About the service
I offer a full-cycle hand-carving service for wooden rocking horses, built as heirloom pieces meant to be handed down between siblings and generations rather than discarded after a season. Every commission starts with a consultation about the child's age, the intended rider weight range, and the room the horse will live in, because those factors drive the body proportions, the rocker curve radius, and the overall footprint.
Wood selection is where the craftsmanship begins. I work primarily in kiln-dried maple and beech for the body and legs because of their tight grain and resistance to chipping under repeated impact, and in basswood (linden) for finer carved details like the mane ridge, nostrils, and mouth, since it takes crisp detail without splitting. Clients can also request oak for a heavier, more traditional-feeling piece, or walnut for a darker, richer heirloom look. I explain the trade-offs of each species — weight, grain visibility under stain, and long-term wear — before cutting begins.
Body carving is done by hand with chisels and rasps over a band-sawn blank, shaping the neck arch, haunches, and muzzle in stages so proportions can be checked against a reference sketch at every step. The curved rocker rails are the structural heart of the piece: I cut and laminate them from multiple thin layers of the same wood species bent around a form, then joint them to the body with through-tenons and dowels reinforced with wood glue rated for structural loads, so the horse can bear an actively rocking child without the joints loosening over years of use.
Finishing is entirely child-safe: sanding progresses through several grits to a smooth, splinter-free surface, and I only use non-toxic, water-based, food-grade-safe sealers and paints that meet standard toy-safety requirements for finishes a child may mouth or handle repeatedly. Mane and tail can be supplied in natural horsehair, soft yarn braiding, or tooled leather strips, depending on the look and maintenance level the client wants.
Typical turnaround is two to three weeks depending on carving complexity and finish choice, and I send progress photos at the blank, carving, and finishing stages so the client can review before final sealing. I also offer simple engraved nameplates and matching wooden stands for horses without built-in rockers.
Wood selection is where the craftsmanship begins. I work primarily in kiln-dried maple and beech for the body and legs because of their tight grain and resistance to chipping under repeated impact, and in basswood (linden) for finer carved details like the mane ridge, nostrils, and mouth, since it takes crisp detail without splitting. Clients can also request oak for a heavier, more traditional-feeling piece, or walnut for a darker, richer heirloom look. I explain the trade-offs of each species — weight, grain visibility under stain, and long-term wear — before cutting begins.
Body carving is done by hand with chisels and rasps over a band-sawn blank, shaping the neck arch, haunches, and muzzle in stages so proportions can be checked against a reference sketch at every step. The curved rocker rails are the structural heart of the piece: I cut and laminate them from multiple thin layers of the same wood species bent around a form, then joint them to the body with through-tenons and dowels reinforced with wood glue rated for structural loads, so the horse can bear an actively rocking child without the joints loosening over years of use.
Finishing is entirely child-safe: sanding progresses through several grits to a smooth, splinter-free surface, and I only use non-toxic, water-based, food-grade-safe sealers and paints that meet standard toy-safety requirements for finishes a child may mouth or handle repeatedly. Mane and tail can be supplied in natural horsehair, soft yarn braiding, or tooled leather strips, depending on the look and maintenance level the client wants.
Typical turnaround is two to three weeks depending on carving complexity and finish choice, and I send progress photos at the blank, carving, and finishing stages so the client can review before final sealing. I also offer simple engraved nameplates and matching wooden stands for horses without built-in rockers.
