Showing = collecting?

It seems that some people buy tack and new models only because they show. And the opposite example is that some people don't buy tack or high quality horses because they don't show.

This post may contain slightly provocating writing and one-sided view. I'm no way against the people whose ideology I talk about here - we're just different. So please don't rip your nerves off in case it's possible. 

I ask, why not to buy tack, if you don't show? Is there something wrong in it? If everything should correlate with showing, be it halter or performance, wouldn't that mean that all the fun goes... off? Some hobbyists really say they don't buy tack because they don't show their horses. I personally can NOT understand this logic.

Of course, it's fine if someone wants to just collect horses and not buy tack. It's really okay. Most of us are more interested and focused on the horses alone. I would like to collect and make more horses as well, but that is not possible... But at least I can make tack. And dolls.

A bridle which works and so on. Made it just for fun and my own materialism.

But my point was that I have no idea why you should stop collecting tack BECAUSE you don't SHOW your horses.

I have never showed my models, and I own a huge pile of tack. I make practically all of it myself, with some exceptions. I want to improve and become a professional in both tackmaking and also sculpting and painting. I use dolls and want to make them ride well, if a certain doll has to. My goal is to be able to make and assemble something which would look like it was in full scale. Why do I do this, you ask?

I need to buy another box for my saddles...

Simply because it is what model horse hobby is about. It is not about showing, it is about the horses, the tack, the props, the dolls, the realism and setups. It's hobbying. Showing is just one part of it, and not everyone does it. Just like not everyone collects tack, let alone makes any. Showing is not the only purpose of collecting horses and tack, though I can understand why someone finds it more motivating than just... collecting because of collecting.

But I still don't understand why people refuse to buy tack, with the argument of "not needing it because not showing". Hey - you don't need the showing itself either (if we look at it from the scientific view)!

Great tack doesn't go to waste if it wasn't made or collected for performance showing.

Another bridle which I made just for fun. Everything works and is removable just because I want it to be so. I tacked this horse (who I originally bought because he matches to a horse I once met in a dream) up just to complete the doll seat checking session (was trying to find matching saddles for each) that I documented.

And the horses. Why can't you buy an excellent piece of art just to enjoy it yourself and feel the happiness of owning it? Why has everyone else to be able to see it? Why do you choose a model because you want it to win, and not because it "speaks for you"? Honestly, one should collect horses with the emotional and personal interest being the first and most important factor in buying it. Great model horses don't go to waste if they aren't showed. An artist isn't and should not be angry or sad if you can't let everyone see that magnificent piece of art; it's yours, no one else HAS to see it.

I collect and (try to) make great horses because I like them, and they match to my criterias what I have for model horses; anatomically realistic and tack friendly. I also make my tack as good as possible because I like tack and want to have it for my horses. It also adds some detail and interest to my photos, let alone using dolls. Without all that "performance" stuff I would not photograph my models that much, or at all. And I have never taken any photos with shows in mind. I have never bought or made anything with showing in mind...

Tilda would no way win anything in shows, be it halter or perf, and her sculpting style is very rough. Yet she already developed a little crack at the right foreleg (you can see it above the knee). But dammit, I honestly like her face - she is my next completed OSC ever, and I honestly wasn't expecting her head to turn out even that well! (Meanwhile the rest of the entire horse is practically trash...)

(One thing is that here are no shows in my country, and while I - in theory - would participate in international photo shows, I simply have never felt large interest towards it. If showing was the only reason to hobby model horses, why would I hobby at all at home then? I still wish I was able to buy - and paint! - those expensive traditional scale resins, and all this simply because I like them so much. My only problem is that they're really expensive and my painting skills wouldn't do any justice for them.)

I bought this old dude used, and was aware of the fact that he was a great victim for customizing. Eventually I just found out he wasn't in that bad condition at all for my standards, so I was able to have him in my collection the way he already was and is. I don't mind some little scratches.

It's enough that you like it and want to have it. There is no need for other excuses.

Why just that horse? Kave edition!

So, Afuze wrote a great post about choosing what models to get. And I promised to her to write my own. So here we go!

