It would seem in the age of modern technologies that more traditional childrens toys are gradually becoming a thing of the past, yet that hasn’t deterred craftsman Tony Dew from sculpting the world’s largest rocking horse. Bigger Bertie, which weighs in at over two tons and two storeys high, can be found at Fangfoss, East Yorkshire, just a 25 minute drive from the centre of York.
Although currently just a decorative piece, it is certain that those who have already been lucky (and brave!) enough to have climbed around 10 feet to the horse’s saddle can’t have been faint hearted. The horse has been designed to mirror the vulnerability faced by small children who are placed onto a regular sized rocking horse, although without much to hold onto and no harnesses in sight, this is more extreme sport than childsplay.
The horse has been carved using a mixture of both traditional carpentary methods and modern electric hand-carving machines and was modelled on a real life counterpart, Bertie the stallion, who lives behind Tony’s workshop.
Work on the horse began last year, but its completion has been a long process due to the enormity of it’s weight and size. The head of the horse alone weighs in excess of six stone, and its production could only take place outdoors at the Rocking Horse Shop workshop, which, knowing Yorkshire’s temperamental weather, must have been difficult.
Bigger Bertie will be on display at the annual Fangfest mini arts festival in Fangfoss this coming Saturday, September 1. After the event, the future of the horse remains to be seen, although it is thought that its creators are looking to find it a new home, hopefully somewhere where it won’t be so intimidating to nearby regular, lifesized horses!
