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Best Rocking Horses of 2023

Updated
Encourage coordination and balance with one of these fun rocking horses.

Rocking horses have come a long way since we were young, and there are so many more options today. Some have springs, some have rockers, and some have wheels and motors. We’ve even tested models that talk or play music.

The choice can quickly become overwhelming, and it can be hard to know what features are necessary.

We’ve spent hours reading reviews and checking out dozens of rocking horses, dinos, unicorns, and even ducks. We’ve discovered some significant differences between models. We’ll discuss what features you should look for in a rocking toy, and we’ll thoroughly review the best rocking horses for kids of all ages.

Rock on!

Our Top Picks

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Image
Model
Product Comparison Table
Features

Product Image of the Little Tikes Rocking Horse Blue, 33.00 L x 10.00 W x 17.50 H Inches
Indoor & Outdoor Play
Little Tikes Blue
  • 50-pound weight limit
  • Easy-grip handles
  • Made in USA
Product Image of the Animal Adventure | Real Wood Ride-On Plush Rocker | White and Pink Unicorn |...
Magical Adventures
Plush Unicorn Rocker
  • Well-crafted
  • Soft embroidered details
  • 75-pound weight limit
Product Image of the labebe - Baby Rocking Horse, Ride Unicorn, Kid Ride On Toy for 6 Month-3 Year...
Best for Girls
Labebe Unicorn Rocker
  • Cute and sturdy
  • 3-side seat with belt
  • Soft, stain-resistant fabric
Product Image of the Rockin' Rider Silver Spring Horse, Brown , Large
Best Talking Horse
Rockin' Rider Talking Spring Horse
  • Cuddly
  • Durable construction
  • Three-position stirrup
Product Image of the PonyCycle Authentic Horse Ride on Toy for Toddlers Boy Toys(with Brake/ 30'...
Rocking Ride
PonyCycle Horse Ride
  • Has brake
  • Easy-grip handle bars
  • Wear-resistant wheels
Product Image of the Radio Flyer Champion Interactive Horse Ride On Toy For Kids, Tan, Toddler Ride...
Learn to Ride
Radio Flyer Champion Horse
  • 3 levels of riding action
  • Built-in safety straps
  • Realistically designed
Product Image of the Qaba Kids Ride-On Rocking Horse Toy Frog Style Rocker with Fun Music, Seat Belt...
Best for Safety
Qaba Frog Rocker
  • Softly padded plush body
  • Smooth rocking runners
  • Lightweight and long-lasting
Product Image of the labebe - Plush Rocking Horse, Pink Ride Elephant, Stuffed Rocker Toy for Child...
Sturdy & Sweet
Labebe Rocking Elephant
  • Exquisitely handcrafted
  • Award-winning design
  • Comfortable seat
Product Image of the Qaba Kids Ride On Rocking Horse, Plush Animal Toy Sturdy Wooden Rocker with...
Lullaby Buddy
Qaba Ride Horse
  • Excellent quality construction
  • Soft protective seat
  • Sing-along option
Product Image of the Happy Trails Rocking Haley Horse Ride On Grey/White
Cowgirl Or Cowboy?
Happy Trails Haley Horse
  • Sturdy wooden rockers
  • Adorable colors
  • 17-inch height


The Best Rocking Horses of 2023

Here are 13 great rocking horses to consider.

1. Little Tikes Blue Rocking Horse

Indoor and Outdoor Play

If you have a young toddler, you may want to consider this classic rocking horse. It comes fully assembled for instant fun. We love that its plastic construction is easy to clean.

It’s also ideal for indoor and outdoor use. The seat has a high back to stop your child from falling backward. The handles are easy for small hands to grip, and it has a high front, so they can’t lose their balance. When my kids were young, they spent hours trying to rock this horse over, but I can confirm that it’s tip-proof — and a lot of fun!

