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Glossary of Hobby Terms Model Horse How-To
Who collects model horses? Women and men, children and adults; thousands of people around the world share the pleasure of collecting horses of every make, mold, and size imaginable.
Man's love affair with the horse has been going on for centuries, but the hobby as it is known today began in the 1950s. Back then we communicated through grainy mimeographed newsletters and classified ads in the back of Breyer's "Just About Horses" newsletter. "JAH" is still around, but thanks largely to the Internet the model horse collecting hobby has exploded beyond anything we might have imagined. Now there are print magazines devoted to our little horses and countless clubs, email lists, and web sites around the world that promote model horse collecting. Collecting is a big hobby and a big business, with four major manufacturers in the United States alone and hundreds of toy store and online dealers eager to help feed your addiction.
Besides collecting, some hobbyists participate in other activities modeled on those of living horses and their owners. Probably the most popular activity is showing, which is done via photographs or in person at live shows. Others create elaborate breed pedigrees for their plastic horses, then offer their model horses as "sires" and "dams" to other models. Collectors with an artistic bent may choose to repaint and reshape their models, creating unique works of art that can be collected and shown in their own right.
Just like any hobby, model horse collecting has a language all its own. A brief glossary of terms can be found on this site, and I've tried to explain unfamiliar terms as I go along. A basic knowledge of live horses is useful, but there's no minimum standard of knowledge necessary to enjoy this terrific hobby. Please feel free to poke around, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me.
Happy collecting!
Janice Cox