Sign Of Hope
I don't quite know what made me fall in love with Kodi. But I did. At the time I could not get it, I did not have the money for models. So I had it's picture open on my phone at all times! I was sure, that it would sell out before I could have the money to get it. But then my life turned around, and I decided to treat myself to make me feel better. Also my mother gifted me some of her prize. I thought getting this model could be a sign of hope, sign of things getting better. So I bought her, and I am completely in love. One of the best buys I've made. Also, she was not named immediately. I felt she was special and needed a special name. And then I was listening to Scorpions' new song Sing Of Hope and it clicked. Sign Of Hope really tells what this model was and is for me. At bad times I now look at her, and I think that things will get better.

Sign Of Hope "Kodi"/"Sinkku"

Silence In The Age Of Apes
 This one is a model that when I first saw her I was sure I would never get. Or to be truthful it was the first ten times... I did not like it's colour added to the mold lady phase at first. Then things just turned around one day. And I NEEDED her. Getting her wasn't that simple either. I wanted a foal model really much, and that model was the priority for me. So I wanted to find a good mother to the foal. As I think genetics are important with horse colours I talked with Afuze for hours about what mare to get. We had to dig deep into genetics and make sure this mare could be the mother of the foal. In the end, to my delight we came to the conclusion that Sumppi could be Litku's mom. So I bought her!

 I am in love with her, and she kicked off my final love for vintage molds. I did not like them that much before getting her and now I need them all! Her colour also has grown onto me, I think it is beautiful on Lady Phase mold. This model is a must get for everyone!

Silence In The Age Of Apes "Sumppi"

Little Bit Off
And we are circling around to the foal I was talking about. I drooled over her for years. I did not have a traditional foal in my collection before her. And I like to keep my collection as versatile as possible, so getting a foal was a must. I already told a bit about getting her. I knew that I was going to order her, but looked for days to find a mother. I wanted her to have a mother! Breyer doesn't make enough mares! But in the end I got her (was the last of the shop, so was lucky to get her as she is not produced anymore) and I am really happy with her!

Little Bit Off "Litku" on the right

Itch You Cannot Scratch
This one was my first breyer! I had been dreaming of breyers for years, and finally asked my mom for one for my birthday. I ordered Sam, but because there was an error Sam was actually out of stock. So I told my mom she could decide what one to get. This is another model that I did not want at all. But with this, that was my opinion until I got him. And the rest is history... This is the only mold I want to conga, and he is a favourite in my collection. So much, that he has his own private shelf! Love, love, love this boy and could not be happier that I got him. If it wasn't for my mom I would of never got him. Pictures don't do him or the mold justice!

Itch You Cannot Scratch "Kutina"

Tango Del Dolor
 This boy was a model that I kind of got in a whim. He was on sale, and I googled pictures of him. I did not like the christmas decoration, and it hid the beauty of this one! I saw a couple pictures of him without the tack and fell in love. I LOVE grey colour on animals! This is due to the fact that all my dogs are grey. I know that grey colour works different in horses, but I still love getting models in shades of grey. This boy is a really loved one in my collection. I really love Moody molds, so obviously this one I like. He has gorgeous shading, and under all that tack you can find a model that every collection would like having. Or at least that's what I think.

Tango Del Dolor "Tango"

Other models
Yes, I know I have many other traditionals in my colletion. But a lot of them do not have entertaining stories like the ones above. And I think this part belongs here. Some of my models I can't remember teh stories for. I have just liked them and got them. Before getting a model I always google photos, Breyer's pictures are not that good. A lot of models I would have never gotten if I only looked at those.

I like having a lot of variety in my collection, so I always keep that in mind while buying models. I like having different colors, molds, breeds, you name it. Another thing I look into nowadays is my modelverse. I sometimes need different models for it, so some of my buyings are based on that. Also I just sometimes think a model is pretty and want it just for that reason.

A lot of models have been gifts from my family. With these I normally give them a list of about five or so models that I would like to get. Then they which one to get and surprise me. Because of this I can't write about these models. Sometimes I have a spesific one I want, and I just ask for that instead. But most of the time I go with the list, because it is fun to be surprised. Also it is not always easy to decide on one!

Cliffside Playtime "Kliffi", was a gift from my mom. This one was chosen by her from a list I made. She is amazing.

Easily Enchanting "Esteri", is a model chosen from a list by my sisters. He is greatly loved here!

