Chestnut Ridge
  • Home
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  • What Are Model Horses?
    • Introduction to the hobby
    • Introduction to Collecting
    • Introduction to Showing
    • Getting Creative
    • Pedigrees
  • Sizes & Brands
    • The Brands
      • Animal Artistry
      • Beswick
      • Breyer
      • CollectA
      • Copperfox
      • Equorum
      • Julip
      • Magpie
      • Peter Stone
      • RubberNedz
      • Schleich
      • Everything Else
    • Size Guide
      • Understanding Scales
      • Generic Size Guide
      • Breyer Size Guide
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    • Finishes
      • Original Finish
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      • Artist Resin & China
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  • My Own Collection
    • Arabians
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    • fantasy & decorator
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  • Showing
    • Live Shows
      • Introduction to Live Showing
      • Attending a Live Show
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      • Gallery of Champions
      • 2019 Live Shows
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      • Recycled Live V
      • Herefordshire Live 2019
    • Photo Shows
      • Introduction to Photo Showing
      • Entering a Photo Show
      • Running a Photo Show
      • Gallery of Champions
      • Grand Photoshow
      • 2020 Photo Shows
    • Postal Shows
      • Introduction to Postal Shows
      • Entering a Postal Show
      • Running a Postal Show
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    • Other Competitions/Events
      • Customising Competitions
      • Tack/Prop Making Competitions
      • 30 Day Challenges
      • Body Transformation Challenge 2019
      • 2019 Competitions
    • Understanding Sections
      • In Hand
      • Performance
      • Workmanship
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      • Fun
    • Where Should My Horse Go?
      • Brands & Finishes
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    • My Own Show Results
      • Section Champions
      • Supreme Champions
      • BMECs Success
      • Chestnut Ridge Customs & Resins
      • Chestnut Ridge Tack
  • Tutorials
    • Customising
      • Base Colours
        • Airbrushed Grey
        • Airbrushed Bay
        • Bay
        • Bay Foal
        • Black
        • Brown
        • Chestnut
        • Faded Black
        • Light Bay
      • Dilutes
        • Cremello
        • Dun
        • Grulla
        • Light Palomino
        • Palomino Foal
        • Silver Dapple
      • Spots & Splodges
        • Black Pinto
        • Bay Pinto
        • Black Leopard Spot
        • Chestnut Pinto
        • Grulla Pinto Foal
        • Leopard Appaloosa
        • Bay Blanket Spot
      • Other Colours
        • Blue Roan
        • Fleabitten Grey (Pencil)
        • Grey (Pastel)
        • Mulberry Grey
        • Red Roan
        • Roan
      • Sculpting
        • Carving Ears
        • Fairy Horse
        • Feathers
        • Hogged Mane
        • Marwari Ears
        • Pink Unicorn
        • Plaited Mane
        • Wild Mane
        • Winged Foal
      • Prepping & Other
        • Hair Direction
        • How to Prep
        • Leg Pinning
        • Removing Paint
        • Prepping for Hairing
        • Touch Ups
    • Tack Making
      • English
        • Boots
        • Grackle Bridle
        • Sidepull Bitless Bridle
      • Western
        • Paddock Pal Western Bridle
        • Two Ear Western Bridle
        • Western Breastplate
      • Headcollars & Halters
        • Arabian Halter
        • Classic Arabian Halter
        • Paddock Pal Arab Halter
        • Simple Headcollar
      • Everything Else
        • Rug Templates
        • Saddle Cloth Templates
    • Other
      • Computer Tutorials
        • Adding Excel Filters
        • Horse Record Spreadsheet
        • Pedigree Table
        • Points System
        • Setting up a Facebook Page
      • Props
        • Bird
        • Breyer Cross Country Jump
        • Desert Scene
        • Horse Lick
        • Snowy Base
        • Snowy Scene
        • Stable Items
        • Trail Class Props
      • Showing
        • Creating a Judging List
    • Online Seminars
      • Seminar Schedule
      • Past Seminars
  • Galleries
    • Custom Gallery
      • Bay
      • Black
      • Chestnut
      • Grey
      • Duns
      • Cream Dilutes
      • Pintos
      • Spotted
      • Roan
      • Fantasy & Decorator
      • Other Colour
    • Tack Gallery
      • English Bridles
      • Western Bridles
      • Other English
      • Other Western
      • Arabian
      • Headcollars & Halters
      • Other Tack
    • Scenes
      • The Model Horse Shop
      • The Live Show
  • Blog & News
    • Our Blog
    • 2021 New Releases
      • Breyer
      • Schleich
      • CollectA
      • Other Brands
    • Model Horse News
  • Fun & Games
    • Colouring Pages
    • Wordsearches
    • Cross Words
    • Quizzes
    • Other Puzzles
    • Collector Bingo
  • Tales from Chestnut Ridge
    • Crackers and the Magical Fairies
    • Crackers Goes Viral
    • Julie's Story
    • Minstrel to the Rescue
  • Resources & Links
    • Glossary
    • External Links
    • Free Downloads
    • Privacy Policy
    • Shipping & Returns
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Wild Mane
  • Home
  • Shop
  • What Are Model Horses?
    • Introduction to the hobby
    • Introduction to Collecting
    • Introduction to Showing
