8 best toy rocking horses for a nostalgic addition to your nursery

French brand Moulin Roty is known for designing yesterday’s toys for today’s children, and this couldn’t be truer with its rocking horse. It has a real sense of nostalgia, and due to its solid beech composition, it’ll make a perfect keepsake that’ll stand the test of time. Style like this takes time, and we found it took about 20 minutes to assemble, but the instructions are easy and clear to follow. The solid wooden beech has been taken from forests that are managed ecologically, meaning the trees are felled reasonably and replanted every year.

There’s a lovely smooth finish, and the imitation leather saddle is a soft cushioning, while the bridle completes the look. There’s also a footrest on each side and handles for a stable ride. Suitable for those aged 12 months plus, this is a great size for our two-year-old tester, but it states a maximum weight of 50kg so it’s built to take larger kids too. We love the classic design, finished with a bronze logo which is a stunning addition to a nursery or child’s room. In fact, it’s so good looking we don’t mind it in the lounge.

Designed for little riders aged three to six years, this will require five minutes of assembly (attaching the legs to the base, and adding the handlebars using a screwdriver) then you’re hot to trot. Unlike the others we reviewed, this takes two AA batteries, hidden under the horse’s belly, which means your horsey game is taken to a new level. Our four-year-old tester loved pressing the horse’s ears to hear the horse neigh and his feet go clippity-clop. They also loved stroking the soft plush body, and fluffy white hair of the mane and tail, and were keen to point out its fluffy white socks!

The solid wood rockers are traditional in style, lifting the horse and providing the ability to rock away. The soft padded saddle makes this comfortable to sit on, and the wooden handgrips give extra stability when rocking. There are even wide stirrups little ones can put their feet in, but they might find this a little tricky to do at first. Our four-year-old is the perfect size for this, children any younger might find it a little tall to ride.

These traditional toys are designed in Yorkshire and handmade with attention to quality, and it’s safe to say we love its range of rocking horses. You can choose between designs for those aged nine months plus, or 12 months plus. We were delighted to try out its Stirling & Mac rocking horse and there’s plenty to talk about. Firstly, the textured grey herringbone fabric makes for a standout look, while the soft, scrunchy faux suede mane and tail is sure to become baby’s favourite part as it’s tactile to the touch and has a lovely sensory element. Our reviewer immediately fell in love with Mac too, the adorable little bear who sits in his own pocket at the front of the horse. This may be the prize pony in terms of expenditure but with that cost comes an incredibly well made toy. It’s built on a sturdy wooden rocking base (you’ll need to attach the horse to the rocking rails) which has been smartly painted in a dark grey to match. The padded leatherette saddle makes for a comfortable perch, while the bridle completes the look. There are handlebars for little ones to grab hold of, and a maximum recommended weight of 20kg, meaning your one-year-old jockey has a few years of use too!

British family run business, Big Jigs, has been delighting children with wooden toys since 1985. After a few minutes of straightforward construction, this rocking horse was ready to be ridden. The pony has a retro feel, and we love the bright red accents and grey illustrations. This horse feels sturdy and designed to last, it’s made from high quality, responsibly sourced materials with a plywood finish which is smooth to the touch. We started our two-year-old tester with the safety guard in place but we soon realised she didn’t need this. It’s easy to remove and is useful for getting little ones comfortable with the rocking motion, particularly if they’re aged between one and two years. There are handlebars for stability, and a place for kids to rest their feet, while it would go against the exclusive wooden build it would be great to add a cushioned seat for added comfort.

British personalisation brand My 1st Years has joined forces with Belgian baby and toddler brand Childhome to make a baby’s first rocking horse that little more special. Personalise your pet with up to 12 characters for a truly bespoke toy. We love the stripped back all-white finish, which is sure to gain attention in any nursery. Made from MDF, this horse feels super strong and it’s suitable for little ones aged 12 to 30 months. There’s a barrier in place to keep them safe while rocking, plus handlebars and somewhere to rest their feet. It costs an extra £10 to have this arrive assembled which saves parents a job.

How pretty is this little pony?! We love the ditsy floral print saddle area, complemented by the white fluffy mane and tail pastel pink body. Our two-year-old reviewer squealed with delight when she discovered the hidden squeaker, crinkle and rattle in the horse’s ears, which adds an extra element of fun and keeps the child’s interest for longer. It’s a very comfy ride too, as the raised seat back offers extra support, and the handlebars are there for security. This horse is pretty petite so this is definitely designed for younger riders (recommended for 12 months plus), our two-year-old will get a few months use from it, but it’s so pretty it makes a lovely addition to a child’s room even when not being ridden. Please note that you’ll have to attach the horse to the sturdy wooden base.

We love the contrast of the red frame against the natural timber of this rocking horse from French brand Djeco. A company who has been producing high quality toys since 1954, we love its clean design. You’ll need to grab yourself an Allen key before you get started with the assembly, and we did find this the most taxing to put together, requiring 30 minutes of our time and some brute force too. But the results are worth it.

This is probably the smallest of all the rocking horses we tested, but it sure is mighty. Making a fabulous beginner’s rocking horse (recommended for 12 months plus), it comes with a removable safety attachment which helps to support the rider’s back and gives a rail to hold onto. Once your child gets more confident riding this toy, it’s easy to remove it and add the wooden handles in its place – our little reviewer took no time at all to hop on, and it’s so sturdy we believe it’ll be truly treasured.

Janod is a brand known for its traditional toys, and toddlers will love burning off energy on this playtime pal. There’s some lovely finishing touches with this wooden pony; children will love fiddling with the felt main and tail, and the padded seat provides a comfy seat for little bottoms, plus it can be easily removed as it’s attached by Velcro. Even more impressively, it only took us less than ten minutes to put together. There’s somewhere to rest the rider’s feet, two wooden handles and an angled back rest for extra support. Our two-year-old was more than happy to rock out on this pony, and while it’s suitable from 12 months, we’d say it’s ideal for those aged 18 months to two years.