Video Tutorials

Whilst I was uploading our latest video tutorial I thought it would be a fun idea to do a Blog post with all the ones I could find on our YouTube channel compiled together.

I will add the latest one once it has uploaded (only a few more hours to go...).

You can find our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJJ5eX7A89wM7BMVdxo5Egw

Make sure to subscribe so you can hear my beautiful voice on a regular basis :p 

Right here we go, the tutorials!

Making Tassels

This video shows you how to make tassels for Arabian costumes and halters. It's a bit fiddly but once you have got the technique they make a great addition to your headcollars and you'll be addicted!

Tack Making Supplies

This video isn't so much a tutorial as much as a talk through the different tack making supplies you might want to own and what they are for. A great shopping list for all potential tack makers!

Grooming

This video talks you through how to groom your haired models. With particular relevance to the Bendy CTF shower!

Attending Your First Live Show

Thinking about attending a live show for the first time? Then check out this awesome video which talks you through what to expect from your first ever live show.

Skiving Leather Lace

This is a short video showing you how to skive leather lace. This is really important for model horse tack making as it thins the leather you are going to use allowing it to sit closer to the model and reducing bulk.

Brownie

Breyer have announced an adorable new Plush horse for Valentines day.

Brownie is literally covered in Love Hearts! How cute is she?

She is priced at $9.99 but you can also get her for free if you order over $25.00!

She is available to order from Breyer USA here: https://www.breyerhorses.com/products/brownie-valentines-day-plush

Model Horse Glossary

The full glossary can be found on our website here: http://www.chestnutridge.co.uk/glossary.html#/

The model horse glossary below is designed to help those new to the hobby with some of its terms that can be a little confusing! It is also published on our website so you can check back if you ever see anything that you don't understand.

As well as terms we've also included a list of abbreviations (which can also be quite confusing)!

Got a term you think should be added? Then drop us a comment below or email me!

Glossary

A

Animal Artistry - This is a brand of resin and china model horses, they often have their own section at live shows

Artist Resin - This are limited run models, sculpted by artists and cast in resin. They are usually sold unpainted from the artist.

B

Bendy CTF - In the UK it is not uncommon for the CTF (that's craft, toy, foundation) section of a live show to be split into 'plastic CTF' and 'bendy CTF'. Bendy CTF models are those made from materials such as latex or rubber. These commonly include Julips, Equorums, RubberNedz and Rydals.

Body - A model that is in poor condition and is good for customising only

Breyerfest - This is a yearly event run by Breyer and held in the USA

C

Classic - These are approximately 1:12 scale model horses

Condition - This refers to the quality of the model

Craft Collectable ​- Refers to more expensive CTF models, usually RubberNedz, Rydals and non-Foundation Equorums

CTF (Craft, Toy, Foundation) - Refers to a section at model horse shows for models that are either craft made (e.g. felties), toys (e.g. Schleich) or foundation models (e.g. Julips). Often split into bendy and plastic.

Custom - This is a model horse that has been altered in some way. For example it may be repainted.

Customising - This is the process of changing a model horse in some way by repainting, resculpting or mohairing

D

Drastic Custom - A custom model horse that has been greatly altered from its original state and is often unrecognisable as the original model.

E

Etchie - This is a model that has been customized by removing paintwork, usually with some form of blade.

F

Factory Finish - This is a model that is in the same state as it was when it left the factory

G

Glossed - A model with a shiny finish

J

Just About Horses (JAH) - This is a magazine published by Breyer Horses

L

Littlebit - These are 1:18 - 1:24 scale model horses

Live Show - These are events where people meet to show their model horses in person

Live Show Quality - A contentious term that refers to a model being suitable to be shown at a live show

​M

Mint in Box - A model that is in good condition and have never been removed from their packaging.

Model Horse Love - This is a UK based model horse forum which can be found here: http://modelhorselove.proboards.com/index.cgi

Mohair - A type of natural hair used to hair models

Micro Mini - These are approximately 1:64 scale model horses

N

North American Nationals (NAN) - A USA qualifying live show, horses have to place 1st or 2nd at qualifier shows in order to attend

​O

Original Finish - A model that has not been altered in any way since it left the factory/producer

One of a Kind - A model where only one has been made/produced

P

Paddock Pal - Approximately 1:18 - 1:24 scale model horses

Plastic CTF - In the UK it is not uncommon for the CTF (that is craft, toy, foundation) section of a model horse live show to be split into 'plastic CTF' and 'bendy CTF'. The plastic CTF section is for models that are made of plastic, such as Schleich, CollectA, Safari, Mini Whinnies, Grand Champions and Magpies.