    • Getting Creative
    • Pedigrees
  • Sizes & Brands
    • The Brands
      • Animal Artistry
      • Beswick
      • Breyer
      • CollectA
      • Copperfox
      • Equorum
      • Julip
      • Magpie
      • Peter Stone
      • RubberNedz
      • Schleich
      • Everything Else
    • Size Guide
      • Understanding Scales
      • Generic Size Guide
      • Breyer Size Guide
      • CTF Size Guide
      • Model Railway Scales
      • Size Comparison Gallery
    • Finishes
      • Original Finish
      • Custom Finish
      • Artist Resin & China
      • Commercial Resin & China
      • CTF Plastic
      • CTF Bendy
  • My Own Collection
    • Arabians
    • Thoroughbreds
    • Warmbloods & Sport Horses
    • Iberian
    • European Light Horses
    • British Native Ponies
    • European Ponies
    • Other Ponies
    • Type Ponies
    • American Quarter Horses
    • Appaloosas
    • Paints
    • Gaited
    • Mustangs
    • Other American
    • UK Heavy Horse
    • European Heavy Horses
    • Other Heavy Horses
    • Other Purebred Horses
    • Cobs & Vanners
    • Partbred Arabians
    • Other Partbred Horses
    • Partbred Ponies
    • Other Equine
    • fantasy & decorator
    • Other Animals
  • Showing
    • Live Shows
      • Introduction to Live Showing
      • Attending a Live Show
      • Running a Live Show
      • Gallery of Champions
      • 2019 Live Shows
      • BMECS & NAN
      • Recycled Live V
      • Herefordshire Live 2019
    • Photo Shows
      • Introduction to Photo Showing
      • Entering a Photo Show
      • Running a Photo Show
      • Gallery of Champions
      • Grand Photoshow
      • 2020 Photo Shows
    • Postal Shows
      • Introduction to Postal Shows
      • Entering a Postal Show
      • Running a Postal Show
      • 2019 Postal Shows
    • Other Competitions/Events
      • Customising Competitions
      • Tack/Prop Making Competitions
      • 30 Day Challenges
      • Body Transformation Challenge 2019
      • 2019 Competitions
    • Understanding Sections
      • In Hand
      • Performance
      • Workmanship
      • Collectability
      • Fun
    • Where Should My Horse Go?
      • Brands & Finishes
      • Breeds
      • Performance Entries
      • Colours
    • My Own Show Results
      • Section Champions
      • Supreme Champions
      • BMECs Success
      • Chestnut Ridge Customs & Resins
      • Chestnut Ridge Tack
  • Tutorials
    • Customising
      • Base Colours
        • Airbrushed Grey
        • Airbrushed Bay
        • Bay
        • Bay Foal
        • Black
        • Brown
        • Chestnut
        • Faded Black
        • Light Bay
      • Dilutes
        • Cremello
        • Dun
        • Grulla
        • Light Palomino
        • Palomino Foal
        • Silver Dapple
      • Spots & Splodges
        • Black Pinto
        • Bay Pinto
        • Black Leopard Spot
        • Chestnut Pinto
        • Grulla Pinto Foal
        • Leopard Appaloosa
        • Bay Blanket Spot
      • Other Colours
        • Blue Roan
        • Fleabitten Grey (Pencil)
        • Grey (Pastel)
        • Mulberry Grey
        • Red Roan
        • Roan
      • Sculpting
        • Carving Ears
        • Fairy Horse
        • Feathers
        • Hogged Mane
        • Marwari Ears
        • Pink Unicorn
        • Plaited Mane
        • Wild Mane
        • Winged Foal
      • Prepping & Other
        • Hair Direction
        • How to Prep
        • Leg Pinning
        • Removing Paint
        • Prepping for Hairing
        • Touch Ups
    • Tack Making
      • English
        • Boots
        • Grackle Bridle
        • Sidepull Bitless Bridle
      • Western
        • Paddock Pal Western Bridle
        • Two Ear Western Bridle
        • Western Breastplate
      • Headcollars & Halters
        • Arabian Halter
        • Classic Arabian Halter
        • Paddock Pal Arab Halter
        • Simple Headcollar
      • Everything Else
        • Rug Templates
        • Saddle Cloth Templates
    • Other
      • Computer Tutorials
        • Adding Excel Filters
        • Horse Record Spreadsheet
        • Pedigree Table
        • Points System
        • Setting up a Facebook Page
      • Props
        • Bird
        • Breyer Cross Country Jump
        • Desert Scene
        • Horse Lick
        • Snowy Base
        • Snowy Scene
        • Stable Items
        • Trail Class Props
      • Showing
        • Creating a Judging List
    • Online Seminars
      • Seminar Schedule
      • Past Seminars
  • Galleries
    • Custom Gallery
      • Bay
      • Black
      • Chestnut
      • Grey
      • Duns
      • Cream Dilutes
      • Pintos
      • Spotted
      • Roan
      • Fantasy & Decorator
      • Other Colour
    • Tack Gallery
      • English Bridles
      • Western Bridles
      • Other English
      • Other Western
      • Arabian
      • Headcollars & Halters
      • Other Tack
    • Scenes
      • The Model Horse Shop
      • The Live Show
  • Blog & News
    • Our Blog
    • 2021 New Releases
      • Breyer
      • Schleich
      • CollectA
      • Other Brands
    • Model Horse News
  • Fun & Games
    • Colouring Pages
    • Wordsearches
    • Cross Words
    • Quizzes
    • Other Puzzles
    • Collector Bingo
  • Tales from Chestnut Ridge
    • Crackers and the Magical Fairies
    • Crackers Goes Viral
    • Julie's Story
    • Minstrel to the Rescue
  • Resources & Links
    • Glossary
    • External Links
    • Free Downloads
    • Privacy Policy
    • Shipping & Returns
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Wild Mane
(c) Chestnut Ridge 2019

