A rocking horse is a child's toy, usually shaped like a horse and mounted on
rockers similar to a rocking chair.
Predecessors of the rocking horse may be seen in the rocking cradle, the tilting
seats used during the Middle Ages for jousting practice as well as the wheeled
hobby horse. The toy in its current form did not appear before the 17th century,
though some conflicting sources note medieval manuscripts including references to
carved rocking horses, presumably of the toy kind.
From the 19th century onward rocking horses became more commonly considered as
child's toy. Mostly built by hobby woodcrafters, and ranging from relatively
crude to finely ornamented and the toys of future kings, it was not until the
late 19th century that the production became industrialised.
There are two sorts, the one where the horse part sits rigidly attached to a par
of curved rockers that are in contact with the ground, and a second sort, where
the horse hangs on a rigid frame by iron straps the horse moves only relative to
the frame, which does not move.
In 2006, the Guinness Book of World Records certified Katlinel and Les Hartness
of California as having the largest hand-carved wooden rocking horse on record.
This rocking horse was built in 2000 and is 7 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 1,200
pounds. It can be seen at renaissance faires, faerie festivals, and at private
parties and events where up to 3 adults or 4-5 children can ride it together at
one time. According to Les and Katlinel, the youngest rider has been six weeks
old and the oldest, 94 years.
