How to Build a Wooden Rocking Horse

Overview

As a boy, English King Charles I rode on one of the first rocking horses in the 17th century, and they have remained popular children's toys ever since. They were made at home until commercialized and produced in factories in the nineteenth century. While still popular in the modern day United States, traditional wooden rocking horses can be difficult to find. With some wood, tools and creativity, one can build an old-fashioned wooden rocking horse at home.

The Steps

Step 1

Draw or print a rocking horse on paper as an example. A web search or a book is a great place to find ideas, which can be printed of scanned. Then, trace the head and various parts onto the plywood using the carpenter's pencil.

Step 2

Cut out the pieces using the jigsaw and sand them until they are smooth.

Step 3

Cut three 2-by-1-inch strips from plywood with the jigsaw. These are for the braces and the seat from the 2-by-6 redwood. Make a backbone from a 4-by-4, ripping both sides with a table saw.

Step 4

Glue and nail the sides of the horse to the backbone. Glue and nail the neck to the front of the backbone.

Step 5

Nail three 2-by-18-inch strips to the rocker to reinforce the rocking horse.

Step 6

Nail on the seat and fill in holes with wood putty.

Step 7

Attach yarn or a mop head for the mane and tail with the staple gun.