​catriona@chestnutridge.co.uk

Important note - Chestnut Ridge does not endorse any of the external links or companies linked to on this website. We are not responsible for the content of those links nor do we recommend using those companies for purchases. Any links are provided for information purposes only and you use at your own risk. We are not affiliated in anyway with any of the companies mentioned.

We highly recommend you research any company before making a purchase from them. This is also true for individual sellers and buyers. There are numerous model horse reference sites that we recommend you look at before buying.

Customising Competitions

A staple of the model horse hobby customising competitions have been around for decades. They allow artists to show off their painting skills (or remaking skills) with various different challenges. Some competitions have themes, some offer prizes and some simply ask you to challenge yourself and paint something different.

Many of these competitions are done to raise money for charity or a particular event (such as the MEPSA Customising Contest). For these entrants will often complete a piece and then submit it to the organisation. Completed pieces are sold off to raise money and entrants can win donated prizes for their pieces.

The vast majority of these contests are judged by popular vote although some are judged by individual judges. They can be a great boost to an artists self esteem as well as a chance to challenge yourself to do something different. Winning an Utterly Horses cutomising contest was probably one of the proudest moments of my life, I got a Breyer Pippin who I treasure.
Picture
Customising contests come in many different types - from repaints to resculpts

Challenging Yourself

The best part about customising competitions is that they force you to challenge yourself and try something a little different. Many contests are held with a particular theme or ask you to create something you've never done before. These can be a real chance to leave your comfort zone and try something new.

Some competitions will simply ask you to repaint a model whilst others may allow for more extreme forms of customising. If the competition has a particular theme think about how you can use your own skills but also push yourself that little bit further. If you are not used to resculpting why not think about making a small change to your model for the competition to make it stand out? If you don't often hair why not try learning how to hair for the competition? Or maybe try a colour or style you've never done before?

