How to Name a Model Horse for Model Horse Showing

The goal of model horse showing is to be as close to real horse shows as possible. Small details like what breed and name you pick for your model can make the difference between getting ribbons and going home empty-handed. In naming your show string of model horses, you have to observe the same rules as you would with real show horses.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Books about horse breeds
• Magazines of horse breeds
• Internet connection
• Abode Acrobat

1. Observe your show model closely in order to choose what breed it should be. Compare the model's color, markings, body shape, head shape and leg length to pictures of various horse breeds in books, magazines or online in order to find a breed your model best represents. Once you find a match, the search for a name begins.

2. Go online to the breed registry of your model's chosen breed.

3. Find the application for registering a new horse with them. This will include the naming rules. Download the form if you have to. You'll need Abode Acrobat in order to read the form.

4. Find the names of top show horses in that breed. You can find this in classified sections of horse magazines and online, especially for advertisements for stallion services.

5. Pay particular attention to how long the name is allowed to be, if it needs to begin with a certain letter or prefix.

6. Choose a name now that follows the boundaries and rules for that breed.

Tips & Warnings

• Learning about how to name your model horses for shows helps you learn about showing real horses and the rules of their breed registries.
• When in doubt, always claim that your horse's breed is a "grade", which is the equine term for "mongrel." In this way, you can get away with naming the model whatever you want.
• Don't assume that no one is going to check up on this stuff at a model horse show. They will.
• Don't use the name that the model comes with (eg Breyer's Black Beauty). There will be a million Black Beauties at the show. Such naming is the sign of someone who didn't do their homework and won;t win model horse shows.

Resources

• The Ultimate Horse Book
• Breyer Horses: An Introduction To Live Showing
• Naming a Thoroughbred
• Utterly Horses: Naming Your Model
• Horse Organizations