Wal Canavan is preserving the past in his hand-carved horses

The pair had been on holiday in their caravan when they stopped at a rodeo and Mrs Canavan spotted a carousel ride. Lying next to the ride, in pieces on the ground, was a decorative horse.

"My wife went up and said 'how much for that' and the blkoke said 'love, you couldn't afford it'." Mr Canavan said.

"He said he wanted five grand for it.

"And I said - just joking - 'oh, I can make them' and I've been doing them ever since."

The Canavans still have the first horse Mr Canavan made, back in 1997. Nicknamed Tramp, it has been made into a rocking horse and sits inside the couple's Wagga home.

Mr Canavan, who is now retired, worked in arts, graphic design and photography, but he and his wife have also always had "real" horses as well.

They currently have a quarter horse and a pony.

At one time, they had a business offering carriages rides so Mr Canavan not only hand-carved two Clydesdales, but also a small dog, to promote it.

Mr Canavan's horses are carved in two sections, and he uses two different types of wood: Maple for the legs and softwood for the body, where the most carving is done.

"You can't lift the whole lot around, and there's a cavity inside that we use to put a record of that era when it was finished," he said.

"We put in photographs, a newspaper from the time it was finished. One of them has reports about Princess Diana's death inside it."

Currently, Mr Canavan is making a horse for a family in Victoria with a 10-year-old daughter. Tucked inside will be a "time capsule" of the youngster's early life.

Mr Canavan has been working on this particular horse for four months and has now finished the woodwork, with the mane and tail - which are made from real horse hair - to be added next.

Saddles and bridles are custom-made for the Canavans, with Mrs Canavan sewing blankets and other decorative touches. Each horse is given a nickname.

Mr Canavan estimates he has made between 15 and 20 horses and most have been given away to family and friends.

Most of the horses have been put onto rockers.

Mr Canavan has also restored some old rocking horses and admits this can be a real labour of love.

"Some of them are a hell of a mess," he said.

Once he has completed the two horses currently in his workshop, Mr Canavan is planning something a little different for his next project.

"I'd like to have a go at a Pegasus or a unicorn," he said.