Photo of the Little Tikes Blue Rocking Horse

2. Animal Adventures Plush Unicorn Rocker

Magical Adventures

Let your princess go on an adventure with this colorful pink unicorn. The unicorn is plush, with the base made from durable wood. It has embroidered details and seat accessories; the company didn’t miss the realistic touch.

The wooden handles and comfortable, wide seat will help your child feel supported as they rock back and forth manually.

Photo of the Animal Adventures Plush Unicorn Rocker

3. Labebe Unicorn Rocker

Best for Girls

This award-winning rocker is sure to be a win for any little princess. It’s ultra-soft and has sturdy construction with a durable wooden rocker.

Your little one can sit on the well-padded, three-sided seat, and you can fasten them in with the safety belt for added security. The plush fabric is even stain-resistant in case of accidents. The sweet accents on this rocking horse are just too cute.

Photo of the Labebe Unicorn Rocker

4. Rockin' Rider Talking Spring Horse

Best Talking Horse

For something interactive, cute, and a little bit hilarious — check out this spring horse that talks. When you press the ears, the horse will sing “I’m a Little Pony,” speak six phrases and make additional sound effects. Not only that, but the mouth moves in sync with the noises, so it looks pretty realistic!

The sturdy steel frame and useful stirrups mean your child can sit comfortably on this horse and ride it as long as their heart desires. The soft plush design also means it’s great for cuddling.

Photo of the Rockin' Rider Talking Spring Horse

5. PonyCycle Horse Ride-on Toy

Rocking Ride

Allow your child to experience the thrill of horseback riding without the fear of their safety. This little pony is ready to ride with a cushioned saddle for comfort. The handles help your child stay upright while they use their legs to “pump” the horse into a galloping motion. They’ll be havin so much fun, they won’t even realize they’re exercising!

Our favorite features are its durable construction and non-wearing wheels. This makes it suitable for indoor and outdoor play, and you don’t have to worry about scratches on your floor. Equipped with a hand brake, this enables your child to have full control of their ride.

There are sturdy wheels on this rocking horse, so it won’t tip. This size is suitable for 3-year-olds to 5-year-olds weighing up to 55 pounds. However, you can also choose from two larger sizes, one for kids ages 4 to 9 and weighing less than 88 pounds, or one for kids over age 7, weighing up to 176 pounds. These quality horses provide fun for the whole family!

Photo of the PonyCycle Horse Ride-on Toy

6. Radio Flyer Champion Interactive Rocking Horse

Learn to Ride

Champion is a rocking horse that encourages imagination, makes sounds, and feels soft to the touch. Your little one can feed Champion the included carrot and listen while he makes chewing sounds. They can also use the comb to brush its mane.

The best part is that this is an interactive spring rocking horse. This means it responds to the movement. There are three riding actions: walking, trotting, and galloping. This solid rocking horse has built-in straps and a strong, sturdy base.

Photo of the Radio Flyer Champion Interactive Rocking Horse

7. Qaba Frog Style Rocker

Best for Safety

Do you want to ensure your young child is safe while rocking? Check out this fun frog. It’s constructed from padded and plush polyester and has a chair to relax in.

There’s a safety belt included. It has a wooden base for sturdiness, and it’s easy to store and move around. We also love that your child can press the frog’s eyes to hear a soft lullaby. This, combined with the gentle rocking movement, is sure to get them sleepy.

Photo of the Qaba Frog Style Rocker

8. Labebe Rocking Elephant

Sturdy & Sweet

If your child is young and needs support, this award-winning elephant may be a fabulous rocker for them. The full seat has high sides to keep them upright and a wooden frame that runs all the way around.

Don’t forget that you can soothe your child with music. Just press the ear of the cute elephant, and they can listen to the songs. The elephant comes in a pink or blue option, and there are many other animals to choose from.

