How to Run a Model Horse Photo Show

One of the fun things hobbyists like to do with their model horses is participate in model horse photo shows. This is where photos of your model and set ups are judged in terms of to how life-like and accurate they are. Although digital photo shows are on the rise, many people do still enjoy holding real photo shows. This can often be a fun way to raise money for an animal charity.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Time planner
• Internet access
• Microsoft Word or equivalent program
• Printer
• Index card box, photo box or recipe box with dividers
• Books or magazines about real horse breeds with color photos
• Assortment of prizes (ribbons, stamps, Stablemates, model horse tack and other things you would like to receive)
• Access to post office
• Money to correct any mistakes in postage from the showers
• Patience

Let's Show!

1. Look at other model horse photo show class lists on the Haynet mailing list at Yahoo! Visit Model Horse Blab or Model Horse Central or other model horse websites to get a feel for what they are like. You will also learn what is considered a reasonable entrance fee to charge and what the current advertising rates are.

2. When you have a good idea, write up your own class list. Include many of the usual classes for halter and performance, but also include fun classes like "Worst Photo", "Best Broken Breyer" or "Real Pets and Model Horses." Tell applicants what they need to include on their photo backs, when the photos are due and how much the entrance fee costs. Include reminders that all entrants need to send a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). Make sure your show date is at least three months in the future.

3. Send copies of this list to as many model horse bulletin boards, websites and mailing lists as you can. If you have your own website, put it up! Include a contact email in case someone has questions.

4. Get an old recipe box, index card box or photo box in which you can stand up photos. Use dividers to keep the photo classes apart. This will be your photo show box.

5. Read up on real horse breeds, sports and shows to get a good idea of what you are looking for in a winning model horse photo.

6. As your entries trickle in, make note in a notebook or on computer the names and addresses of the competitors, just in case you manage to lose their SASE (it can happen). Put all show materials in one place. Take the photos and place them in your photo show box. You usually can't help but start judging the photos as they come in.

7. On the day of your official judging, rank the photos in order of how real they look, how well they fit the class and how well the photo was taken. Rank all classes from first to tenth (entries permitting). Write the results down in a notebook or on your computer.

8. Write up your results sheet in Microsoft Word or a similar program. The usual etiquette is to list the names of all of the competitors, thank everyone, have a page of photocopied best in show and reserve champion winning photos, have a page of ads (if you received any ads) and a class list for a your next photo show.

9. Divide all of the prizes to the winning contestants. Send all the photos back to their owners and place in along with prizes.

10. Take the pile to your local post office and mail off.

11. Collapse with a huge sigh of relief.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan to do your judging on a day off from work or school. This tends to take all day.
• Make sure everyone who enters wins something, even if you have to make up classes not on the official class list.
• Recycled ribbons are considered OK to use as awards for most hobbyists.
• You can make your own ribbons if you want. This is also considered OK by most model horse photo showers.
• You can ask for show prize donations in your model horse show announcement. You never know until you ask.
• If a photo comes without information on the back, disqualify that photo. Keep it in its envelope or you will loose track of who it belongs to. Gently let the owner know why you had to disqualify the photo.
• Don't do all of your judging on one day if you can help it. This can put you under too much pressure, especially for your first show.
• Don't plan on holding a show in the same month that you first announced it.
• Don't bad-mouth any of the entries on the results sheet.
• Don't take it too seriously, even if you encounter a shower who does.

Resources

• Model Horse Blab
• Model Horse Central