I personally love competitions with pretty out there themes such as 'Christmas' or 'Spring' as they allow me to create more unusual decorators (which is my favourite thing to do). I don't do a massive amount of resculpting but each time I try to push myself to do something that is just a bit different. Nothing is ever as simply as a repaint decorator (although maybe these would look more normal). For me it is more about pushing myself further to create something I love rather than trying to win anything!
Picture
A proud moment - Cherryblossom won the 2011 Utterly Horses customising contest

Transformation Challenges

There are two main types of customising contest. The first is where you use one of your own models or bodies for the piece, this may be within guidelines (for example the Copperfox customising contest for Copperfox models) or it may be completely open allowing you to create using any body of your choice. The second type are transformation challenges where you are given a body and have to transform it into a new piece. Cherryblossom above is an example of this, you got a free Stablemate with a purchase over £20.00 and that allowed you to enter the competition.

Transformation challenges can be fun because they allow you to completely transform a model. Because you are often sent the model and do not get a choice they can be a good chance to challenge yourself to do something completely different. When doing one of these challenges try to think outside the box, what hasn't been done before? What can you create that is really different? You want to make the model almost unrecognisable from its original piece but it also needs to look good. Some competitions may have a theme so try to work within this, using your own skills but also pushing yourself that little bit further.

In 2018 Chestnut Ridge ran a body transformation challenge. We sent out 10 random bodies to randomly chosen entrants. Eight entrants submitted completed pieces which you can view in this album here:

Body Transformation Challenge

I was absolutely blown away by not only the skill but also the creativity of the entrants. Nobody went simple! Everyone tried to create something really unique that stood out. For the curious the winner was the dragon (it was voted by popular vote). It is definitely something we plan to run again.
Picture
A winning entry from a Copperfox Customising competition (not painted by myself)

Some Common Contests

Below are a list of some pretty regular customising contests that you may want to think about entering if you want to have a go at customising. Some of these have prizes, some do not, some simply ask you to challenge yourself.

NaMoPaiMo - Held every year in February this is not a competition more a chance for you to challenge yourself and get painting.

BreyerFest Custom Contest - Held in the run up to BreyerFest every year

BMECS Best UK Artist/Best UK Sculpture Classes - Themed each year and held on the Sunday of BMECS you do not need to be an entrant or to have qualified the horse to enter it

Chestnut Ridge Body Transformation Challenge - Held for the first time in 2018 ten entrants are picked at random and sent bodies which they then have to transform within a set time period

MEPSA Custom Contest - Held every year to raise money for the photo showing organisation

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Our Ethos

Model horses are meant to be fun, it's easy to lose that sometimes and feel like there is so much negativity around you. Chestnut Ridge is a happy place, here you will find information about the hobby, tutorials to try out and fun and games to help you fall back in love with your model horses.
​Want to submit some content? Just email catriona@chestnutridge.co.uk and help make our community grow.

