Selecting Quality Model Horses For Live Shows
Showing Model Equines Is Fun, But Also Highly Competitive
Apr 22, 2009
Most people have heard of or attended hobby shows for dolls, Teddy bears or model railroads. Showing model horses is similar but, since model horses are not toys, your models should to be as realistic as possible if you want to be competitive. Plastic horses by Breyer and the Peter Stone Company, artists’ resins sculpted by model horse artists, commercial (mass-produced) resins by North Light and ceramics by companies such as Beswick, Royal Doulton, Hagen-Renaker and Lakeshore Porcelain are the most common. However, the name of the manufacturer and the cost of the horse does not matter. Reality is everything.
Shows are generally divided into different categories by finish (factory finish or customized), size, material (plastic, china, resin, etc.) or manufacturer.
Starting Out Showing Model Horses
Like all collectors, you love every one of your models, so how do you decide which ones are "live show quality" (LSQ)? First, look at condition. Rubs, scrapes, repairs, marks, chipped ears, bad seams, and poor paint jobs will count against even the best horse, so leave those models at home. An otherwise excellent horse that has been professionally restored may be acceptable if the flaw is hard to see, depending on the judge. Some are pickier than others!
From the horses with the fewest flaws (no model is ever perfect), choose those with the most correct conformation for their breed and the most realistic paint job. If you are unfamiliar with the different breeds and correct coat colours, get a reference book. Model horse shows are often a crash course in learning all about real horses, which is part of the fun.
Remember to dust or wash your horses before the show. Showing a dusty model is like showing a real horse with a muddy coat.
Buying Model Horses To Show
Whether you are a new collector or you are looking for new models for an existing collection, you may decide to buy new models specifically for live show competitions, just as people buy real horses to show. Some people will pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to obtain top quality models. Even new plastic horses can be quite expensive if there were only a few made or if they are “factory custom” or one-of-a-kind.
Luckily, you don’t have to be rich to buy good show models. Everyone who shows regularly can recall seeing a $5 model take big wins over horses worth hundreds of dollars each. It’s all up to the judge!
One way to get a lot of horse for your money is to buy and show minis. Mini models of adult horses are generally less than 5 inches tall at the eartips. Some are barely an inch tall. You can get LSQ mini plastics, resins, customized models and chinas for a much lower price than you would pay for large models of equal quality. It’s also a good way to obtain resins by famous model artists or one-of-a-kind customs at a much reduced cost.
Minis have another advantage: they require very little shelf space, and your entire show string will fit in a shoe box when travelling to shows.
More information about live showing model horses is available from Breyer Animal Creations and from the North American Model Horse Showers Association (NAMHSA).
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