Photo Show Quality - A model that is good quality but may have some marks and flaws that would not show up in a photograph

Performance - This is a type of class in which horses are shown with tack on and often also with riders

R

Repainted - A model that has been repainted has new paint added

Resculpted - A model that has been altered and given new sculpting

Regular Run - A model produced as an open run by a company such as Breyer

S

Stablemate - Approximately 1:32 scale model horses

Special Run - A model that has been produced especially for a certain event or in a limited number

T

Traditional - Approximately 1:9 scale model horses

U

Unpainted - A model without paint work

​V

Vintage - An older model, definitions vary as to how old but older than 20 years or pre-1990 are currently common definitions

List of Common Abbreviations

A

AA - Animal Artistry/Anglo Arab

AC - Artist China

Andy - Andalusian

ASB - American Saddlebred

ASH - Australian Stock Horse

AQH - American Quarter Horse

AR - Artist Resin

B

BF - BreyerFest

BNIB - Brand New In Box

C

CC - Craft Collectable

CCR - Commercial Resin and China

CF - Copperfox

CM - Custom Finish

COA - Certificate of Authenticity

CR - Chestnut Ridge

You will see the letters CRS on this website quite a lot, this is simply my own prefix and stands for 'Chestnut Ridge Stables'

CTF - Craft, Toy, Foundation

F

FAF - Family Arab Foal

FAM - Family Arab Mare

FAS - Family Arab Stallion

H

HTF - Hard To Find

J

JAH ​- Just About Horses

I

ID - Irish Draught

ISH - Irish Sports Horse/Ideal Stock Horse

L

LE - Limited Edition

LSQ ​- Live Show Quality

Ltd - Limited

M

MFT - Missouri Fox Trotter

MH$P/MHSP - Model Horse Sales Pages

MIB ​- Mint in Box

N

NAN ​- North American Nationals

NASD - North American Spotted Draft

NRFB - Never Removed From Box

NSH - National Show Horse

O

OF - Original Finish

OOAK ​- One of a Kind

P

PAF - Proud Arab Foal

PAM - Proud Arab Mare

PAS - Proud Arab Stallion

​PB - Partbred

PSQ - Photo Show Quality

Q

QH - Quarter Horse

QVC - Quality, Value, Convenience (an American shopping channel/store)

S

SR - Special Run

T

TB - Thoroughbred

TSC - Tractor Supply Company

TWH - Tennessee Walking Horse

V

VTG - Vintage

Ready for NaMoPaiMo?

There are just 3 days to go and then we can all get painting! If you are anything like me you've probably left everything to the last minute...

But in shocking news I have actually prepped my model already! (I know right what has happened to me, I'm becoming prepared and organised). I prepped my Classic model horse just over a week ago and he is all ready to paint. He is currently sat in my spray box staring at me! How likely do you guys think it is that I actually finish him before the end of February? I'm not exactly hopeful, I haven't painted a single horse this year *hides behind sofa*

O I should say, before I share some pics of my project, if you don't know what Namopaimo (National Model Painting Month) is then check out the Facebook group here, you've only got a couple more days to sign up so get planning if you intend to take part!

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/234123470349077/

My Project

So last year you guys may remember I painted the very beautiful Dionysus here: 

Now he was my kind of project, Stablemate scale, a lovely colour, covered in sparkles and generally everything I want from a model horse.

But this year I thought it was about time I did something that actually challenged me. No Stablemates. No minis. Something big. Something very big.

OK so it isn't that big if you are a normal human being and paint normal sized horses, but if your me and a Stablemate is on the large side, then this is basically a GIANT LIFE SIZE HORSE.

So without further ado I give you my project horse, a rather boring Breyer Classic:

Now you're probably thinking, what a random choice? Well yes he is a random choice, that's because I had two Breyer Classic bodies, knew I wanted to paint a Classic and chose him at random. I'm not sure where he came from, I think I won him in a raffle at a live show last year. Anyway poor creature is now going to have my painting skills inflicted upon in.

Now as if painting a Classic wasn't bad enough, in a moment of complete and utter and total insanity I decided (genius that I am) that I am not only going to work in a scale that I hate working it but I am also going to paint my most hated of all the colours...a....PINTO. I hate pintos. Ucky. Horrible colour to paint. YUK YUK YUK. But they look so pretty I hear you cry! Yes that's because you aren't the one painting several million layers of white on the bloody things.

Deep breaths.

So here goes nothing, my reference picture for this month of insanity (because it is not my image here is a link to it):

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/488429522084474159/

O yea did I not also mention that I chose a ridiculously challenging base colour as well? And you know how much I hate dapples? Yep this thing has dapples.

So in conclusion. I wish I could be the person I thought I was when I had drunk a bottle of cider and signed up for Namopaimo. We will find out in a month's time whether I am or not. Maybe you should all send more cider?

SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE!

