How to Safely Transport Your Model Horses

Originally, we rode horses in order to travel. Now, horse lovers often travel in order to show their model horses or take them to sales. You also want to take them with you when you move. The goal of transporting model horses is to have them be in the same condition at the end of your journey as they were at the beginning of your journey.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Your model horses
• Lots of bubble wrap
• Lots of newspaper
• Rubbermaid or other plastic totes or suitable-sized cardboard boxes
• Cotton balls or padding (optional)
• Boxes the model horse came in (optional)

Have Breyer, Will Travel

1. Make sure your model horses are dust-free and clean.

2. Support ears, fragile tails or extended legs with cotton balls or cotton padding if you think they might be bumped a lot. If you are wrapping a small porcelain model, then the entire model needs to be wrapped gently in padding.

3. Wrap one model in bubble wrap.

4. Place bubble wrapped model in original box or wrap newspaper around it. If the bubble wrap seems thick enough, you can skip the newspaper.

5. Place model in your plastic tote or box standing up (like a real horse in a trailer).

6. Repeat until tote is filled, but not packed too tightly. You want to be able to remove each horse easily. Models in their own boxes can have their boxes be placed in a tote or carried separately.

7. Move totes to vehicle. Try not to place anything on top of them, unless it's a lot smaller and lighter. Secure the totes so that they do not slide around.

Tips & Warnings

• If you run out of bubble wrap, try soft cloths like tee shirts. Be careful of any material that might snag on the model's pointed parts.
• Using just newspaper is better than nothing.
• Avoid leaving your models in any high heat when all wrapped up for moving. They can warp with the heat and may get discolored from the newsprint or have the bubble wrap stick to them.
• Avoid wrapping your models in newspaper and then stacking them on top of each other in a grocery bag -- although this can work for emergency situations for Breyer or other plastic models only, it usually scratches your models.
• Do not stack your models on top of each other.

Resources

• North American Model Horse Shows Association
• An Introduction to Live Showing