test of time
Rocking horses are toys that have been around for many, many years. You would be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t have one when they were a child. The horse that I had when I was a child got a lot of use from my brother and I. Of all the toys I had when I was a child, that is the one I remember the most.
Rocking horses date back to the Middle Ages and were thought to have originated in Germany. There are a few that were found to have dated back to the seventeenth century, but the idea for a toy horse that rocks didn’t come to full fruition until the middle of the eighteenth century. At the time, Victorian model rocking horses were the only models available and could only be afforded by children from affluent families. They were made of wood in the shape of an actual horse, with a head, back, legs, and tail. Along the bottom were wooden bow rockers that you would see on a chair. All a child had to do is sit on it and rock back and forth. The Victorian model had handles that are on the horses head and stirrups for the child’s feet. A popular color choice for rocking horses in this era was the dapple grey, which became famous because it was the color that Queen Victoria chose for her children. Victorian rocking horses are still made today, in fact, there are many companies who make handcrafted models, much the way they used to be made, although they can be pretty pricey.
Spring-mounted rocking horses were first made in the 1950’s by the Wonder Products Company. The most popular model at that time was The Wonder Horse. This type of horse is made of molded plastic and is mounted on springs on a metal frame. I had this type of horse when I was a child. My kids had this type as well, but it was manufactured by Hedstrom Corporation. Hedstrom is the leading manufacturer of the spring-mounted type of horse.
While you can still buy wooden, Victorian, and spring-mounted rocking horses, there are other options as well. In this day and age, you can buy plush rocking horses in different colors and styles as well as toy cars, boats, dogs, and other animals that rock.
Rocking horses are an enduring toy that has lasted throughout generations. If you are looking for a horse for your child, search for information about the different styles online before you make a final decision on what to purchase. It will most likely be one of the most memorable gifts your child will ever receive.