The history of rocking horses can be traced back as early as the Middle Ages in
the 18th Century. Yet, it was only in the 19th Century, during the Industrial Revolution, that aspiring and affluent Middle
Classes in England began to recognise the Rocking Horse as an essential part of their lifestyle.
Often linked to developing childrens skills and balance in riding real horses, the rocking horse became a commercial
necessity for many Middle Class families.
The introduction of the Dapple Grey horse (produced in Liverpool for Queen Victoria) extended the production
of rocking horses in England, with Liverpool becoming a vital city for the production of hand-carved Victorian horses.
The introduction of horses from the USA enabled carvers to
produce horses made on bows, as opposed to stands, which are very much used today mainly for smaller, minature rockers.
The end of the 19th Century saw
the hand-carved rocking horse industry flourish (often referred to as the Golden Age of carving), extending production
to major cities in the UK, and selling in major stores including Hamleys, Harrods and Selfridges.
Since the First World War, the rocking horse industry has
been in decline. However, children and adults of all ages still hold rocking horses fondly in their hearts, with
the rocking horse still very much remaining a vital ornament of any home.
