Let me begin by first explaining a little about the "Model Horse Hobby." Similiar to those serious about model trains or dollhouse miniatures, we too are a group comprised of thousands of equine miniaturists spanning the globe. We transcend all boundaries of age, race, and gender as well as varying degrees of "horsey" experience. Our love for Equus and fascination with its model form propels us to collect, photograph, sculpt, paint, and even show our humble creations, whether they be horse, mule, donkey, or zebra. Now when I say SHOW I mean actual competition. In this hobby, one can either PHOTOSHOW from the comforts of home (mailing photos of your best models to shows across the country) or else gather at showhalls and LIVESHOW (where models are judged live or in person). Each year, thousands of collectors travel by land & air to hobby events around the world to buy, sell, swap, compete, or just plain gawk at. Armed with dolls, props, and tiny scaled down tack, we scan classlists and try to imitate real life with simple to elaborate performance setups in events running the gamut from equitation, eventing, and dressage to cattlework, trail and gaming.

The sense of comaderie and family appeal is yet another great aspect of our hobby. It's nothing to see 2 or 3 generations of competitors side by side at a liveshow table, tacking up their models and later that evening, recounting their exciting victories over a large pizza. Collectors usually love trading ideas & sharing show secrets almost as much as they love borrowing ideas from the REAL or LIVE horseshow circuit. There are foot long rosettes & plaques to be won, as well as shiny trophies and silver trays. On occasion, even a fancy tooled trophy saddle (albeit model scaled) is awarded. No jackets or fancy horse trailers yet, but give us time and we'll figure out a way to incorporate that as well. Perhaps all this excitement and realism is why 4H clubs readily use this model show forum as a learning tool, reaching horse-crazy adolescents who are otherwise "horseless" in their real lives, and teaching them breed and conformation standards, equine care and management. Models have become AMBASSADORS of sorts for their live counterparts, cropping up at State Fairs, Expos, real horse shows, public library displays, doll shows, classrooms, newspapers, and magazines, not to mention on the Web!

There are literally thousands of models to choose from in this hobby, from old discontinued vintage models (via other collectors, yard sales, etc.) to current releases generally available through toy stores, model dealers, or major catalog outlets like JCPenney/Sears. Depending on make/mold, they range from "Micro Minies" (approx. 1") to "Traditional" (approx 9") tall. ORIGINAL FINISH (OF) models are those directly from the factory, and haven't been altered or touched up in any way. These vary in the type of material used, from plastic (like Breyer or Hartland) to china or porcelain (such as Hagen-Renaker, Lefton, Beswick, and Goebel, etc.) or even resin (Northlight, Corlette, Wild Things, etc.). Often these molds become the basis for the next level of model hierarchy, the CUSTOMIZED (CM) or Remade model, with repainted or altered (repositioned) bodies and new mohair or resculpted manes & tails. The really good ones are VERY life-like. A few talented artists even sculpt models entirely from scratch, called ORIGINAL SCULPTURES (OS) using epoxy over wire armature. Sometimes these are then cast in mediums ranging from ceramic to polyresin with a limited series or production run, called ARTIST RESINS. There are other makes and molds (glass, wood, metal, soft sculpture), but these aren't as popular as the aforementioned types who usually carry better and finer detailing.

Like in the REAL world, the model horse hobby is divided further into regional & special breed interest groups. If horses are more your taste, then I invite you to check out another fabulous site first, [separate from this one], the infamous Model Horse Gallery.

Just don't forget to bookmark this page before you leave!!!

But if Longears (donkeys, mules, hinnies) or Exotics (zebras, zebra hybrids, wild asses, and przewalski) are more to your liking, then by gosh you've come to the right place!




"When all think alike, no one thinks very much. Few people are
capable of expressing with equanimity, opinions which differ
from the prejudices of their social environment..."

--Albert Einstein

(This Page last updated: June 10, 2003)