How to Choose a Model Horse For Live Showing

Choosing your show string may be hard

One of the most exciting aspects of the model horse hobby is participating in what are called "live shows" (as opposed to photo shows). But if you are going to take the trouble to travel and show your models, you might as well have a good chance at winning a ribbon.This starts with your choice of Breyers or other makes of model horses for your show string. Read on to learn how to choose a model horse for live showing.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Your model horses
• Model horses for sale (optional)
• Model horse value book or list from a website
• Knowledge of what real show horses look like
• Honesty
• Good vision

1. Look at the class list for the model horse live show you want to enter. Your choice of show string will be largely based on that class list. This means you may have to choose a new show string for each live show you participate in.

2. Get all of your model horses and be honest with yourself about their condition. Eliminate all models with scratches, obvious repaired breaks, chipped ears, bent legs, bubbles in the paint or other damage.

3. Pick a model not only in perfect condition, but with smooth seams, which look more lifelike. In Breyers, Hartlands and Peter Stones, the seams run down the back and along the belly up the neck. Rough seams can be felt if you have some trouble seeing. Rough seems often resemble teeth on a comb.

4. Take a look at the model's paint job. One of the great things about many brands of model horses is that they are hand painted and no two models looks exactly alike. Some paint jobs will look a lot more realistic than others. Look at the eyes. Did the paint smear all over the head or did the paint stay where it was supposed to stay?

5. Pick up one model that you have decided you will show. Compare that model to pictures of real horse breeds and real horse anatomy. Even if sold as a particular breed, many model horses actually do best shown as other breeds or as half breeds. Be sure the color of your model is an acceptable color in the real horse breed registry.

6. Repeat Step 5 for each of your live show quality models.

Tips & Warnings

• Even if you don't have any live show quality models, you can still attend a model horse show. They are a great way to get ideas, meet other hobbyists and lots of shopping opportunities.

• If you ever see LSQ on model horse sales lists, it means Live Show Quality, which means the model is in perfect condition.

• Most live shows will offer a "Collector's Division," where the most important criteria is the rarity of the model. Slightly damaged models can do well here, depending on how rare and how valuable they are.

• Never argue with the judge at a live show. Not only do you look bad, it never works.

• Don't take showing too seriously. This is just a hobby, after all, not life or death.

• Don't assume you know the show rules for determining what model is considered original finish and what is a remake or customized model. Even repairing or touching up your model may disqualify it as an original finish model. Read all the rules carefully.

Resources

• An introduction to live showing
• Model horse gallery live show listings