A solid, ride-on Clydesdale rocking horse, lovingly handcrafted by members of the Ashburton Woodworkers’ Club, is up for sale.
Built with children in mind, the horse itself weighs about 25kg and is able to withstand maximum adult weights.
It will be at the Ashburton Waitangi Day market in the domain today. It runs from 10am to 3pm.
Club president Bill Healey said a group of members had spent more than 100 hours over the past few months working on two rocking horses.
Proceeds go towards the club, which has 26 members.
The other had sold for $700.
‘‘It’s been a club project. A group of us come (to the club) on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons,’’ Healey said.
‘‘We are hoping to sell (this one) at the market day.’’
It had been listed on TradeMe, but despite having some interest, had not received any bids.
If it doesn’t sell at the market, members could consider using it for a raffle.
‘‘It took us weeks and weeks because we built two of them as the same time,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s all made out of four by twos joined together.
‘‘Where the boards need joining to get the width, they are joined together with biscuits (little wood pieces).
‘‘Then it’s all cut out on a bandsaw. Each section is like that.’’
About 30 pieces were made in total for each rocking horse; there were three for the head alone.
“It’s a lot of work; a lot of work has gone into them.’’
Plans for the rocking horse complete with yoke, had been sourced from Australia.
The project suggestion was made by member Merv Peck, who had made them in the past.
Members were also working on a wooden outdoor table, which if completed in time, could also be at the market for sale.
It will be topped with a large slab of elm wood, which has been sanded, restored and covered with epoxy resin.
In areas where deteriorating wood was removed, the epoxy resin has been coloured an aqua-type blue, like pooling water. It has solid square table legs.
