Many collections can be quite varied, here you can see custom, original finish and CTF model horses
Collecting is defined as the bringing or coming together of a number of things. How much is a number is probably debatable but I always think of collecting as a defined purchase and purpose. So whilst I may own like a million mugs (seriously why do I have so many mugs?) I don't collect them, more hoard...but the model horses are a deliberate thing. I have a defined purpose in collecting them and see myself as a collector.
Many people may accumulate a collection of model horses almost by accident. It's quite hard to be a young girl and not get given model horses, add a general horsey madness to that and your average 9 year old horsey mad child may have a collection to rival even some of the most dedicated collectors! In fact it may even seem silly to have a page talking about an introduction to model horse collecting but actually, as with any collection, there is far more to collecting than simply popping ten plastic horses on a shelf.
What to Collect?
Most model horse collections start almost by chance and with little purpose. You accumulate a few horses here and there and slowly build something up. You find something you like and you buy it! But as your collection grows you may start to make far more defined choices about what you want to collect and why. Below I've run through the several different types of collections I've come across in my years in the hobby.
The Hoard
I put myself firmly in this category (and I think my family would probably agree). The hoard is a collection that basically consists of everything. You could have a £1000 artist resin sat right next to a pound shop unicorn. These collections tend to be quite varied and although there may be themes within them they have huge variety of finishes, brands and colours.
Hoard collections are also characterised by their size, most hoard collections see little output and a lot of input. If you are anything like me you will struggle to let go of horses leading to a continual need for more pony space, shelves and storage. Unfortunately our British homes don't come equipped with large basements as they do in other countries and I think this is a great shame. I could really use a basement similar to those possessed by my Canadian relatives to store my ponies!
Although most purchases in the hoard collection will have been considered and chosen because the owner likes them there are also likely to be a lot of random purchases or finds. There may be things won in raffles or things that were purchased just because they were cheap. There's also a tendency towards buying complete sets and having multiple congas.
The Breed Fanatic
The breed fanatic is obsessed with one particular breed. They often come in two forms, the first has to add every single model representing that breed to their collection, the second is very discerning about the representations they add and and will evaluate every model for its correctness.
The breed fanatic can be spotted at any live show as they will be sat around all day waiting for their class and have a table usually full of one or two moulds. They often struggle to pick a model for a class because why on earth can I only show 3 Arabians, I have at least 90 OF Arabs! Specialist shows are their play ground, if you want to make one happy run a photoshow for their favourite breed and watch them fill every single class!
Colour Crazy
We all have our favourite colours but the colour crazy collector takes that to a whole.new.level. Their shelves will look more like a monochrome painting than a collection and they will often have multiple variations of the same model because that shade of bay really is very different to the shade of bay on the 17 other Frankels they own.
There will often be a variety of different moulds and finish in their collection but it isn't unusual for them to have a favourite artist. If you want to see 92 Deb Brown painted Smarty Jones all in bay then go and visit a colour crazy collector. Just don't ask them how they tell them all apart...
In and Out
The in and out collector has a less static collection. They often sell models and often buy models leading to a collection that seems to change every single week. They can easily be spotted frequenting online sale sites and you will see their adverts often. They are also pretty easy to spot at live shows because half their show string will seem to be for sale and yes they really did just pull out a massive wadge of cash at one of the sales tables!
They quite often have 'never sells' that seem to end up for sale and tend to buy and sell with more of a goal in mind. They also seem to have a new grail every single week that justifies the current sales!
They are great to hang around with at shows or to follow online because they constantly have new ponies! They also often have things for sale and may be less inclined to keep models so may be willing to accept a cheeky offer.
Devoted Customer
The devoted customer is obsessed with one particular brand of model horses. They will often have not only a large number of the horses but also a selection of catalogues and promotional material. They will have an encyclopedic knowledge of their favoured brand and will have things in their collection that you never even knew existed (ever seen a pink Beswick Shetland? yep that exists).
It isn't uncommon to find collectors of model horses that have absolutely nothing to do with the hobby as we know it. Beswicks for example are highly collectable in the UK and you will see people with huge collections of the Beswick horses who have no idea that there is even such a thing as a model horse collector!
A wonderful wealth of knowledge about their favoured brand they are really useful if you need to identify that strange find or want to know whether anyone else actually owns a Paddock Pal Spotted Drafter without a face marking (and nope...still haven't seen another one).
Accidental Collector
'I am not a model horse collector' they firmly say as they add yet another model to their collection. The accidental collector doesn't so much buy model horses as acquire them. They are usually the partner of a collector or run some form of hobby business that brings them along to shows and events, where of course they have to buy raffle tickets. Through raffles, competitions and very occasional purchases they end up with a collection without ever really wanting one. The most important thing to remember is that they are NOT model horse collectors (even if it looks very very very much like they are).
I am married to one such person. He is as much a part of the hobby as I am. He tends to collect other animals and models that he thinks are cute but he does now have two horses of his own, Sugar Maple and Illumination. Obviously being married to a Breyer dealer means that he can acquire such things with minimal effort and no 'actual' shopping.
Fan Girl
The fan girl collector is someone who collects model horses with a particular theme often related to famous horses or television show they like. They will often have an entire set of Breyer race horses or everything from a certain film such as Spirit. They probably also have a wealth of other memorabilia from their chose subject such as posters, mugs and a napkin which was used by their favourite horses jockey.
I must admit that I do have a certain fan girl element to my collection. I have become somewhat obsessed with Boomerang from Spirit Riding Free. I now have all the Breyer Boomerang items (all imported from the USA as you cannot get them in Europe) as well as various other items as well, all sourced from eBay and the US. A general piece of advice, choose something that is licensed in the place you live to become obsessed with!
