The Rocking Horse Shop

I’m Andrew Brown, a rocking horse restorer by trade. I didn’t come into this through formal qualifications or training—in fact, I started just one day a week doing metalwork. Over time, I’ve been lucky enough to learn a wide range of skills from some incredibly talented people around me, and those skills have shaped the work I do today.

My main role is restoring rocking horses, many of which are treasured family heirlooms that have been ridden by generations. Some of the horses I work on are over 100 years old, and my job is to rebuild and restore them so they can be enjoyed for many more years to come. I’m naturally quite meticulous, which suits this work perfectly, as so much of it is slow, detailed, and requires a great deal of care.

Because many of the horses I work on are so old—sometimes nearing 150 years—I often use the same techniques that would have been used when they were first made. Those methods haven’t changed much, and for good reason—they worked then and they still work now. One of the things I love most about restoration is the challenge. You never quite know what you’re going to uncover. Once the paint is stripped back, you sometimes find the horse is barely holding together—occasionally it feels like it’s been held together by the paint alone—so each project becomes a puzzle to carefully piece back together.

No two days are ever the same in the workshop, although there are a few routines that anchor the day. First job is always the kettle on, then getting the gesso heating up. Gesso is a chalk-based primer we use to seal and prepare the horses before painting, and it needs to be mixed and applied hot. It’s one of those traditional materials that’s still essential to the process.

One of the biggest misconceptions about what we do is that our horses are machine-made or imported in bulk. People don’t always realise there’s a workshop they can visit, filled with skilled craftspeople using chisels, needles, and paintbrushes to create every single piece by hand. Each horse is completely unique—there’s no set template—and everything is made specifically for the individual or family it’s going to. With a strong team of ten craftspeople, we take real pride in making sure that every interaction people have with us reflects the enthusiasm we all share for the craft.

What I hope people feel when they see our work is the care, energy, and attention that’s gone into it. The people I work with are incredibly talented artisans, and they don’t always get the recognition they deserve. Every horse we restore or create carries that dedication within it, and I think that’s what makes them so special.

For me, it’s all about balance—honouring the traditions of the craft while also making sure it continues to evolve. We’re committed to maintaining the hand-crafted nature of what we do, but we also embrace modern techniques where they can help us create better, more accessible pieces for people around the world.

More than anything, I’d encourage people to come and see it for themselves. Whether you’re thinking about buying a horse or just curious, you’re always welcome. We love showing people around and sharing what we do every day—seeing the journey from raw timber and leather through to a finished rocking horse really brings the whole process to life.