Yes, once again, I'm stirring up a potential hornet's nest. One of the most rewarding things I do is judging model shows, whether they are live or photo. But every reward comes with its dark side...Here's my question: Would you ever really ask a horse built like Gem Twist to do cutting? Would you really expect a horse like San Domingo or Misty to do Grand Prix jumping? No, I wouldn't either. But at every show is the dreaded picture-a model that is so incredibly unsuited to the task it is supposed to be performing that no matter HOW good the props are, HOW good the tack looks or even how much I like the model-I can't in good conscience place it!
Okay, before you turn red and start screaming at me, I am very willing to admit that there honestly are some great models that can do anything you ask (and we're talking OF Breyers). Take Justin Morgan-looks good in any English class, fine in most Western classes (probably not barrel racing or what have you, though) and looks great driving. Most models are fairly versatile. But I do mean this sincerely-there are some people who want to show in model classes like it's going out of style. The catch is this-they only have one horse! So they put the model in EVERYTHING....groan. Here's some examples of models that really aren't "chameleons"...no matter what their owners tell you!
1. The Indian Pony. A beautiful model with a lovely headset. However, beauty isn't enough to make this serene model a firesnortin' barrel racer or a grand prix jumper. Trotting poles yes, Jet Run, no!
2. El Pastor. I hear this all the time-"He's a grand prix jumper, just moving off at the beginning of the class." Oh no, he's not. With that headset and that raised front leg, he's just not ideal for a jumping class. Try him in trotting poles or cavalletti, but don't expect him to become an eventer or jumper. He'd make a great English or Western pleasure horse, though.
3. The Rearing Stallion. Rodeo may accept a horse on his hind legs, but few other classes do. Unless he's in a costume class for circus performances or rarin' to go before the gate goes up at a rodeo...better just leave him at home.
4. Western Prancer, or Fury..whatever you'd like to call him. A beautiful face and a nice neck-but his high-held head makes him undesirable as either an English or Western pleasure prospect. While he can be used in barrel racing or speed events, his almost leaning-back posture doesn't give you the impression that he's trying very hard. However, he's great in parade events and trail or endurance events, depending on the setup.
Okay, that's the bad news. Here's the good news. Breyer, while it may paint horses rather sadistically (remember that Paint/Appy cross?!) is pretty good at making versatile models. If you have a good eye for detail and a bit of creativity, you can make some models fit in odd places. For example:
1. Ginger (from the classic Black Beauty set). I honestly don't think this model gets the credit she deserves. A beautiful colour in a great pose, she can go English or Western. She's an especially great hunter/jumper mare, and I've even seen her as an eventer!
2. Touch of Class. The real mare was a real darling, and I have to say the same about this model. She really looks the part in english and driving events. She can even do western pleasure classes! I don't think she could do western speed events, but the things she can do greatly outweigh those she can't.
3. Classic Arab Stallion. This model looks so cute doing a number of things, from driving to english to western. His high-but not too far up- headset and alert expression make him ideal for many events. Because of his tailset and raised leg, he's probably not a speed-class candidate. However, as with Touch of Class, what he can do far outweighs what he can't.
There are many things you should look at when deciding what discipline to put your model in. Take a good look at the model, then at real horses competing in the sport. I say this because, as a beginner, I really didn't get too good a look at the other models being shown in the hobby. However, if you can get a look at consistent winners in the model ring (I say consistent, as one good placing by one judge doesn't make it an ideal). Try this checklist to help you out:
1. Expression: By this, I mean eyes, mouth and occasionally 'tilt' (angle the head is at). I'd better not see a 'tilted' head if you're showing me an extended trot in dressage. I'll accept 'serene' faces for pleasure classes, but I've never yet seen a 'serene' eventer! Likewise, I should never see a wild-eyed dressage horse (I have-but I shouldn't!).
2. Headset: This could also technically be called 'neckset'. Is the neck arched or straight up? Is the neck stretched out or 'stuck' (overbent)? You must think about what is most desirable for the discipline. One of the funniest pictures I think I've ever seen was of a 'Smokey' in dressage. Guys, I don't think so. Mouth open, head flung up and back, 'flag' tail...I wondered, was this supposed to be an example of what NOT to do? In my humble little opinion, barrel racing with an OF Breyer is probably one of the hardest things to portray, simply because it's so hard to find a model suited for making those tricky turns! One of the best setups I've seen for barrel racing was with the horse making the straightaway gallop from one barrel to another-it looked great!