Congas
If you aren't a model horse collector when you think of a conga you probably think of a lot of very drunk people at a wedding in a long line falling over tables. A conga in a collection is essentially the same thing, just hopefully with a lot less falling over (that said if you have decided to conga something like the G2 Thoroughbred you deserve every wobble you get you silly human)! A conga is essentially a collection of models on the same mould. There is much debate about how many models constitute a conga but when I run conga classes at live shows I go for three or more.
What Goes In a Conga?
A conga should consist of models that are all on the same mould. For most people a large proportion of these will be original finish. So if you decide to collect models on the Smarty Jones mould for example you are probably going to have Smarty Jones, Frankel and the Dark Horse special runs in your collection.
Many people also like to add customs to their congas (although some do only collect the original finish models). If you have obtained all the original finish models you can then this is a great way to add lots more colour and variety to your collection. For many conga owners variety is what attracts them to a piece, they like to have something that is a bit different. So you will find plenty of resculpts within a conga collection as they stand out from the rest of the models. Some people also like to add one of every colour, in fact some may have congas that consist only of customs with one of every colour imaginable!
Most conga collectors will have one or two star pieces. These are models that are much rarer and hard to find and worth showing off. It is unusual that someone will have a complete conga (see below) but these rare pieces are the holy grails of the original conga. These could be unusual variations of a model or things such as BreyerFest Auction models. They could also be factory rejects test pieces in very unusual colours.
The Complete Conga
A complete conga is a rare site, although we all may accidentally own one at some point when a mould has only just been released! Complete congas are not possible for all manufacturers (a Peter Stone Arabian conga would be verging on impossible to complete if you think about all the one of a kind pieces Stone complete) and may be very hard for others. There is also the hurdle of simply knowing everything that has been produced. You could spend your life completing a conga and then discover a new test piece from 50 years ago that you never knew existed, that is very much the nature of collecting a factory produced product.
For many then a complete conga becomes a complete 'obtainable' conga. An obtainable conga is those models that are actually reasonably easy to obtain. It would exclude things such as one of a kind models (Breyer Test Runs or Auction Pieces are an example of this) and would obviously exclude anything that simply was never available to purchase (there is a G2 Appaloosa that was featured in marketing material but nobody has ever actually seen one in person).
I have a complete obtainable Bobby Jo conga, that means that I have all the models I could reasonably get hold of. So there are several models missing. The models missing are: Bobby Jo on base (this is the first produced model and given as a raffle to one Premier Club member); All Out (a BreyerFest Grand prize model) and three BreyerFest Auction pieces (a palomino, bay pinto and steel grey). The advantage of starting a conga on the Bobby Jo mould is that I can add models as they are released. Of course I also have a few customs as well!
In order to finish a conga you need to know what to include. For this you will need a reference site or book to help you. Obviously this very much depends on the brand you collect but I've put a few links below:
Angel Fire: www.angelfire.com/on/raventyde/grandchampion.html
Grand Champion reference site
Breyer: www.breyerhorses.com
The official Breyer site has their current range, search by product code and you can also view information on older 'hidden' products as well.
CollectA: www.collecta.biz
The official CollectA website has their entire current product range.
Equine Resin Directory: www.equineresindirectory.com/#search
Database of painted and unpainted resins and chinas
Identify Your Breyer: www.identifyyourbreyer.com
Breyer horses & CollectA reference site
Julip Originals: www.juliporiginals.co.uk/
Images of Julip originals produced over the last few years
Stone Horse Reference: www.stonehorseref.com/
Reference site for Peter Stone models
Strawberry Reef: www.strawberryreef.com/
Reference site for My Little Ponies
Toy Dreamer: www.toydreamer.com.au
Schleich dealer with nearly every Schleich product
Links will take you to external sites - Chestnut Ridge is not responsible for the contents of these sites or links. You leave at your own risk!
The Non-OF Conga
I've already briefly touched on the idea of having customs in your conga and it is of course completely possible to have a conga of a non-original finish model such as an Artist Resin or simply to collect customs on an OF mould. Here the aim isn't to have a 'complete' set of all the models produced but just to acquire a variety of different models on that mould. Often there is a desire to collect one of every colour or a rainbow of different colours but you do also see congas of models all in the same colour!
This form of collecting usually also applies to brands where the models are produced more as one off pieces or limited runs than one large production run of a single colour. For example a Julip or Peter Stone conga may not be collected in the same way as a Breyer one but may instead focus on a variety of colours, or different body shapes or features. There may still be a desire to get hold of models produced for special events such as an anniversary horse or ones painted or designed by certain artists.
Storage
One of the biggest problems of modern life according to my mother is a lack of storage. The reality of the situation is that if you are going to collect something eventually you are going to have to think about how you are going to store it. Collections have an annoying tendency to grow rather than shrink leading to a constant necessity for more space for the collection and less space for every other possession. If you live in a house with other people you may also find your collection fighting against the will and desire of the other inhabitants!
So how should you go about storing your model horse collection?
Shelves
Shelves are by far the most common way that you will see a model horse collection stored. They are pretty cheap and easy to put up and don't take up a huge amount of space, they essentially make sure of space that wasn't being used for anything else. This makes them perfect for collections of all size particularly if you have limited space. Shelves can also be relatively inexpensive to make and put up and can easily be made from salvaged materials.
