Rocking Horse Restoration
Christopher Woolcock is a professional toy maker who specialises in rocking horses. He both restores old rocking horses and makes new ones. He also makes carousel horses, hobby horses, walkers, tricycles and other toys with a horse motif.
Learning how to make and restore rocking horses was a process of trial and error for Chris. He couldn’t copy traditional methods exactly because the old rocking horses would not comply with today’s safety standards for toys. However, his restorations are sympathetic to the era of the horse, and where possible he preserves the original patina and finish. He designed his own pattern for new rocking horses and uses timber in the construction, as fibreglass or plastic horses will become brittle and breakdown over time. Each horse is hand carved and fitted with a leather saddle and bridle, as well as a real horse or cow hair forelock, mane and tail. The horse is then mounted on a stable safety rocker-style stand, capable of supporting a rider up to 90kg.
A good quality rocking horse is not only a wonderful toy for the kids; it is also an investment that will appreciate over time. Old rocking horses can be very valuable, so if you’ve bought an old rocking horse or you have one that’s been in the family for generations, take good care of it. Chris has one dating from about 1897 that is now worth thousands of dollars.
Further information
For information on the range of products available and prices, contact:
Renaissance Rocking Horses
143 Pitt Town Road
McGraths Hill NSW 2756
Phone: (02) 4577 8697
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.rockinghorses.com.au