Herefordshire Live 2019

WOW! So I was going to write this with the full intention that there would be spaces left but the demand for this show completely swept me away. We sold out within an hour! But do not despair, we do have a waiting list and also the chance to purchase a half space (of which there are still five available), so hopefully you won't feel like you've missed out because I took a couple of days to write this (bad me).

Herefordshire Live is a brand new live show for 2019. It will be held in Edwyn Ralph Village Hall, Herefordshire. I decided to make it a general live show, the only thing missing is an artist resin and china section. This is because I felt it was more appropriate to add an Animal Artistry section instead as the show is being held in Herefordshire (I really wanted to make sure the show had both performance and workmanship as well).

Show Information

Date: 21st July 2019

Location: Edwyn Ralph Village Hall, Edwyn Ralph

Sections: Original Finish (large), Custom Finish (large), CTF (large), Animal Artistry (medium), Performance (small) & Workmanship (small)

If you would like a schedule or to learn more about the show please email competitions@chestnutridge.co.uk

About the Charity

Now it would make sense for me to support a local charity for this show but ever since I learned about DOTS I have completely fallen in love with the work they do and knew I had to support them in some way in 2019.

The charity is Dogs on the Streets (DOTS), this awesome charity not only helps street dogs but also their owners. It makes a real difference in peoples lives and it is just awesome. One of the things they do that is just real awesome is to foster the dogs in emergency situations, meaning that their owners don't lose their beloved pet because of circumstances out of their control.

You can learn more about their work here: https://www.dogsonthestreets.org/

We will be running a raffle at lunchtime, if you would like to donate a raffle prize please just email me.

Schedule Information

There are 130 classes at this show, a little less that I normally have but I wanted to make sure that with both performance and workmanship sections the show wouldn't overrun!

There are three large sections: custom, original finish and CTF

There is a mid-sized Animal Artistry section

And then there is a small (15 classes each) performance and workmanship sections.

You can download a full schedule from our website here: http://www.chestnutridge.co.uk/herefordshire-live-2019.html#/

Want to Enter?

Unfortunately general spaces are sold out for this show.

But we do have 5 half spaces (20 models or under) left if you would like to book one of these.

You can also be added to our waiting list.

If you would like to enter either email me or join the Facebook group here.

DONATIONS PLEASE!

GIVE ME STUFF!

We are looking for the following donations for the show:

Raffle Prizes

Sponsorship

General Prizes

Food/Cake/Edibles (not that kind of edibles...)

If you would like to donate something please just email me. In return you can have an advert in the show pack (given to each entrant), on the Facebook group and will be listed to our list of sponsors on the website (which stays up for all eternity).

Anything model horsey or non-model horsey is welcome. It doesn't have to be something huge, every donation, however small, makes a huge difference.

We will also be giving out goody bags at this show, we are particularly interested in local businesses who might like to donate 20 small items to go in these along with advertising! That equally applies to model horse businesses/tack makers/hobbyists/anyone really.

For information on where to send your donations to please email me

SEE YOU THERE!

A preview of what the show hall looks like (Animal Artistry Live 2014)

Healthy Live Show Snacks

We all know that live show calories don't count, but it is January, and I think we should all at least pretend to be healthy for a bit! So here is a list of some healthy snack based alternatives to get you through that live show day (but don't feel too bad if you do end up cracking open the Red Bull, chocolate and crisps, we all know you need it)!

1. Muesli Muffins

I couldn't actually find a picture of them but here is another thing I baked that looks relatively healthy!

I actually made these for a live show many years ago, I can't say they were as popular as my chocolate ones but people did eat them! Alas I cannot find the recipe to share but I did a quick google and there are loads of recipes out there. They had lots of slow release energy without lots of sugar, great for getting you through a long drive and a tiring day!

2. Cereal Bars

NOT THE CHOCOLATE ONES (OK maybe a little bit of chocolate). There is loads of variety when it comes to cereal bars so it shouldn't be too hard to find one you like. You can even get variety packs so you can have lots of ummm variety in your live show snacking!

3. Some Fruit

Actually a nice satsuma or an apple is great on show day, it's just a bit of a PITA getting rid of the waste (particularly if your like me and feed the apple cores to your animals)! But they are refreshing so great for giving you a little bit of a sugary boost.

4. Nuts and Things

Nuts actually contain a lot of calories but they don't contain loads of sugar (so that's good). They are usually quite high in fat as well which is a better slow release energy source. Of course you could bake them into something like flapjacks for a bit more flavour (with minimal golden syrup of course).

5. Juices and Smoothies

I've taken these to shows before and got comments of "what on Earth is that?!?!?" I'm not talking shop bought I'm talking home made! I live off this stuff and my husband does get a little annoyed that every shopping trip involves me buying like a million oranges because I really really really need to juice things.

Do you have any suggestions for less sugary snacks to take to a live show? Then drop them below! You never know, I may even offer something less sugar filled at my next show :p