If you are using shelves to house your collection you do need to think about a few things before you put them up. Firstly how big should they be? If you have a collection of minis you are going to waste a lot of space if you have large shelves with big spaces between them, equally if you have a collection with a lot of Traditionals in you are going to be a bit of a pickle if the shelves are small and close together. Think carefully about your space and what you have in your collection, always baring in mind that it will expand! The next thing you need to think about is the location. If you are putting them in a main room then aesthetics may be a consideration when choosing the layout and finish of wood. You also want to avoid any direct light as this can damage the models. Finally when thinking about the location you do need to consider how easy they are to reach! If you regularly show you will be getting your models on and off your shelves quite a bit, so you don't want shelves that are really hard to reach.
If you live in a rental property or simply don't want to attach things to the wall you can buy free standing shelving units. These can often be purchased relatively cheaply from places such as Ikea (they do a set of shelves for £15.00 that are perfectly good). If you are able to secure these to the wall it is always a good idea as they are pretty easy to knock over!
The final thing to note is that shelves can and do fall down. It is always better to use more brackets then you think you need than less. It is more important that your shelves stay up than look pretty so think carefully about how you are going to fix them to the wall!
Cabinets
Cabinets are also a popular choice for storing a collection. They have the advantage that they don't need fixing to the wall and they also have doors which close meaning that dust and animals can be kept out! They do, however, take up a lot of space and don't always make the best use of the space available. They can also be quite pricey but this can be mitigated by buying second hand and checking out sites such as Freegle.
The most commonly used cabinets are glass ones or ones with glass doors. These allow you to see your collection whilst also keeping it dust free. When choosing a cabinet think about where you are going to put it in your house and also think about how large the shelves are. Some can have very substantial shelves whilst others can be quite narrow. You also need to think about how easy they are to get to. That cabinet may fit perfectly in a corner but if you can't open the doors easily then it isn't going to be very useful!
Cabinets are perfect for items with very fragile finished or for your show string during the show season as they keep the dust off. However, dust does still get inside and they can also be quite easily knocked as they stick out a bit. Some may also have wobbly shelves so do be careful! If like me you are a cat owner cabinets also have the huge advantage that they stop naughty paws from knocking things off shelves.
Boxed
Unfortunately we aren't all in the position to show off our collection on shelves. It may simply be due to a lack of space or it may be that others in the household don't want every single room filled with horses. You may also need to keep them boxed during house renovations or because of animals. Whatever the reason this is not an uncommon way to keep your model horses.
Many people keep original finish models in boxes. Unlike other toy collectables model horses do not have extra value if they are in their box (although some vintage boxes and products may have a higher value to collectors) in fact a box may actually devalue a model by causing box rubs or damage. That said if you have limited space it can often be more convenient to keep original finish models in piles of boxes than on shelves. Some brands like Copperfox or Border Fine Art sell models in boxes from which they can be removed and put back in, this is quite a useful way to store them as they are protected (although could still receive box rubs) and can be piled on top of each other.
If you are choosing to store your models in boxes make sure they are nice and strong and well packed. Remember that bubblewrap should always be 'bubble out' and models should be stored away from extremes of temperatures. Boxing may also not be suitable for all finishes of models, customs for example can become sticky and models may get broken if boxes or moved or horses removed and put back in. Large plastic boxes such as the 64l Really Useful Boxes are very good for this purpose and you can also use specially made model horse pouches to store and protect your models.
Draws
Similar to storing models in boxes they can be stored in draws. I know several people who choose to store smaller models in a draw lined up in pouches or bubblewrap bags. Draws have the advantage that they could be part of an existing piece of furniture (such as a cabinet) and you can easily open them and get the models out.
When choosing your draw make sure it opens with easy and can be fully opened. Also make sure that it is deep enough for the height of models you want to store. You can also store models lying down with lots of padding, for particularly fragile and wobbly models this can be a much better alternative to leaving them stood up.
If you are storing smaller models standing up in lines then the best way to do this is in some form of pouch. This makes it easy for you to get them in and out and makes it easy to tell who is in what packet. You can buy specially made pouches for model horses which are a great option or you can buy bubblewrap bags which are also really good for this purpose and pretty cheap.
The Pony Room
For most collectors the dream is to have your very own pony room. This is a room entirely devoted to storing model horses but does require devoting an entire room in your house to just model horses! Obviously this depends upon lots of factors such as the amount of spare space you have and how many other people you live with.
The advantage of a pony room is that it helps to protect your model horses from damage. If you have pets or small children then it prevents them from damaging models. It also creates a nice safe space where you can escape the real world and sit with the door shut! It also means that the model horses are all kept in one place, this is useful for organising for shows or photography as it reduces the amount of wondering around the house. It also may make others in the house happy if they don't like the models being all over the place!
If you are lucky enough to have a pony room in your house you need to think carefully about how you are going to set it up. There are lots of things in rooms that waste space, such as windows, radiators, doors and an angled roof. You can think about removing items (our pony room doesn't have a radiator in, but we installed the central heating in the house so that was an easy thing to do), doors to things such as cupboards can also be removed to create an alcove instead. If you have a window you could look at buying shelves or cabinets with solid backs that can be placed in front. This helps keep too much light from getting in the room and also gives you extra shelf space!
Also think about the other things you want to put in the room. You will need to store all those extra things that come with model horses such as plastic boxes, tack and even your stables (if you choose to have your own stableyard). You may also want to add a table (this makes packing a lot easier on your back) and a light tent or photography set up. A pony room is always a working progress, think carefully about where you place things such as shelves as you want to make the most of the space and don't want to have to spend days removing everything to put new ones up!
In the UK it is very unusual to have houses with large basements which is such a pity as these are ideal for storing model horses as they have no windows and are a large square space. If you are lucky enough to have one of these then a pony room is the ideal use.
