TWIN brothers Marc and Tony Stevenson started making rocking horse 35 years ago in a spare shed on their sisters farm in Kingsnorth. She had bought the farm with her husband Frank Mitchell from Sir Freddie Laker and built up a herd of prize Sussex cattle and horses.

Lesley, their sister, was instrumental in the Ladies Side Saddle Association and taught the Champion Claire Lewis and wanted to help her kid brothers with their unusual adventure.

An apprenticeship was served by Tony with their uncle James Bosworthick, a master craftsman and rocking horse maker. Marc had studied design in art school in Bristol and the pair were convinced they could revive the interest in classic rocking horses.

Each horse is hand built in Tulip wood for the painted dapple greys and English Oak. They make four sizes “so there is always a size to fit the space,” Marc tells The Irish Field. “Many of our clients wanted a rocking horse as a child and they finally allow themselves to have one as an adult,” he continues.

“Often grandchildren are a good excuse to have a rocking horse in the house. It’s wonderful watching little people rocking and to see them drift off into their imaginations as they take flight and win that race and run along the beach and jump over the moon. So there is no upper age limit and I ride one every day to sort out my back and posture and tighten my tummy!”

LIFE-LIKE ROCKING HORSES

Stevenson Brothers are increasingly being asked to make copies of real horses and a good number are homed in Ireland.

“The owners of the stud where Frankel is retired commissioned a look-alike this weekend,” said Sue Russell, a partner in the business.

They have made rocking horses based on Best Mate, See More Business, Long Run and Looks Like Trouble for champion jockey Richard Johnson’s children, to name a few. Sir AP McCoy took a delivery of a rocking Synchronised as he retired and the Olympic dressage champion, Charlotte Dujardin CBE was presented with a copy of Valegro the night he retired at Olympia Horse Show in December last year.

Highgrove

Stevenson Brothers have just launched, Highgrove, a copy of the rocking horse that the Prince of Wales rode as a child, which he called Winston after his Grandfather, King George VI’s favourite horse.

It has his racing colours in the blanket and the distinctive Highgrove crest embroidered in the blanket in gold and silk threads and a secret locking compartment hidden inside for those treasured childhood keepsakes.

Stevenson Brothers can be seen at Olympia next month. “We must come back to Punchestown one day, the racing was brilliant, the weather glorious and the craic unforgettable, and we sold horses too,” said Marc.

Stevenson Brothers The Rocking Horse Makers, Bethersden, Kent, TN26 3AP, England

Web: Stevensonbros.com

Tel: 01233 820363

Email: marc@stevensonsonbros.com