Our horses were designed by Lucius Meyer, an American-German Master Craftsman, who built them for his grandchildren. These rocking horses embody beauty, durability and the playful spirit of a child. The rockers, made out of solid hardwood, provide a wide, sturdy base, which will safely handle even the most energetic bronco riders.

1. Solid Poplar Hardwood

2. Genuine leather bridle and saddle

3. Adjustable leather stirrup straps on large horse, "Treasures"

4. Carousel horse eyes

5. Brass or silver buckles and rings

6. Extra thick yarn or natural horse hair mane and tail

7. Catalyzed lacquer finish

8. Signed and dated

9. Special personalized inscription can be added on special orders

10. Lifetime Warranty (Ms Word ~ PDF) 

11. Complies with government child-safety standards*

* Caution:  Under certain conditions mane and tail may be flammable.

Crestwood Man Crafts Artful Rocking Horses

Listen. You can hear it. The sound of beating hooves and the wind whipping through your hair as you glide effortlessly through the meadows of your imagination all brought to life by a toy that today might appear old fashioned.

In the digitally enhanced, batteries-required child wonderland, a Crestwood man appreciates a much more simple toy - the rocking horse.

Photo by Pam Doepke

In his basement, George Billings, 51, finds a sense of peace and wonderment in crafting heirloom-quality rocking horses.

"My horses are special because of their endearing feel and look," Billings said. "I search for just the right piece of wood. When I look at the grain of the wood, I see racing flanks or gentle faces of horses. After the work begins, it's as if the wood comes alive and begins to breathe. I love woodworking and it's a wonderful compliment to some of the theoretical work I do."

By day, the master craftsman can be found at Webster University where he works in the Alumni Development Office and teaches several religion courses.

Billings finds that creating the horses is an extension of his spiritual nature and a nice break from a fast-paced lifestyle.

"Working with the horses, I get to work with my hands as opposed to a computer," Billings said. "Creating something beautiful often times brings me peace and a sense of joy. A lot of times I'll just work with them in the silence of the shop in the early morning. It can be kind of a meditative process."

The process began three years ago when Billings, who had always loved woodworking, decided to carry on a family tradition.

His father-in-law, Lucius Meyer, was a German-American master craftsman who made all sorts of gifts for his family. There were toy boxes, chairs, foot stools, and, of course, rocking horses.

"He died about six years ago," Billings said. "I had to, unfortunately, pick it up where he left off."

When he first saw the horses Meyer made, Billings said he just fell in love with them. Until the day he died, Meyer still was working on his horses.

"He left one that was unfinished," Billings said. "He left all the parts that the had cut out. When he discovered he was pretty far along with cancer, he couldn't finish it."

The horse lay in pieces, but the unfinished project made it possible for Billings to carry on Meyer's work.

"My wife had one that was put together, but more important was seeing all the parts, " Billings said.

With the pieces laid out, Billings consulted with some friends who were architectural wood workers and before long he created his first horse.

"It was a challenge all right," Billings said with a smile. "There was learning at every step, which is to say I made a lot of mistakes."

It could take up to a month for Billings to create a rocking horse from selecting the wood to attaching the final details. Billings searched the Midwest for the right wood and selected kiln-dried poplar from Barnes Millworks in Pittsburg, Kansas. Once together he fits the horse with leather saddles and bridles, adds carousel horse eyes, brass or silver buckles and rings and a lacquer finish.

The horse comes with thick manes and tails or Billings can make horses with real horse hair he gets from the Lakota Sioux Indians. Each rocking horse is then signed and dated.

"They each have a little bit different character and a little bit different individuality," he said. "And I notice when I'm working with them some horses go together better than others. You have to work with each one to put it together in a way that it wants to go together." All together Billings had made about 90 horses.

"Because they're heirloom quality, they just need to be as professionally handcrafted as they can be," he said. "They're meant to last long beyond what we do into several generations."