Storage Unit
Sadly we can't all afford large houses with lots of space and at some point we may need to think about storing model horses elsewhere. Storage units can be a cost effective way (well cheaper than an extension anyway) of storing your collection. You can add your own plastic or metal shelving or simply store your models in boxes. Storage units vary in their level of security and temperature control so think carefully about where you are going to store them. Also bare in mind that if you don't pay then they will usually have the right to sell the goods in order to meet their costs, so make sure to keep up payments.
Obviously storage units have the disadvantage of not being at your house and having limited opening hours. They are suited more to models that are boxed (such as Breyers) and models that you simply don't want to get out on a regular basis. They are also good for dealers who have a large number of models or items to store at one time.
Record Keeping
I am a bit of a spreadsheet fiend, a good spreadsheet makes me weak at the knees but I am well aware that they aren't for everyone. However, if you have a collection of anything you NEED to keep decent records. Not only is this important so you know what you have and can access information such as show results but it is also essential for insurance. Even owning just 10 Breyer Traditionals can mean your collection has a value of £200 and probably is going to require some form of insurance and record keeping is essential for this.
Digital Records
In our digital age digital records are by far the easiest and most convenient way to keep account of your models. We have several different templates for you to download on this site but it won't take you very long to set up your own spreadsheet. A spreadsheet is by far the quickest and easiest way to keep basic records. Think about what you need to know about your models, on a really simplistic level the model's name, their brand and model info (such as product number and name) and their value is all you need. But it is recommended you also keep information about their show name, breed, markings and the amount you spent. The more information you can keep the better! You also need to keep a photograph of the model, you could either embed this in your spreadsheet or keep them in a folder on your computer and make a note of the name of the file (I number all my models and use this to cross reference between the spreadsheet and the photo file).
Obviously a spreadsheet isn't for everyone. You could also keep your records as a word document or even a powerpoint presentation with a slide per horse. The advantage of doing this is you can easily have images next to the model and also keep detailed show records. The disadvantage is that it takes a little longer to find each horse (you need to remember their names) and the file size will also be larger.
There are also several different specialist model horse record software systems. Some of these are programs you install on your computer and some of these are digital. The massive advantage of these is that they usually have more functionality and search systems that allow you to easily find the horse's information and show records. An online system is also automatically backed up - perfect in the instance of a computer failure.
Below are some examples of model horse database software programs:
My Model Horse Database: mymhdb.com/www/main/index.php
Model Horse Records Software: 757767.co.uk/
Links will take you to external sites - leave at your own risk!
However you choose to keep your records you need to make sure they are backed up 'off site'. The sad fact is the main reason your collection will be insured is in case of house fire. If this does happen your computer will most likely also be lost. Obviously if your collection database is online then this is already stored 'off site' but if it isn't it is recommended you back it up somehow. You could simply email the document to yourself regularly or you could save it to a Cloud based system. You could even just upload an image of each of your models to Facebook and put their information in the description.
Paper Records
Paper records are the traditional way in which people would have kept information about their model horses. For those who are less computer savvy this may simply be an easier option. One massive advantage of paper records is that you can keep things such as live show certificates and photographs with their records so everything stays organised.
The smallest and easiest way to organise the collection is through index cards. These can be filed alphabetically in an index card holder and include all of the models information along with a picture stuck on. You could also organise by breed, brand or model number depending on your collection and what you find easiest.
The other way you can store records is through a filing system. Using a plastic wallet you can put not only the model's information but also any photoshow pictures and certificates in the folder with them. This has the huge advantage that everything is kept together, so if you sell a model you can simply remove them and pop them in the parcel with the horse. If you keep digital records you could also combine it with a paper based system to store your certificates and photographs.
I organise my model horses in three ways: a spreadsheet; a powerpoint and paper files. The 'Massive Horse Spreadsheet' has details of every single model and is incredibly detailed. It also has 'unique ID codes' which cross reference to a folder with photographs in. The Powerpoint has three slides per horse. The first slide has a photograph and the horse's basic information, the second slide has the horse's pedigree and the third slide has their show results. I also have paper files, these each have a printed sheet with a photograph and basic information about the model and then all of their show certificates in the folder with them, if they have a photoshow picture they also have that. I am also working on putting my own models on a digital online database.
Insurance
If you have a home you most likely have some form of home contents insurance. If you have a model horse collection then, however small, you need to think about insurance. Think about what would happen if your house burned down, would your models be covered under your home contents insurance? Could you afford to replace them?
The first stage is to look at whether your existing home insurance covers your collection. Make sure you have an accurate valuation for the whole collection (the easiest way to value a model is to look at 'completed' listings on eBay or to look at how much you paid). You may want to contact your insurer and at least notify them that the collection exists, even if it's value is covered underneath the amount for your existing insurance. This is how we first approached insurance, the collection is simply covered under the house insurance, the insurer is notified of their existence and value so won't get any nasty surprises if we make a claim!
You could also think about specialist collectors insurance. This may cover damage and repairs if a model is accidentally damaged and some may cover the removal of the items from your home. It is worth noting that most car insurance does not cover a huge amount of car contents (check your policy, you may not even have the value of your sat nav covered let along 150 model horses)! If you live show it is really important you look at the insurance situation when you take your models away from the house. It is far more likely that someone will rear end your car then you have a house fire so it is worth making sure they are insured.
Always check with your insurer what information about the collection they need in order to pay out and also how they will value it. Make sure you have all the records you need kept in several different places and keep details of your insurer somewhere it can easily be accessed in the event of the worst happening, you can get fire and water proof safe boxes but a Cloud based digital system may also be a good option (although these do have other security issues).
