Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
A rockin’ good horse
a classic wooden rocking horse kit that you’ve put together can be a bit plain, but you can make it come to life! Paint the body to match your favourite breed then add a mane, eyes and ears. Finish off with a comfy saddle and she’ll be ready to ride for generations to come.
ROCKING HORSE Gather your supplies
• Pedestal rocking horse kit
• Leather scraps
• Faux leatherette
• Wadding
You’ll also need
PVA glue; drill and various drill bits; water-based clear varnish; painting equipment; undercoat; Dulux Aquanamel Semi Gloss in Raw Umber and Vivid White; eyes (2); upholstery pins; hammer; 10mm rope; staple gun
Here’s how
STEP 1 Assemble the rocking horse following the instructions provided. Make sure you use PVA glue on all the joints and dowels. Cutting the end of the supplied allen key and using it in your drill will make assembly a bit faster. STEP 2 Coat the pedestal and frame of the rocking horse with 2 or 3 coats of clear varnish. Using a water-based product will let you get the job done quicker as you can recoat within a few hours. STEP 3 Apply undercoat to the entire horse and let dry. Follow with 2 coats of semi gloss enamel to suit
the colouring of the horse you like. We went with Dulux Raw Umber so our horse is a palomino. Finish off with markings, which are unique to each horse. Here Vivid White was used to create a blaze down the nose and socks around the feet.
STEP 4 Drill the required diameter holes to suit the eyes you have chosen. Spread glue on the eyes then insert into holes.
STEP 5 Cut scraps of leather so when folded they will form an ear shape. Place against side of head and drill small holes through leather for upholstery pins. Tap upholstery pins through ears into head.
STEP 6 Starting near the head, mark points along the neck of the horse spaced 50mm apart. At each point drill holes using a 10mm drill bit. Cut short lengths of rope and glue into each hole. Leave glue to set. Also glue the tail supplied with the kit into position. When dry unwind braid of rope.
STEP 7 Cut leatherette to size to suit the width of the seat, allowing for extra to fold under. Cut wadding to fit across the seat and slightly smaller than the width of the leatherette. Place on seat of the horse, staple to hold then nail around edges with upholstery nails.