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Monday 10am - 5pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 4pm

Rix & Co Rocking Horse Maker and Restorer

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Rix & Co Rocking Horse Maker and Restorer

We create handcrafted, traditional rocking horses to your bespoke design. Makers and restorers or beautiful rocking horses in the heart of Staffordshire

We also a full rocking horse restoration service, wood carving experiences and stock a range of creative and traditional toys in our Sudbury Courtyard shop.

15/04/2025

**3 Spaces Left - Book Now 10th & 11th July** Hey there, folks! Get ready to saddle up for another unforgettable workshop experience because we've got something truly special lined up! 🐎 We're absolutely thrilled to welcome Susan Williams back to the workshop for another masterclass in dappling. Whether you're a seasoned hobbyist or just starting out, this workshop is tailor-made for anyone eager to dive into the art of decorating and restoring these timeless treasures. Don't have a trusty steed of your own yet? No worries at all! We've got plenty of rocking horses waiting to be spruced up, so you can hone your craft and unleash your creativity. And hey, if you've already got a prized pony gathering dust in the corner, bring it along! The more, the merrier!

Susan originally studied graphic design specialising in illustration. Whilst doing her degree at art college in the eighties she bought her first rocking horse. Determined to find out how it would have looked originally without the aid of the internet she started researching and soon became hooked! After restoring her first horse Susan became a collector and restorer, approved by the V&A Museum. She has a large collection of antique rocking horses herself and is very busy restoring and painting horses of all ages, shapes and sizes for clients here and abroad.

Susan will show you how to dapple your horse in the traditional style on day one followed on day two on how to finish it either with an antique finish or looking as it would when it left the factory.

Book now: https://www.woodcarversstudio.com/product-page/dappling

03/04/2025

A massive congrats to our great friend and workshop ‘apprentice’ for making the front cover of Woodcarving magazine, a real achievement indeed. Many of you will have met Mick over the years, he started carving 30 years ago and you just can’t stop him. Looks like he’s raised the bar and I’m gonna have to step up and get my work on the front cover now 😂

01/04/2025

What a cracking few days teaching another bunch of lovely folk, just look at their wonderful creations!!

25/02/2025

It’s a wrap on the dappling and antique finishing course with Susan. Our students absolutely smashed it and we’re so pleased to pass on these skills for the future conservation and preservation of our craft. I’m sure another course will be on its way soon so watch this space! Rock on everyone.

24/02/2025

Another incredible day in the workshop today with all these lovely ‘dapplers’ learning ticks of the trade from the wonderful Susan Williams. We love passing on these skills to all of these great folk that love rocking horses as much as we do!

17/02/2025

📣 Exciting News! 🪵✨
Due to a last-minute cancellation, I have ONE space available for my Introduction to Wood Carving Course on February 22nd!

Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills, this is your chance to learn the art of wood carving and create something truly unique.

Let's pick up those chisels and carve a masterpiece together!

📅 Date: Saturday, 22nd February
📍 The workshop @ Sudbury Courtyard

DM me to book your spot before it’s gone or book now on this link https://www.woodcarversstudio.com/product-page/22nd-feb-2025-introduction-to-wood-carving

13/01/2025

**2 Spaces Left - Book Now 24th, 25th Feb** Hey there, folks! Get ready to saddle up for another unforgettable workshop experience because we've got something truly special lined up! 🐎 We're absolutely thrilled to welcome Susan Williams back to the workshop for another materclass in dappling. Whether you're a seasoned hobbyist or just starting out, this workshop is tailor-made for anyone eager to dive into the art of decorating and restoring these timeless treasures. Don't have a trusty steed of your own yet? No worries at all! We've got plenty of rocking horses waiting to be spruced up, so you can hone your craft and unleash your creativity. And hey, if you've already got a prized pony gathering dust in the corner, bring it along! The more, the merrier!

Susan originally studied graphic design specialising in illustration. Whilst doing her degree at art college in the eighties she bought her first rocking horse. Determined to find out how it would have looked originally without the aid of the internet she started researching and soon became hooked! After restoring her first horse Susan became a collector and restorer, approved by the V&A Museum. She has a large collection of antique rocking horses herself and is very busy restoring and painting horses of all ages, shapes and sizes for clients here and abroad.

Susan will show you how to dapple your horse in the traditional style on day one followed on day two on how to finish it either with an antique finish or looking as it would when it left the factory.

Book now: https://www.woodcarversstudio.com/product-page/dappling

30/12/2024

As the year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for your incredible support for my work as a rocking horse maker and restorer. Your appreciation and love for these timeless creations means the world to me.

The art of traditional rocking horse making is not just a craft; it’s a piece of history—a connection to a simpler time when handmade treasures were passed down through generations. By supporting this craft, you're helping to preserve a tradition that brings joy, nostalgia, and beauty to so many lives.

Your belief in the importance of keeping this tradition alive inspires me every day to keep creating, innovating, and cherishing this wonderful heritage. Together, we’re ensuring that future generations can experience the magic of these handcrafted horses.

Here’s to honouring the past while carving a future full of creativity and tradition! Thank you for being part of this journey with me. 🐴✨

Happy New Year to you all, keep rocking!
Pete x

P.S. Thank you Rod Fitzpatrick for your wonderful images too, a truly amazing photographer :-) https://rkpphotography.co.uk/

17/12/2024

Give someone a real treat this Christmas and gift them a glorious carving course with the one and only Mr Rix! Create and treasure forever. Visit https://www.woodcarversstudio.com/ to find something to bring a smile this Christmas.

All courses are specifically aimed at complete beginners with no previous experience. These practical, hands-on courses are the perfect introduction to heritage craft of wood carving, within a friendly and creative environment.

Pete will guide you through the basics of wood carving and you will learn to use traditional wood carving skills in the creation of your very own masterpiece. You will gain an understanding of the processes involved and, by the end of the day, will have completed and will be able to take home, a relief carving in lime wood - as well as, hopefully, a new found passion for your new hobby.

One day workshops are held within our studio at the beautiful Sudbury Courtyard, Derbyshire which is set on the edge of the grounds of the National Trust Sudbury Hall and nestled on the edge of the Peak District National Park. The perfect environment for inspiring your creativity.

28/11/2024

If you would like to embark on a carving project - we now run a monthly continuing carvers course on Fridays!
To book visit https://www.woodcarversstudio.com/product-page/friday-carvers-club
- new 2025 term dates now available!

21/11/2024

Time to gesso! Tulipwood and beech large rocking horse, made with love to last a lifetime ❤️🐴

Address

64 Main Street
Wembley
DE65EB

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 5pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+441283585073

Website

http://www.rixand.co/

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Our Story

Rix & Co. was founded in 2015 by husband and wife team Pete and Anna Rix. Pete has a commercial background in design and has been carving since the age of 14. Over the years Pete has developed his skills of sculpture and traditional woodcarving and in doing so has developed a true passion for these wonderful and timeless toys.

The preservation and development of traditional craftsmanship is something close to our hearts, and maintaining the craft of the Rocking Horse maker is something they feel honoured to be a part of. Anna heads up the finishing department and is responsible for the beautiful paint finishes and tack .

As well as making Rix & Co original rocking horses we provide a restoration service for old and tired rocking horses, as well as offering a range of workshops enabling keen craftsmen and women to carve their very own rocking horse head. For those particularly enthusiastic students we are more than happy to guide you through the process to making and finishing a complete horse.

Whatever your rocking horse needs we are here to help.