3. Legs: A lot of people don't pay enough attention to this detail. I'm not talking about the shape or width or what-have-you. I mean the way the legs are posed or raised. Would Misty's Twilight ever make it as an eventer? Sure-in the dressage phase! But if I saw a horse in an extended trot like that over a cross-country course, I would probably not place it, depending on the setup and the competition. After all, why in the world would an eventer be using that extreme extended trot to go over a cross-country course? This also goes for single legs raised. Dressage horses raise single legs at a time to piaffe, sure, just as they also raise a single leg up at a time during extended trot (such as the Gifted model!). However, if you're trying to convince me that Western Prancer is doing a piaffe, you'd better have a pretty convincing explanation-just as you'd better explain why Prancer's head is up where it is!
4. Manes/Braids: What makes or breaks most eventing pictures? Without a doubt, I would have to say 'manes'. This also goes for Western and driving pictures. The main reason I wince at Gem Twist in Western classes is those braids. You do not braid Western horse manes, you band them (and even then, you don't always!). The effect isn't the same as braids. I may be flexible on this, however. But please, please do not even attempt to put your Cantering Welsh Pony in a Western class. That tail and that mane add up to disaster in Western. I have never seen a Western horse with a braided tail, especially not one like the CWP's. Similarly, non-braided manes can look odd in dressage classes (such as the original Black Beauty's) and occasionally in driving (I really prefer-and I know most judges prefer-to see braided manes and tails on draft horses when shown in harness. In hand, we're generally more flexible!).
5. Action: This is very similar to legs, but also very different. One of the hardest things to do in this hobby is to control your imagination. We are so used to seeing riderless horses performing dressage, we tend to think nothing of a horse standing still in front of a cross-country jump. This prompts the same reaction from me every time: "What the heck is it supposed to be doing? Refusing? Just wandered onto the course?"
Sure, you can say it's in the starter's box or something, but please try to make it look like it actually is in the starter's box-that is, with flags and timers or something! Same with jumping-if the horse is just starting the course, try to make it appear like it is. In jumping, you can angle the horse away from the jumps and say that it's right before the course begins. In cross-country though, this isn't an option.
With all that said, I have one more thing to add: the no-no list. I really don't like these models as competition models. This isn't to say that they aren't nice-I'm sure they look great on your shelf or are wonderful sires or dams. But some just aren't suitable for competition. For instance...
1. The Mesteno models. I'm truly sorry-I do like these guys. However, they just don't do a thing for me in the competition ring. I personally own one of the sets (The Progeny) and I do like it. But I'm not going to show it. Think about it! What exactly can you show them in? And when you think of it, please let me know...
2. Buckshot. Look, don't try to convince me that he can do barrel racing. The barrel racers I've spoken to (admittedly, only four of them) get rather upset when shown this model around barrels because of his head position. He doesn't make much of a parade horse, either. I really like this model (especially Hickok and Cody)-I just really DON'T like him in a show!
3. Smokey. Another so-called barrel racer with an extreme head position problem. His mouth being open doesn't help matters. This is one of my favourite models on a shelf-but he just isn't a show model. The mane and tail aren't points in his favour, either. You can probably show him in Liberty, though-provided he doesn't need tack.
4. Grazing Mare and Foal. Need I say more? The only class you can show them in is Liberty, if that (most judges seem to prefer a horse either looking at the camera or an action shot).
5. Mustang Family. Unless this is a Liberty shot, don't even try to enter these guys. They are very cute, but they are supposed to represent mustangs-that is, horses whose manes and coats have never been touched by brushes! I really wouldn't. Just enjoy them on your shelf-there's nothing wrong with that. Just don't waste time and entry fees trying to turn them into champions!
So I do hope that these little hints help you with your showing. But please remember- just because a model isn't showable in one discipline doesn't mean it can't go in another. More importantly: A model doesn't have to be showable for you to treasure it! There's nothing wrong with keeping a model just for the sake of keeping it-and enjoying it!
Catherine (Mathewson) Scholz is starting to reenter the model horse world after a long time away... Please feel free to update her on your adventures at tezahr23@angelfire.com.