rocking horse

John Hutchins

Anne's rocking horse. I made it. We were at a toy store -- she was one -- and I saw a hand carved rocking horse and would have loved to get it for her, but the three thousand dollar price tag was a pretty serious obstacle.

A couple of days later -- after finding a book on their restoration and construction -- I decided to try to make one. Stupid, really, because I'd never really done anything of the sort before, no woodworking of any kind. I persuaded Kathy to buy me a set of gouges as an anniversary present and my father bought the wood (black walnut) and, after a year or so of sawing, glueing and carving, it looked surprisingly horselike. The mane, tail (real horsehair) and tack came from Anthony Dew . I gave it to her for her second birthday (it weighed more than her, I think, and she couldn't make it rock without my help, but she seemed pleased).

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