How to Build a Rocking Horse

By Graeme Knight And The Mother Earth News Staff
Published on November 1, 1988
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The secret, of course, is that the rocking horse offers something timeless; though real horses may no longer be an everyday part of the average child's life, youngsters still take a delight in such a willing outlet for their ample energy.
The secret, of course, is that the rocking horse offers something timeless; though real horses may no longer be an everyday part of the average child's life, youngsters still take a delight in such a willing outlet for their ample energy.
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Diagram: Cutting pattern for rocking horse.
Diagram: Cutting pattern for rocking horse.
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Diagram: Head detail for rocking horse.
Diagram: Head detail for rocking horse.
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Diagram: Saddle detail for rocking horse.
Diagram: Saddle detail for rocking horse.
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File cutting surface down about 1/16 inch, maintaining angle, exposed tips at outside edges cut cleanly.
File cutting surface down about 1/16 inch, maintaining angle, exposed tips at outside edges cut cleanly.
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Diagram: Spring frame detail for rocking horse.
Diagram: Spring frame detail for rocking horse.

How to build a rocking horse the old-fashioned way using a spring-suspended design.

How to Build a Rocking Horse

INJECTION-MOLDED CHILDHOOD fancies come and go by the thousands, but a few special playthings just seem to endure. Take the rocking horse–a classic toy that’s lost little allure since its premiere in the 1600s. The secret, of course, is that the rocking horse offers something timeless; though real horses may no longer be an everyday part of the average child’s life, youngsters still take a delight in such a willing outlet for their ample energy.

Technically, of course, what you see here isn’t exactly a rocking horse. Suspended on springs instead of rockers, it might better be described as a bouncing horse. The distinction is an important one. By comparison to the well-broken rocking breed, this mount is a bit of a bronc. A really vigorous youngster can set up a mighty commotion on Ol’ Paint. For that reason, a sprung horse is only suitable for children at least two years old. Toddlers will have a hard time mounting and may not be coordinated enough to stay safely a’saddle. On the other end of the scale, depending on their exuberance, youths weighing more than 50 pounds are likely to bang the hooves against the floor or frame. (See the rocking horse diagrams in the image gallery.)

Rocking Horse Frame

The rocking horse’s frame must do two things: be stable and withstand the inward tug exerted by a cavorting child. Beyond that, it’s useful if the wooden members are out of the way for mounting and if the height can be adjusted. We settled on the version shown only after extensive experimentation. Feel free to adapt, but please do keep close to the basic footprint. A narrower frame will allow the horse to swing side to side too much; a shorter length cramps the rider’s legs and allows too much fore-aft movement; a longer frame will inhibit the horse’s movement on the springs.

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