Many people may accumulate a collection of model horses almost by accident. It's quite hard to be a young girl and not get given model horses, add a general horsey madness to that and your average 9 year old horsey mad child may have a collection to rival even some of the most dedicated collectors! In fact it may even seem silly to have a page talking about an introduction to model horse collecting but actually, as with any collection, there is far more to collecting than simply popping ten plastic horses on a shelf.
What to Collect?
Most model horse collections start almost by chance and with little purpose. You accumulate a few horses here and there and slowly build something up. You find something you like and you buy it! But as your collection grows you may start to make far more defined choices about what you want to collect and why. Below I've run through the several different types of collections I've come across in my years in the hobby.
The Hoard
I put myself firmly in this category (and I think my family would probably agree). The hoard is a collection that basically consists of everything. You could have a £1000 artist resin sat right next to a pound shop unicorn. These collections tend to be quite varied and although there may be themes within them they have huge variety of finishes, brands and colours.
Hoard collections are also characterised by their size, most hoard collections see little output and a lot of input. If you are anything like me you will struggle to let go of horses leading to a continual need for more pony space, shelves and storage. Unfortunately our British homes don't come equipped with large basements as they do in other countries and I think this is a great shame. I could really use a basement similar to those possessed by my Canadian relatives to store my ponies!
Although most purchases in the hoard collection will have been considered and chosen because the owner likes them there are also likely to be a lot of random purchases or finds. There may be things won in raffles or things that were purchased just because they were cheap. There's also a tendency towards buying complete sets and having multiple congas.
The Breed Fanatic
The breed fanatic is obsessed with one particular breed. They often come in two forms, the first has to add every single model representing that breed to their collection, the second is very discerning about the representations they add and and will evaluate every model for its correctness.
The breed fanatic can be spotted at any live show as they will be sat around all day waiting for their class and have a table usually full of one or two moulds. They often struggle to pick a model for a class because why on earth can I only show 3 Arabians, I have at least 90 OF Arabs! Specialist shows are their play ground, if you want to make one happy run a photoshow for their favourite breed and watch them fill every single class!
Colour Crazy
We all have our favourite colours but the colour crazy collector takes that to a whole.new.level. Their shelves will look more like a monochrome painting than a collection and they will often have multiple variations of the same model because that shade of bay really is very different to the shade of bay on the 17 other Frankels they own.
There will often be a variety of different moulds and finish in their collection but it isn't unusual for them to have a favourite artist. If you want to see 92 Deb Brown painted Smarty Jones all in bay then go and visit a colour crazy collector. Just don't ask them how they tell them all apart...
In and Out
The in and out collector has a less static collection. They often sell models and often buy models leading to a collection that seems to change every single week. They can easily be spotted frequenting online sale sites and you will see their adverts often. They are also pretty easy to spot at live shows because half their show string will seem to be for sale and yes they really did just pull out a massive wadge of cash at one of the sales tables!
They quite often have 'never sells' that seem to end up for sale and tend to buy and sell with more of a goal in mind. They also seem to have a new grail every single week that justifies the current sales!
They are great to hang around with at shows or to follow online because they constantly have new ponies! They also often have things for sale and may be less inclined to keep models so may be willing to accept a cheeky offer.
Devoted Customer
The devoted customer is obsessed with one particular brand of model horses. They will often have not only a large number of the horses but also a selection of catalogues and promotional material. They will have an encyclopedic knowledge of their favoured brand and will have things in their collection that you never even knew existed (ever seen a pink Beswick Shetland? yep that exists).
It isn't uncommon to find collectors of model horses that have absolutely nothing to do with the hobby as we know it. Beswicks for example are highly collectable in the UK and you will see people with huge collections of the Beswick horses who have no idea that there is even such a thing as a model horse collector!
A wonderful wealth of knowledge about their favoured brand they are really useful if you need to identify that strange find or want to know whether anyone else actually owns a Paddock Pal Spotted Drafter without a face marking (and nope...still haven't seen another one).
Accidental Collector
'I am not a model horse collector' they firmly say as they add yet another model to their collection. The accidental collector doesn't so much buy model horses as acquire them. They are usually the partner of a collector or run some form of hobby business that brings them along to shows and events, where of course they have to buy raffle tickets. Through raffles, competitions and very occasional purchases they end up with a collection without ever really wanting one. The most important thing to remember is that they are NOT model horse collectors (even if it looks very very very much like they are).
I am married to one such person. He is as much a part of the hobby as I am. He tends to collect other animals and models that he thinks are cute but he does now have two horses of his own, Sugar Maple and Illumination. Obviously being married to a Breyer dealer means that he can acquire such things with minimal effort and no 'actual' shopping.
Fan Girl
The fan girl collector is someone who collects model horses with a particular theme often related to famous horses or television show they like. They will often have an entire set of Breyer race horses or everything from a certain film such as Spirit. They probably also have a wealth of other memorabilia from their chose subject such as posters, mugs and a napkin which was used by their favourite horses jockey.
I must admit that I do have a certain fan girl element to my collection. I have become somewhat obsessed with Boomerang from Spirit Riding Free. I now have all the Breyer Boomerang items (all imported from the USA as you cannot get them in Europe) as well as various other items as well, all sourced from eBay and the US. A general piece of advice, choose something that is licensed in the place you live to become obsessed with!
