‘We can embroider on a family crest, children’s names, or initials. People usually commission a family heirloom’
Twin brothers Marc and Tony Stevenson started making rocking horses in 1982 and set up their business, coining the brand Stevenson Brothers The Rocking Horse Makers in England.
They have been committed to reviving the ancient craft of making these teaching aids. Most great horse riders in the United Kingdom learnt their early Equestrian skills on a wooden horse.
Having made horses for many families in the Middle East, Marc decided to accept an invitation to exhibit his horses at the recent Katara International Hunting and Falcon Exhibition.
Community recently sat down with Marc to learn about the craft and its prospects in Qatar.
Tell us about yourself and your company for our readers
My twin brother and I were lucky to be born in Malta in 1956, and then, lived in Kenya until we were 12. We had an uncle, James Bosworthick, who made rocking horses and we always thought we would be given one. Unfortunately, that was not the case! So after moving back to England and completing our education from an art school we knew, being twins, we wanted to work together. An apprenticeship was served by Tony and we set up our business on our family farm, launched on our 26th birthday, that is, October 20, 1982 — which happened to be a public holiday in Kenya. The first computer games had just been invented.
We straight away wrote our three business goals on the wall of our first workshop:
1. To re-introduce the rocking horse and make them popular again as teaching aids and objects of beauty.
2. To be the best rocking horse makers in the world.
3. To inspire other people to discover their own creativity and want them to join our growing team.
How do you make the horses?
We soon saw that the Victorian horse makers from the late 1800s made the finest carved horses and were inspired by them. Our horses are built from English Oak mostly, and are hollow inside. The legs are specially joined into the body and gain strength from the mortice and tenon joint such that they are strong enough to take adult riders, too. Choosing the timber for the matching grain is important and can show off the muscles as in a real horse. The wood is planned flat then glued with special clamps to hold it together whilst the glue dries over the weeks. Then, the carving happens with gouges and mallets and many hours of sanding smooth with different grits of sand paper. The glass eyes are fitted and the horse is then slowly finished with a variety of paints and wood satins and many coats of fine lacquer.
We can embroider on a family crest, children’s names, or initials. People usually commission a family heirloom.
How will you best explain your craft?
Our craft is a symbiosis of woodworking sculptural skills and fine art painting.
Like any piece of craftsmanship or object of beauty, it’s going to be here forever. These horses remind people of a time gone by, pre-Internet and pre-batteries, when we all had time to play.
What has been the response of people to your business in all these years?
People were surprised when we announced 36 years ago that we were going to make these classic horses. It was a slow beginning, but we decided that we should do a world tour and came back after two months with a collection of orders.
I have had lots of adults tell me of their lower back pain healing after ten minutes rocking on a horse.
What is exceptional about your craft?
All our rocking horses are different from each other being hand-made and finished to clients’ wishes.
Tell us about some of your noted customers
We have made horses for many well-known discerning clients around the world. Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom has five horses which are being given to the grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also learnt to ride on her rocking horse.
We have also been commissioned to make a rocking horse based on Winston ridden by HRH The Prince of Wales. The client list also includes many royal families in the Middle East.
Many other famous names have commissioned horses from us, including famous jockeys like Frankie Detorri and champion Jockey Sir AP McCoy.
Many horse trainers have also commissioned copies of famous race horses, including Istabraq, Best Mate and Frankel.
Many musicians around the world including Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Sir Paul McCartney and Rick Parfitt of Status Quo and actors including Ewan McGregor and Joanna Lumley are amongst the galaxy of stars who have engaged us.
We have also been the Harrods Rocking Horse supplier for 35 years.
How long have you been visiting Qatar? What has been the response of the people here?
This was our first visit to Qatar, and we are very excited about the possibilities of making unique rocking horses based on Qatari owners’ desire for real Arabian horses.
Many people had not seen rocking horses or a rocking camel before, but the children that visited did not need any instruction. It’s a very natural thing for children to be drawn to. They are teaching aids, in the old days everyone had to ride a horse or camel to travel.
We made a very special white Arab horse tacked in white leather fitted with some fine gold embellishments which proved very popular amongst the thousands of visitors. HE Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa al-Thani made a visit to our stand and in conversation said that he understood the rocking horse was a tradition in England and saw the teaching benefits for riders of all ages. This horse now resides at his royal palace.
He also admired the pictures of Her Majesty the Queen on display with her five rocking horses made by the Stevenson Brothers.
How do you see Qatar as a country in general?
I fell in love with the country immediately and am amazed by the beautiful city layout and stunning 21stcentury architecture. I was most impressed by the cleanliness of Doha and the lack of advertising hoardings and graffiti. I found everyone very friendly and polite.
What are your future plans for business? Do you plan to create something special?
I do hope to be working with Al Shaqab in future and plan to return to an Arabian horse show next year with a number of Arabian horses.
I intend to prepare Arabian horses, a gold Arab sculpture.
COVETED: A selection of horses with The Black Diamond Jubilee horse made for Her Majesty the Queen in 2012.
THE FAMOUS: English actress Joanna Lumley with her Dapple Grey rocking horse.
JOYRIDE: A young boy riding the Steel Grey Oak horse with Falcon embroidery.
“I fell in love with the country (Qatar) immediately and am amazed by the beautiful city layout and stunning 21stcentury architecture. I was most impressed by the cleanliness of Doha and the lack of advertising hoardings and graffiti. I found everyone very friendly and polite”
