The amazing history of
Spring Rocking Horse Toys!

Including reviews of three Spring Rocking Horse toys available today .

You can ride a Spring Rocking Horse toy for hours and hours but not go anywhere. Which, if you think about it, makes a spring rocking horse quite a unique ride on toy.

What exactly is a Spring Rocking Horse Toy?

Traditional rocking horses rock on either bow rockers (like a chair) or on a swing stand. Spring rocking horses are a modern type of rocking horse.

The moulded horse rocks on springs that are connected to its metal frame.

Spring Rocking Horse toys-picture

Creative ideas for Spring Rocking Horses toys

Spring rocking horses are great if you are short on space. Unlike other rocking horses, they are contained within their frame and require no additional room.

They can be especially useful when you need to keep a youngster in one place.

Spring Rocking Horse toys are very helpful when giving medicine or even washing faces!

A rocking horse will provide your three year old with lots of fun activity, developing their physical skills – climbing, balancing & rocking - and using up all that surplus energy.

The Spring Rocking Horse will be an inspiration for lots of imaginative play - where your little Cowgirl or Prince can ride to their hearts content.

Spring rocking horse toys have ears for whispering secrets into and many of those I’ve met can even talk! – if only to their young owners.

Safety Warning

My eldest son fell off a rocking horse when he was just two years old and broke his arm!

He wasn’t being watched; there were no reins to hold onto and he landed on a hard wooden floor. So please take care when your child is playing on a rocking horse.

Don’t leave your child alone riding their Spring Rocking Horse toy.
Make sure there is a good grip to hold on to.
Check the horse is on a soft carpet and that there are no dangerous objects your child could hit if they fall.

Spring rocking horse toys are generally safer than those on rockers or swing stands. They have a wider frame and are not so high off the ground.

Even so, we have seen reports of children having accidents when springs break and at a high gallop a robust three year old may still unsteady the horse.

How an Ancient Philosopher sparked two great American inventions.

Rocking horses are toys with a long tradition. In days of old, medieval knights used wooden horses to practice their jousting. Even before that time Socrates (an ancient Greek sock puppet and philosopher?) is recorded as galloping about with his children on their toy horses.

The swing stand used in the construction of traditional rocking horses was invented by Philip Marqua of Cincinnati in 1878. He obtained a US patent for his design.

The innovation of rocking horse continued after World War II. The Wonder Products Company of Collierville, Tennessee are believed to be the earliest manufacturer of Spring Rocking Horse toys in the world!

They started making moulded plastic horses attached by springs to a metal frame in the1950’s. The Wonder Horse was this company’s favorite model of Spring Rocking Horse toys.

Until recently, the most well known supplier was the Hedstrom Corporation. Hedstrom produced several models of Spring Rocking Horse toys at their plant in Bedford, Pennsylvania.

Sadly, Hedstrom went out of business in October 2004. Although you will still see their horses for sale, please be aware that it may be difficult to obtain spare parts.
Currently the two major suppliers of Spring Rocking Horse toys are Radio Flyer and Flexible Flyer.

Putting your horse in order.

Most spring rocking horse toys need to be assembled when they arrive and this is a straightforward job. Dad will get the opportunity to play with his toolbox and also learn how to follow simple assembly instructions.

Expect to pay between $50 and $150 for your horse.

Here are the Spring Rocking Horse toys we have reviewed...

Bandit Spring Horse - by Flexible Flyer

This amazing horse is a classic. A big 44” horse body mounted to a sturdy steel frame makes Bandit easy to mount, and the realistic stirrups ensure proper fit for riders big and small.

The sturdy plastic body is individually hand painted for realistic detail. This Spring Rocking Horse toy has electronic sound effects which are activated by the motion of the horse.

Features include non-slip handgrips, safety spring break guard, non-skid step tape, non-marking floor caps and safety spring covers. See these Spring Rocking Horse toys

Play Idea

Introduce your child to “Rock Music”

There’s a natural rhythm to riding a spring rocking horse toy. You can enhance this experience by playing music for toddlers to Rock along and even sing to.

There are lots of suitable tunes. My favourites are:

“Stop the Cavalry” - by David Bowie,
“Lilli Burlero” - by Henry Purcell

Liberty Spring Horse. - by Radio Flyer

A beautifully decorated classic design, this horse has a real yarn mane and tail.

It’s height is easily adjustable so it can grow with your child.

This spring rocking horse toy is contained in a durable steel tubular frame, which has an integrated step for easy mounting and provides a wide stable base. Check out these Spring Rocking Horse toys

Rock&Bounce Pony. - by Radio Flyer

Suitable for even a very young toddler, this horse has a unique rubber bounce suspension giving a safe, quiet ride.

It features a removable safety saddle so the pony "grows with your child."

The fabric body is removable and washable and the easy grip handles are perfectly placed. The pony's ears make a fun crinkle sound! Look at these Spring Rocking Horse toys

Is there an alternative to Spring Rocking Horse toys?

You'll find some interesting alternatives to Spring Rocking Horse toys in our review of Toy John Deere tractors or you may select another toy category from the sidebar.

The amazing history of Spring Rocking Horse Toys!