Congas
If you aren't a model horse collector when you think of a conga you probably think of a lot of very drunk people at a wedding in a long line falling over tables. A conga in a collection is essentially the same thing, just hopefully with a lot less falling over (that said if you have decided to conga something like the G2 Thoroughbred you deserve every wobble you get you silly human)! A conga is essentially a collection of models on the same mould. There is much debate about how many models constitute a conga but when I run conga classes at live shows I go for three or more.
What Goes In a Conga?
A conga should consist of models that are all on the same mould. For most people a large proportion of these will be original finish. So if you decide to collect models on the Smarty Jones mould for example you are probably going to have Smarty Jones, Frankel and the Dark Horse special runs in your collection.
Many people also like to add customs to their congas (although some do only collect the original finish models). If you have obtained all the original finish models you can then this is a great way to add lots more colour and variety to your collection. For many conga owners variety is what attracts them to a piece, they like to have something that is a bit different. So you will find plenty of resculpts within a conga collection as they stand out from the rest of the models. Some people also like to add one of every colour, in fact some may have congas that consist only of customs with one of every colour imaginable!
Most conga collectors will have one or two star pieces. These are models that are much rarer and hard to find and worth showing off. It is unusual that someone will have a complete conga (see below) but these rare pieces are the holy grails of the original conga. These could be unusual variations of a model or things such as BreyerFest Auction models. They could also be factory rejects test pieces in very unusual colours.
The Complete Conga
A complete conga is a rare site, although we all may accidentally own one at some point when a mould has only just been released! Complete congas are not possible for all manufacturers (a Peter Stone Arabian conga would be verging on impossible to complete if you think about all the one of a kind pieces Stone complete) and may be very hard for others. There is also the hurdle of simply knowing everything that has been produced. You could spend your life completing a conga and then discover a new test piece from 50 years ago that you never knew existed, that is very much the nature of collecting a factory produced product.
For many then a complete conga becomes a complete 'obtainable' conga. An obtainable conga is those models that are actually reasonably easy to obtain. It would exclude things such as one of a kind models (Breyer Test Runs or Auction Pieces are an example of this) and would obviously exclude anything that simply was never available to purchase (there is a G2 Appaloosa that was featured in marketing material but nobody has ever actually seen one in person).
I have a complete obtainable Bobby Jo conga, that means that I have all the models I could reasonably get hold of. So there are several models missing. The models missing are: Bobby Jo on base (this is the first produced model and given as a raffle to one Premier Club member); All Out (a BreyerFest Grand prize model) and three BreyerFest Auction pieces (a palomino, bay pinto and steel grey). The advantage of starting a conga on the Bobby Jo mould is that I can add models as they are released. Of course I also have a few customs as well!
In order to finish a conga you need to know what to include. For this you will need a reference site or book to help you. Obviously this very much depends on the brand you collect but I've put a few links below:
Angel Fire: www.angelfire.com/on/raventyde/grandchampion.html
Grand Champion reference site
Breyer: www.breyerhorses.com
The official Breyer site has their current range, search by product code and you can also view information on older 'hidden' products as well.
CollectA: www.collecta.biz
The official CollectA website has their entire current product range.
Equine Resin Directory: www.equineresindirectory.com/#search
Database of painted and unpainted resins and chinas
Identify Your Breyer: www.identifyyourbreyer.com
Breyer horses & CollectA reference site
Julip Originals: www.juliporiginals.co.uk/
Images of Julip originals produced over the last few years
Stone Horse Reference: www.stonehorseref.com/
Reference site for Peter Stone models
Strawberry Reef: www.strawberryreef.com/
Reference site for My Little Ponies
Toy Dreamer: www.toydreamer.com.au
Schleich dealer with nearly every Schleich product
Links will take you to external sites - Chestnut Ridge is not responsible for the contents of these sites or links. You leave at your own risk!
The Non-OF Conga
I've already briefly touched on the idea of having customs in your conga and it is of course completely possible to have a conga of a non-original finish model such as an Artist Resin or simply to collect customs on an OF mould. Here the aim isn't to have a 'complete' set of all the models produced but just to acquire a variety of different models on that mould. Often there is a desire to collect one of every colour or a rainbow of different colours but you do also see congas of models all in the same colour!
This form of collecting usually also applies to brands where the models are produced more as one off pieces or limited runs than one large production run of a single colour. For example a Julip or Peter Stone conga may not be collected in the same way as a Breyer one but may instead focus on a variety of colours, or different body shapes or features. There may still be a desire to get hold of models produced for special events such as an anniversary horse or ones painted or designed by certain artists.
Storage
One of the biggest problems of modern life according to my mother is a lack of storage. The reality of the situation is that if you are going to collect something eventually you are going to have to think about how you are going to store it. Collections have an annoying tendency to grow rather than shrink leading to a constant necessity for more space for the collection and less space for every other possession. If you live in a house with other people you may also find your collection fighting against the will and desire of the other inhabitants!
So how should you go about storing your model horse collection?
Shelves
Shelves are by far the most common way that you will see a model horse collection stored. They are pretty cheap and easy to put up and don't take up a huge amount of space, they essentially make sure of space that wasn't being used for anything else. This makes them perfect for collections of all size particularly if you have limited space. Shelves can also be relatively inexpensive to make and put up and can easily be made from salvaged materials.
If you are using shelves to house your collection you do need to think about a few things before you put them up. Firstly how big should they be? If you have a collection of minis you are going to waste a lot of space if you have large shelves with big spaces between them, equally if you have a collection with a lot of Traditionals in you are going to be a bit of a pickle if the shelves are small and close together. Think carefully about your space and what you have in your collection, always baring in mind that it will expand! The next thing you need to think about is the location. If you are putting them in a main room then aesthetics may be a consideration when choosing the layout and finish of wood. You also want to avoid any direct light as this can damage the models. Finally when thinking about the location you do need to consider how easy they are to reach! If you regularly show you will be getting your models on and off your shelves quite a bit, so you don't want shelves that are really hard to reach.