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  • Home
  • Shop
  • What Are Model Horses?
    • Introduction to the hobby
    • Introduction to Collecting
    • Introduction to Showing
    • Getting Creative
    • Pedigrees
  • Sizes & Brands
    • The Brands
      • Animal Artistry
      • Beswick
      • Breyer
      • CollectA
      • Copperfox
      • Equorum
      • Julip
      • Magpie
      • Peter Stone
      • RubberNedz
      • Schleich
      • Everything Else
    • Size Guide
      • Understanding Scales
      • Generic Size Guide
      • Breyer Size Guide
      • CTF Size Guide
      • Model Railway Scales
      • Size Comparison Gallery
    • Finishes
      • Original Finish
      • Custom Finish
      • Artist Resin & China
      • Commercial Resin & China
      • CTF Plastic
      • CTF Bendy
  • My Own Collection
    • Arabians
    • Thoroughbreds
    • Warmbloods & Sport Horses
    • Iberian
    • European Light Horses
    • British Native Ponies
    • European Ponies
    • Other Ponies
    • Type Ponies
    • American Quarter Horses
    • Appaloosas
    • Paints
    • Gaited
    • Mustangs
    • Other American
    • UK Heavy Horse
    • European Heavy Horses
    • Other Heavy Horses
    • Other Purebred Horses
    • Cobs & Vanners
    • Partbred Arabians
    • Other Partbred Horses
    • Partbred Ponies
    • Other Equine
    • fantasy & decorator
    • Other Animals
  • Showing
    • Live Shows
      • Introduction to Live Showing
      • Attending a Live Show
      • Running a Live Show
      • Gallery of Champions
      • 2019 Live Shows
      • BMECS & NAN
      • Recycled Live V
      • Herefordshire Live 2019
    • Photo Shows
      • Introduction to Photo Showing
      • Entering a Photo Show
      • Running a Photo Show
      • Gallery of Champions
      • Grand Photoshow
      • 2020 Photo Shows
    • Postal Shows
      • Introduction to Postal Shows
      • Entering a Postal Show
      • Running a Postal Show
      • 2019 Postal Shows
    • Other Competitions/Events
      • Customising Competitions
      • Tack/Prop Making Competitions
      • 30 Day Challenges
      • Body Transformation Challenge 2019
      • 2019 Competitions
    • Understanding Sections
      • In Hand
      • Performance
      • Workmanship
      • Collectability
      • Fun
    • Where Should My Horse Go?
      • Brands & Finishes
      • Breeds
      • Performance Entries
      • Colours
    • My Own Show Results
      • Section Champions
      • Supreme Champions
      • BMECs Success
      • Chestnut Ridge Customs & Resins
      • Chestnut Ridge Tack
  • Tutorials
    • Customising
      • Base Colours
        • Airbrushed Grey
        • Airbrushed Bay
        • Bay
        • Bay Foal
        • Black
        • Brown
        • Chestnut
        • Faded Black
        • Light Bay
      • Dilutes
        • Cremello
        • Dun
        • Grulla
        • Light Palomino
        • Palomino Foal
        • Silver Dapple
      • Spots & Splodges
        • Black Pinto
        • Bay Pinto
        • Black Leopard Spot
        • Chestnut Pinto
        • Grulla Pinto Foal
        • Leopard Appaloosa
        • Bay Blanket Spot
      • Other Colours
        • Blue Roan
        • Fleabitten Grey (Pencil)
        • Grey (Pastel)
        • Mulberry Grey
        • Red Roan
        • Roan
      • Sculpting
        • Carving Ears
        • Fairy Horse
        • Feathers
        • Hogged Mane
        • Marwari Ears
        • Pink Unicorn
        • Plaited Mane
        • Wild Mane
        • Winged Foal
      • Prepping & Other
        • Hair Direction
        • How to Prep
        • Leg Pinning
        • Removing Paint
        • Prepping for Hairing
        • Touch Ups
    • Tack Making
      • English
        • Boots
        • Grackle Bridle
        • Sidepull Bitless Bridle
      • Western
        • Paddock Pal Western Bridle
        • Two Ear Western Bridle
        • Western Breastplate
      • Headcollars & Halters
        • Arabian Halter
        • Classic Arabian Halter
        • Paddock Pal Arab Halter
        • Simple Headcollar
      • Everything Else
        • Rug Templates
        • Saddle Cloth Templates
    • Other
      • Computer Tutorials
        • Adding Excel Filters
        • Horse Record Spreadsheet
        • Pedigree Table
        • Points System
        • Setting up a Facebook Page
      • Props
        • Bird
        • Breyer Cross Country Jump
        • Desert Scene
        • Horse Lick
        • Snowy Base
        • Snowy Scene
        • Stable Items
        • Trail Class Props
      • Showing
        • Creating a Judging List
    • Online Seminars
      • Seminar Schedule
      • Past Seminars
  • Galleries
    • Custom Gallery
      • Bay
      • Black
      • Chestnut
      • Grey
      • Duns
      • Cream Dilutes
      • Pintos
      • Spotted
      • Roan
      • Fantasy & Decorator
      • Other Colour
    • Tack Gallery
      • English Bridles
      • Western Bridles
      • Other English
      • Other Western
      • Arabian
      • Headcollars & Halters
      • Other Tack
    • Scenes
      • The Model Horse Shop
      • The Live Show
  • Blog & News
    • Our Blog
    • 2021 New Releases
      • Breyer
      • Schleich
      • CollectA
      • Other Brands
    • Model Horse News
  • Fun & Games
    • Colouring Pages
    • Wordsearches
    • Cross Words
    • Quizzes
    • Other Puzzles
    • Collector Bingo
  • Tales from Chestnut Ridge
    • Crackers and the Magical Fairies
    • Crackers Goes Viral
    • Julie's Story
    • Minstrel to the Rescue
  • Resources & Links
    • Glossary
    • External Links
    • Free Downloads
    • Privacy Policy
    • Shipping & Returns
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Wild Mane