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Rocking horses have been made for hundreds of years in a number of countries. The first are reputed to have been made in Germany, however the most well known designs originated in England in the late Georgian and early Victorian times. The traditional English dappled grey rocking horse, was developed during the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries, becoming the style of choice during the Victorian era. To begin with only the wealthiest parents could afford such a luxury toy, however the industrial revolution brought about a larger and wealthier middle class, increasing the demand for rocking horses. During this time, rocking horses were produced in huge numbers, the dappled grey being the most popular variety. The dappled grey horse was a favourite of King George the Fourth and Queen Victoria who presented these horses to their children. Indeed the royal family’s love of rocking horses was instrumental in the increasing popularity of these beautiful toys. Early victorian rocking horses were mounted on a deeply curved bow rocker, until Philip Marqua of Cincinnati invented the Safety Stand in 1880. This proved popular and steadily replaced the bow rocker, as the mounting of choice.
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