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Hobby Scene

article kindly provided by Karon Grieve

Way back in the early 1970s the model horse collecting hobby in the UK started to make its first tentative steps into what it has become today. Apart from little Britains farm animals and horses the model collector really only had Julip horses to play with. These were about classic scale and made in hard latex rubber with hair manes and tails. By todays standards they are rather basic, but back then they were the dream of many a pony mad little girl and l was one of them! The company was based in England and they produced a variety of horses and ponies plus riders, tack and props. Pamela DuBoulay (famous for her fabulous bronzes plus ranges of chinas she sculpted for Franklin Mint) produced Rydal models in the 70s. These were also made in the hard latex with hair manes and tails but were far superior to Julips and very realistic. However they were somewhat expensive and out of the reach of most enthusiasts. On the expensive side you also had the china models from Beswick and going into the realms of fantasy were things like Royal Worcester porcelains but they were well out of the reach of collectors back then.

In the late 70s the great Breyer revolution began and realistic plastic horse models were suddenly available from America. This opened up a whole new world for the model hobby and customising began in ernest. It made such a difference to have something you could hack up and move about, paint, hair, and generally make into the horse you had in your dreams.

It was in the mid 70s that photo showing started out and it really took off with the advent of Breyers. I think this company just remoulded the hobby completely and broadened the horizons of the hobbyists all over.

Live showing was also taking place way back in that dim and distant past in a much more relaxed mode than it is today. Our shows were held on the diningroom table and friends came from all over the country to show their models and stay for the weekend.

Over the decades the standard of models has improved and photo showing is still just as popular. Live shows are much more organised and bigger affairs held at Village Halls or other public buildings.

There are a few artists in the UK who customise both for themselves and others. Original sculptures are far rarer here than in Germany. I still do them from time to time for myself but they are not as popular as in other contries which is a shame. Resins are of course very popular, especially the minis that are affordable for all and easy to store and carry. Donna Chaney has certainly improved the choice of collectable equines over here.

Just now the customised Breyer seems to be making a bit of a come-back in the showrings as people are a little tired of the 'conga line' of resins you can see on any live show table. I think this is great news as it gives everyone more of a chance to be creative and not afraid to try their hand at customising and not just think model showing is only for resins.

There are a few showing clubs in the UK but nothing big like the clubs in USA. We do have a fabulous model magazine tho, 'Horsing Around' which really spreads the word about our hobby far and wide. It would be great to have more photo showing and clubs throughout Europe that we could all be involved in. Here is to the future of our great hobby!

Clubs, Mags

• Model Horses Unlimited - English model horse club
• Model Horses Unlimited - English model horse club
• Horsing Around - a full color magazine, offers SR resin and china model horses, accessories
• Model Horse Collectors Club UK - yahoo discussion group
• BECF - British equine Collectors Forum
     ↓ more information below

About the British Equine Collectors' Forum (BECF)

article kindly provided by Jackie Radwanski