If you live in a rental property or simply don't want to attach things to the wall you can buy free standing shelving units. These can often be purchased relatively cheaply from places such as Ikea (they do a set of shelves for £15.00 that are perfectly good). If you are able to secure these to the wall it is always a good idea as they are pretty easy to knock over!
The final thing to note is that shelves can and do fall down. It is always better to use more brackets then you think you need than less. It is more important that your shelves stay up than look pretty so think carefully about how you are going to fix them to the wall!
Cabinets
Cabinets are also a popular choice for storing a collection. They have the advantage that they don't need fixing to the wall and they also have doors which close meaning that dust and animals can be kept out! They do, however, take up a lot of space and don't always make the best use of the space available. They can also be quite pricey but this can be mitigated by buying second hand and checking out sites such as Freegle.
The most commonly used cabinets are glass ones or ones with glass doors. These allow you to see your collection whilst also keeping it dust free. When choosing a cabinet think about where you are going to put it in your house and also think about how large the shelves are. Some can have very substantial shelves whilst others can be quite narrow. You also need to think about how easy they are to get to. That cabinet may fit perfectly in a corner but if you can't open the doors easily then it isn't going to be very useful!
Cabinets are perfect for items with very fragile finished or for your show string during the show season as they keep the dust off. However, dust does still get inside and they can also be quite easily knocked as they stick out a bit. Some may also have wobbly shelves so do be careful! If like me you are a cat owner cabinets also have the huge advantage that they stop naughty paws from knocking things off shelves.
Boxed
Unfortunately we aren't all in the position to show off our collection on shelves. It may simply be due to a lack of space or it may be that others in the household don't want every single room filled with horses. You may also need to keep them boxed during house renovations or because of animals. Whatever the reason this is not an uncommon way to keep your model horses.
Many people keep original finish models in boxes. Unlike other toy collectables model horses do not have extra value if they are in their box (although some vintage boxes and products may have a higher value to collectors) in fact a box may actually devalue a model by causing box rubs or damage. That said if you have limited space it can often be more convenient to keep original finish models in piles of boxes than on shelves. Some brands like Copperfox or Border Fine Art sell models in boxes from which they can be removed and put back in, this is quite a useful way to store them as they are protected (although could still receive box rubs) and can be piled on top of each other.
If you are choosing to store your models in boxes make sure they are nice and strong and well packed. Remember that bubblewrap should always be 'bubble out' and models should be stored away from extremes of temperatures. Boxing may also not be suitable for all finishes of models, customs for example can become sticky and models may get broken if boxes or moved or horses removed and put back in. Large plastic boxes such as the 64l Really Useful Boxes are very good for this purpose and you can also use specially made model horse pouches to store and protect your models.
Draws
Similar to storing models in boxes they can be stored in draws. I know several people who choose to store smaller models in a draw lined up in pouches or bubblewrap bags. Draws have the advantage that they could be part of an existing piece of furniture (such as a cabinet) and you can easily open them and get the models out.
When choosing your draw make sure it opens with easy and can be fully opened. Also make sure that it is deep enough for the height of models you want to store. You can also store models lying down with lots of padding, for particularly fragile and wobbly models this can be a much better alternative to leaving them stood up.
If you are storing smaller models standing up in lines then the best way to do this is in some form of pouch. This makes it easy for you to get them in and out and makes it easy to tell who is in what packet. You can buy specially made pouches for model horses which are a great option or you can buy bubblewrap bags which are also really good for this purpose and pretty cheap.
The Pony Room
For most collectors the dream is to have your very own pony room. This is a room entirely devoted to storing model horses but does require devoting an entire room in your house to just model horses! Obviously this depends upon lots of factors such as the amount of spare space you have and how many other people you live with.
The advantage of a pony room is that it helps to protect your model horses from damage. If you have pets or small children then it prevents them from damaging models. It also creates a nice safe space where you can escape the real world and sit with the door shut! It also means that the model horses are all kept in one place, this is useful for organising for shows or photography as it reduces the amount of wondering around the house. It also may make others in the house happy if they don't like the models being all over the place!
If you are lucky enough to have a pony room in your house you need to think carefully about how you are going to set it up. There are lots of things in rooms that waste space, such as windows, radiators, doors and an angled roof. You can think about removing items (our pony room doesn't have a radiator in, but we installed the central heating in the house so that was an easy thing to do), doors to things such as cupboards can also be removed to create an alcove instead. If you have a window you could look at buying shelves or cabinets with solid backs that can be placed in front. This helps keep too much light from getting in the room and also gives you extra shelf space!
Also think about the other things you want to put in the room. You will need to store all those extra things that come with model horses such as plastic boxes, tack and even your stables (if you choose to have your own stableyard). You may also want to add a table (this makes packing a lot easier on your back) and a light tent or photography set up. A pony room is always a working progress, think carefully about where you place things such as shelves as you want to make the most of the space and don't want to have to spend days removing everything to put new ones up!
In the UK it is very unusual to have houses with large basements which is such a pity as these are ideal for storing model horses as they have no windows and are a large square space. If you are lucky enough to have one of these then a pony room is the ideal use.
