The History of Rocking Horses
Children's Rocking horses are always ready for a ride into the imagination. For centuries, this child's toy has remained popular, providing hours of fun in a truly ingenious way. Children are always delighted with the endless possibilities of riding a rocking horse, as they pretend to be cowboys, part of the Calvary or maybe just a lone rider out for a run with their trusted friend.
Archaeology gives evidence of wooden horses being enjoyed by the ancient Egyptians. These toys were pulled and probably caused their young riders to squeal in delight. The Greeks also had a version of the rocking horse; it was a likeness of a horse's head on a pole. The child would 'mount' them and use their own legs to propel them into their favorite fantasy. It was this type of horse that made its way into medieval England, eventually showing up in some familiar nursery rhymes.
But it wasn't until the 17th century that 'bow rockers' appeared. These were charming renditions of a leaping horse placed on two curved rails. The details of the design added a new and exciting dimension to this toy. They increased in fashionableness in the 18th century as the figure of the horse was then dappled with round spots. These painted additions and attention to the horse's figure allowed this toy to take on more of a personality, which in turn opened a child's imagination even further.
During the Victorian times, the need to manufacture rocking horses on a larger scale led them to be mass-produced by such notable companies as J Collinson & Sons, G & J Lines, F H Ayres, and Patterson Edwards. At the Great Exhibition of 1851, Queen Victoria's dapple-gray rocking horse was showcased, attesting to the creativity and skill of J Collinson & Sons.
In 1877, an American, P J Marqua, designed a safety stand for the toy horse, which happily spared wear-and-tear on the floors and carpets. The traditional bow rocker moved forward as the child rocked, often wearing away a spot on the carpet. Another distinct advantage of the swing rocker was that it required less space to use, as this feature supported the horse from swing arms. Immediately this improvement was copied worldwide and it remains the classic look of rocking horses today.
Although the rocking horse began as a toy for children of the rich or the nobility, it's within everyone's price range today thanks to the skilled and streamlined manufacturing process. Originally, each horse was handcrafted and came with real leather saddles and tails made of genuine horsehair. Most people were unable to afford such masterpieces, but it soon became apparent that the rocking horse was more than a toy to be admired.
Mass producing rocking horses made them readily available, and did not diminish their beauty. When a child sits in the saddle, the horse instantly rides into their fantasy, galloping into danger, cantering down a tree-lined walkway or gently stepping into the quietness of a barn, ready to be brushed down and bedded for the night. Rocking horses and other rocking toys continue to offer children a magic that makes each ride memorable.
This is an original news article © The Kids Window
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