Photo of the Labebe Rocking Elephant

9. Qaba Kids Ride On Rocking Horse

Lullaby Buddy

One of the great things about this rocking horse is its super soft plush seat. It also has a sing-along feature, so your child can sing their heart out. It’s an adorably cute brown color and is all ready to ride with its saddle and bridle.

The solid wood base is excellent for rocking back and forth, making it one of the most durable on the market.

Kids ages 3 and up will enjoy the rocking adventure.

Photo of the Qaba Kids Ride On Rocking Horse

10. Rocking Haley Rocking Horse

Cowgirl or Cowboy?

Now your little one can saddle up and take the reins with their own Appaloosa horse. They can ride like they’re on a ranch with this adorable grey and white speckled wooden rocking horse.

It’s handcrafted with a wooden core and base, ideal for rocking. It’s not going to flip, so you can let your child rock away without having to worry. This model is designed for kids ages 2 to 3 years.

Photo of the Rocking Haley Rocking Horse

11. Rocking Dagwood Dragon

Best for Boys

Let your child’s imagination run wild as they ride this mystical dragon. Your little one can have fun making up stories and going on adventures. It’s made from polyester and has a pine rocker.

There’s some balance required for this rocker, with a recommended age of 2 to 4 years old. However, it’s easy to climb onto and has wooden handles to grip.

Photo of the Rocking Dagwood Dragon

12. Hape Wooden Rocking Horse

The Traditional Rocking Horse

You can bring fond memories back to life with this traditional rocking horse. It’s suitable for children from as young as 10 months up to 3 years.

It’s constructed from quality wood, and the base allows for gentle rocking or galloping. There’s a wide seat accompanied by large handles to hold onto.

We appreciate the safety features. The adjustable guardrail is great for babies, alongside the backrest you can lower as your little one get older.

Photo of the Hape Wooden Rocking Horse

13. Qaba Brown Rocking Horse

Giddy-Up and Have Fun

The plush fur of this rocking horse is so soft it could be mistaken for the real thing! Your child can feel like a professional, thanks to the saddle with stirrups and the red bandana. They can also listen to the galloping and neighing noises when they press an ear.

It has a solid metal rocker with a plush polyester body, and it comes fully assembled.

Photo of the Qaba Brown Rocking Horse

Benefits of Rocking Horses for Kids

Rocking horses are more than just fun toys. They offer a range of benefits for your child’s development:

  • Using the leg muscles and core for balance and to improve mobility.
  • The rocking movement can have a soothing effect.
  • Encouraging creativity.

How to Choose a Rocking Horse

When evaluating the quality of rocking horses, we have some specific criteria we look for. The horse (or other animal) must be sturdy and stable, able to withstand rough play and last for years, and it needs to offer extra security features. We also appreciate if it’s affordable, attractive, and has a good amount of “rock” to it.

We’ll expand on these criteria to help you choose the best rocking horse for your child.

Sturdy & Stable

The rocking horse needs to have a stable base. This is for safety, allowing a rocking motion without your child tipping it over. A wood base will be your best bet, although some plastic models have decent safety features, too.

Extra Security Features

Everyone wants their child to be safe while they’re having fun. Extra security features will help protect your little one.

Some have a seat belt that wraps around their waist. Others have a saddle feature for added support and comfort when your child is rocking. If your “rocking” horse is more of a ride-on, look for one with a brake that’s easy for your child to access.

A plush unit can protect from bangs and bruises if your little one is a wild rider, but if you’re looking at a handcrafted wooden unit, ensure it has been sanded well to prevent splinters. If you have an older rocking horse that’s painted, it’s a good idea to confirm that the paint is lead-free.


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Headshot of Katelyn Holt RN, BSN, BC

Reviewed by

Katelyn Holt RN, BSN, BC

Katelyn Holt RN, BSN, BC is a cardiology nurse and freelance medical writer. Katelyn has 8 years of nursing experience inpatient and outpatient, primarily medical-surgical and cardiac. After having two children she has a passion for Women’s Health and Lactation teaching and support.