Not everyone lives in the United States

Today I want to write about the international side of the model horse hobby. We both live in Finland, and have seen the things I'll talk about today. It sometimes seems like a lot of people living in the US thinks everyone lives there. This can be seen for example in the great model horse groups of Facebook. While Afuze doesn't use this platform, I myself am active there. And I am not going to lie, I envy the collectors living in US.

A group picture of models I took for our Finnish information page about this hobby. Some of the tack made by me, some by Afuze.

Could you, American hobbyist imagine this: no live shows, no Breyerfest, no physical stores selling Breyers. This is the reality for us living in Finland, and I believe to a lot of collectors living around the world. I can only dream of a model horse convention. Also going to a physical store to buy models is one of my big dreams that I don't see becoming true anytime soon.

Today I read a thread on Facebook about Breyerfest special runs. The original poster suggested that Breyer could sell the special runs online for people that don't attend Breyerfest. There was people telling that people who pay for Breyerfest should be the only ones allowed to get Breyerfest special runs directly from Breyers. But this is what I am talking about. To the ones saying this, Breyerfest is only about attending and the willingness to pay for it. They don't realize that some people cannot attend Breyerfest even if they wanted to.

I am one of these people. Getting to Kentucky would be way too expensive for me. Also, I would have to fly. I am terrified of flying, so even if I had the money or any of the other resources getting there would be impossible. And here I am not even discussing the moral side of flying! Flying is one of the biggest polluters on this planet, and that on it's own is a reason not to fly. If I lived in the US or Canada I would run to Breyerfest. But for me that's impossible since I live in Finland.

A Finnhorse custom by me, named Varhaiskaali (primal cabbage). Finnhorse is a Finnish breed so it seemed fitting to have a picture of Kaali here!

Reading about people's attitudes in that thread made me wonder if I am (or we are) considered less important collectors? Are we not good enough to be seen in this hobby? Just because we don't live on the same continent as others. I understand that Breyer (and other brands) are not charity, they're businesses. So it makes sense that they have to charge for shipping here more, or otherwise they can't make anything available anywhere. But I would like other collectors to not have the mentality, that the indicator of a serious collector is being able to attend Breyerfest.

Other things American collectors seem to take for granted are for example physical stores. Well, here we have one shop called Lahjakas, and while you can go to their stock to buy models, it doesn't really count as a physical store. I love this online store though, they ship really fast and have the best customer service I've come across. But children here don't usually have Breyers as toys as they're so hard to get. And this means no models in thrift stores and none in vintage stores etc. Afuze has been able to get a PAM from a thrift store, but that's it. (Afuze comments: I remember how even the experienced Finnish hobbyists were shocked when I told them how I found that model!)

I am really wanting to conga the traditional Peruvian Paso mold, but I most likely can't afford it right now. Even if I could find some of them, the shipping to Finland gets expensive. But I must start the conga when I am rich... which might take long. Some hobbyists I know buy a lot of models secondhand, but from what I know these people are adults with jobs and spare money to spend (I am twenty and a student so that probably tells enough).

One of my rarest models.

Another thing I see is different is being able to sell your work. Here we don't have a big market for model horses, their tack or anything related to them. So if you want to sell your stuff you have to sell abroad. And I don't see that many people excited to buy from Finland, and it seems like making a name takes more since you don't automatically have that many hobby friends with the same native language. I would say that also the lack of physical events like live shows makes this harder.

Speaking of friends. I don't know anyone IRL who collects! Afuze is a dear friend of mine, but we have not yet met in real life. We are definitely planning to, but live hours away from each other and neither of us have cars. This hobby feels lonely here, this is one of the reasons we started this English blog. It seems like no one reads our Finnish blogs.

I have never attended a live show. We don't have them here. So that side of the hobby is really strange and unknown to me. It seems to be a huge part of American model horse people's hobby, but here I am. It doesn't even exist to me! And it's not because I want it to be that way, so it's kind of sad.

Halter and halter rope I made for Afuze, already rehomed to her collection.

I am writing this, because I want us to be heard too. It seems that people are always surprised when I tell about my hobby and the differences between Finland and United States considering model horses. I am actually sad, that we don't have many things other people have and really dream of live shows etc. Both Afuze and I have worked to get this hobby more known here, but it's hard when people don't even have a way to find the first mentions of (about?) the hobby!