The Stable Rockers story
I carved my first horse as a Christmas present for our granddaughter when she was four. Sarah
loved the horse, and I loved making him - so I carved another. My third was a jumper, captured
in mid-leap rather than at a dainty trot; and the fourth was a little larger than the first
three, big enough to carry an adult. That's how Stable Rockers began.
Each horse is a true individual, built up by hand from blocks of wood, dowelled together and
then carved the slow, traditional way with a mallet and gauge. I use American tulip wood, which
is strong, stable, and a delight to work. The classic rocking horse was a bit of a caricature:
rather unrealistically proportioned to make it quicker to produce and more comfortable to ride.
Although I stay true to the classic spirit, my horses are a little more accurately shaped,
especially around the head; I find it gives them far more character, and I've an ever-growing
collection of models and photographs to which to refer.
It's wonderful working with these traditional materials - wood, gesso, paints and varnish -
and then finishing the horses with real leather and horse hair. There's a magic in using old
techniques; a sense of continuity, and a nod of respect to generations of craftsmen. I like the
idea of my horses one day becoming family heirlooms and being passed down the generations. In an
age of throw-away toys, my rocking horses are built to last.
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