Storage Unit
Sadly we can't all afford large houses with lots of space and at some point we may need to think about storing model horses elsewhere. Storage units can be a cost effective way (well cheaper than an extension anyway) of storing your collection. You can add your own plastic or metal shelving or simply store your models in boxes. Storage units vary in their level of security and temperature control so think carefully about where you are going to store them. Also bare in mind that if you don't pay then they will usually have the right to sell the goods in order to meet their costs, so make sure to keep up payments.
Obviously storage units have the disadvantage of not being at your house and having limited opening hours. They are suited more to models that are boxed (such as Breyers) and models that you simply don't want to get out on a regular basis. They are also good for dealers who have a large number of models or items to store at one time.
Record Keeping
I am a bit of a spreadsheet fiend, a good spreadsheet makes me weak at the knees but I am well aware that they aren't for everyone. However, if you have a collection of anything you NEED to keep decent records. Not only is this important so you know what you have and can access information such as show results but it is also essential for insurance. Even owning just 10 Breyer Traditionals can mean your collection has a value of £200 and probably is going to require some form of insurance and record keeping is essential for this.
Digital Records
In our digital age digital records are by far the easiest and most convenient way to keep account of your models. We have several different templates for you to download on this site but it won't take you very long to set up your own spreadsheet. A spreadsheet is by far the quickest and easiest way to keep basic records. Think about what you need to know about your models, on a really simplistic level the model's name, their brand and model info (such as product number and name) and their value is all you need. But it is recommended you also keep information about their show name, breed, markings and the amount you spent. The more information you can keep the better! You also need to keep a photograph of the model, you could either embed this in your spreadsheet or keep them in a folder on your computer and make a note of the name of the file (I number all my models and use this to cross reference between the spreadsheet and the photo file).
Obviously a spreadsheet isn't for everyone. You could also keep your records as a word document or even a powerpoint presentation with a slide per horse. The advantage of doing this is you can easily have images next to the model and also keep detailed show records. The disadvantage is that it takes a little longer to find each horse (you need to remember their names) and the file size will also be larger.
There are also several different specialist model horse record software systems. Some of these are programs you install on your computer and some of these are digital. The massive advantage of these is that they usually have more functionality and search systems that allow you to easily find the horse's information and show records. An online system is also automatically backed up - perfect in the instance of a computer failure.
Below are some examples of model horse database software programs:
My Model Horse Database: mymhdb.com/www/main/index.php
Model Horse Records Software: 757767.co.uk/
Links will take you to external sites - leave at your own risk!
However you choose to keep your records you need to make sure they are backed up 'off site'. The sad fact is the main reason your collection will be insured is in case of house fire. If this does happen your computer will most likely also be lost. Obviously if your collection database is online then this is already stored 'off site' but if it isn't it is recommended you back it up somehow. You could simply email the document to yourself regularly or you could save it to a Cloud based system. You could even just upload an image of each of your models to Facebook and put their information in the description.
Paper Records
Paper records are the traditional way in which people would have kept information about their model horses. For those who are less computer savvy this may simply be an easier option. One massive advantage of paper records is that you can keep things such as live show certificates and photographs with their records so everything stays organised.
The smallest and easiest way to organise the collection is through index cards. These can be filed alphabetically in an index card holder and include all of the models information along with a picture stuck on. You could also organise by breed, brand or model number depending on your collection and what you find easiest.
The other way you can store records is through a filing system. Using a plastic wallet you can put not only the model's information but also any photoshow pictures and certificates in the folder with them. This has the huge advantage that everything is kept together, so if you sell a model you can simply remove them and pop them in the parcel with the horse. If you keep digital records you could also combine it with a paper based system to store your certificates and photographs.
I organise my model horses in three ways: a spreadsheet; a powerpoint and paper files. The 'Massive Horse Spreadsheet' has details of every single model and is incredibly detailed. It also has 'unique ID codes' which cross reference to a folder with photographs in. The Powerpoint has three slides per horse. The first slide has a photograph and the horse's basic information, the second slide has the horse's pedigree and the third slide has their show results. I also have paper files, these each have a printed sheet with a photograph and basic information about the model and then all of their show certificates in the folder with them, if they have a photoshow picture they also have that. I am also working on putting my own models on a digital online database.
Insurance
If you have a home you most likely have some form of home contents insurance. If you have a model horse collection then, however small, you need to think about insurance. Think about what would happen if your house burned down, would your models be covered under your home contents insurance? Could you afford to replace them?
The first stage is to look at whether your existing home insurance covers your collection. Make sure you have an accurate valuation for the whole collection (the easiest way to value a model is to look at 'completed' listings on eBay or to look at how much you paid). You may want to contact your insurer and at least notify them that the collection exists, even if it's value is covered underneath the amount for your existing insurance. This is how we first approached insurance, the collection is simply covered under the house insurance, the insurer is notified of their existence and value so won't get any nasty surprises if we make a claim!
You could also think about specialist collectors insurance. This may cover damage and repairs if a model is accidentally damaged and some may cover the removal of the items from your home. It is worth noting that most car insurance does not cover a huge amount of car contents (check your policy, you may not even have the value of your sat nav covered let along 150 model horses)! If you live show it is really important you look at the insurance situation when you take your models away from the house. It is far more likely that someone will rear end your car then you have a house fire so it is worth making sure they are insured.
Always check with your insurer what information about the collection they need in order to pay out and also how they will value it. Make sure you have all the records you need kept in several different places and keep details of your insurer somewhere it can easily be accessed in the event of the worst happening, you can get fire and water proof safe boxes but a Cloud based digital system may also be a good option (although these do have other security issues).
What Does a Model Horse Collection Look Like?
Below is a tour of my pony room from November 2018. Enjoy the video and see which of your favourite Breyer horses you can spot?