Rocking Horse Restorations

22/02/2026

22/02/2026

Here are some old photos taken about 10 years ago of a restoration with a difference.

This little horse was bought at an Antique Fare about 20 years ago. It took me a fair while to decide what to do with him. He literally wasn't in the best of shape.

After a bit of research I decided to paper mache him. It was an extremely time consuming job, but filled the collapsed muscles.

After all this work, I was told he would have actually been a hessian covered horse filled with saw dust. At least he has a bit of shape about him now and looks much happier. He was a little hard to work one as he was so small and I didn't get the tack made for him.

There is just something appealing about him, he has a lovely square stand.

17/01/2026

Washing day at our place.

09/01/2026

I wasn't going to take on any more restorations, but this little one only needs a tidy up and he's relatively local.
This horse would have very little commercial value, but I do love the history and stories of these old horses.
This one was made in country Victoria by a retired Station Manager. He maker worked as a manager on a station in Western NSW of about 100,000 acres. You just can't imagine how big the holding was and how long his days were. It would have been so isolated.
The horse was made for a mates children 3 generation back and they loved it. It's been in safe keeping by one of the original owners. The 3rd generation has just about to arrived, so, the great aunt wants to gift it to her great nieces/nephews.
Obviously made with no pattern, but there is something about him that looks so cheeky and appealing. He will get new hair, new stirrups and a general going over "without changing the maker's intention" A very well know Australian restorer told me years ago, "never change the maker's intention", and it is something I have always remembered and try to keep it in mind when I'm working on these old odd chappies.

31/12/2025

Happy New Year everyone. May it bring peace, love, joy and good health to all.

24/12/2025

Wishing all my Rocking Horse friends a very Merry Christmas full of joy. May all good things come your way in 2026.

Keep safe xx.

17/12/2025

Working on conserving this old horse. Unfortunately he didn't have a piece of newspaper under his saddle, but a piece of butchers paper. I think the butcher's paper was used for a short period before the newspaper. This horse has the simplified legs, but the older type stirrups and extra turned pillars. So early "plastic" tack horse.

Have given the horse and stand a good clean down. The stand has been waxed and polished. Rust removed from all the metal components, then sealed. A new saddle cloth and hair to the horse and some sympathetic conservation/preservation/restoration happening.

Guessing late c1950s.

11/12/2025

Mac is finally back onto his stand with just a little titivating to do before he goes back into active service at 120 years old.

No 4 Roebuck c1910

It was a joy to work on this old horse.

08/12/2025

The Christmas Tree saved by a horse x

The farm’s truck broke down miles from home, right after the family cut their Christmas tree.
Snow began falling fast.
The tree was too heavy to drag.
The road too slippery to walk.
So the father saddled their Percheron, Brutus, tied the tree carefully to his broad back, and the journey began.
Through wind.
Through white-out snowfall.
Through icy roads.
Brutus never stumbled, never hesitated—
as if he knew that for the children riding behind him, this night would become a memory for life.
The family still says:
“That Christmas wasn’t saved by Santa.
It was saved by a horse.”

07/12/2025

A bus full of lovely people from Melbourne and surrounds came to visit the Museum yesterday. 32 for lunch thoroughly enjoyed their time here. O'Shannessey's, have already booked in for December 2026.

02/12/2025

It was a joy to work on this old horse, probably about 120 years old No 4 Roebuck.

He was in relatively good condition for his age, but needed new ears and top teeth. These horses had large teeth, so I toned the top teeth down a bit.

The stand was painted red, which is pretty usual for Roebuck, so stripping it back to varnish it.

29/11/2025

Finally finished this No 3 Roebuck. The restoration of the horse and stand was done by the owner.

We did the artwork, hair and tack. Norm Roebuck like black hair on his horses and would use black on some. This one has the family tartan and black tack.

Roebuck's forelocks were bobbed. Personally I liked them bobbed, it make them look cheeky. I bob all my Roebucks and Bartletts, but I leave that up to the owners to decide on what they want.