My 20 Best Custom Models

 Today I'm sharing my 20 best custom models with you. All these models are custom finish model horses. These include simple repaints as well as horses that have had more detailed resculpting. I tend to favour a simple repaint over a more dramatic custom and that can definitely be seen in my top 20 models.

I also definitely have an artist preference! If you've followed my Blog for a while you'll definitely realise that I'm a girl who knows what she likes and collects what she likes! Afterall isn't that the most important part of collecting?

These models have been determined by their average point score from live shows. To work this out I take their total points and divide it by the number of shows that the models have attended.

1st Place

Stable Name: Heredites

Show Name: CRS God's Nectar

Colour: Palomino

Breed: Shetland

Make: Heredites

Artist: Deborah Brown

2nd Place

Stable Name: Spartacus

Show Name: CRS I Am Spartacus

Colour: Bay Sabino

Breed: Thoroughbred

Make: Breyer

Artist: Deborah Brown

3rd Place

Stable Name: Paddy

Show Name: CRS Irish Shockwave

Colour: Grey Pinto

Breed: Cob

Make: Breyer

Artist: Dorn Carran

4th Place

Stable Name: Jac

Show Name: CRS Jack Naylor

Colour: Bay

Breed: Thoroughbred

Make: Breyer

Artist: Deborah Brown

5th Place

Stable Name: Zane

Show Name: CRS San
Franciso Sundance

Colour: Palomino

Breed: Polo Pony

Make: Breyer

Artist: Deborah Brown

6th Place

Stable Name: Seigfried

Show Name: CRS Sundance Sassoon

Colour: Champagne Dun Tobiano

Breed: Mule

Make: Breyer

Artist: Deborah Brown

7th Place

Stable Name: Adam

Show Name: CRS Baywatch

Colour: Bay Leopard Spotted

Breed: Knabstrupper

Make: Breyer

Artist: Kim Burd

8th Place

Stable Name: Don John

Show Name: CRS Don John

Colour: Brindle

Breed: Mustang

Make: Breyer

Artist: Deborah Brown

9th Place

Stable Name: Lion

Show Name: CRS The Unicorn

Colour: Chestnut

Breed: Belgium Draught

Make: Breyer

Artist: Deborah Brown

10th Place

Stable Name: Suspense

Show Name: CRS Suspended Animation

Colour: Grey

Breed: Connemara

Make: Breyer

Artist: Deborah Brown

11th Place

Stable Name: Dust

Show Name: CRS Star Dust

Colour: Decorator

Breed: Unicorn

Make: Unknown

Artist: Catriona Harris

12th Place

Stable Name: Cato

Show Name: CRS Not Now Cato

Colour: Bay

Breed: Polo Pony

Make: Breyer

Artist: Deborah Brown

13th Place

Stable Name: Lotus

Show Name: CRS Lotus Flower

Colour: Decorator

Breed: Unicorn

Make: Peter Stone

Artist: Sophie Lightfoot

14th Place

Stable Name: Lisa

Show Name: CRS Mona Lisa

Colour: Bay

Breed: Mecklenburg

Make: Breyer

Artist: Deborah Brown

15th Place

Stable Name: Sana

Show Name: CRS Sana Zahrah

Colour: Bay Blanket Spotted

Breed: Araloosa

Make: Breyer

Artist: Deborah Brown

16th Place

Stable Name: Rocker

Show Name: CRS Off Your Rocker

Colour: Decorator

Breed: Decorator

Make: Breyer

Artist: Dorn Carran

17th Place

Stable Name: Warden

Show Name: CRS Der Gruftwatcher

Colour: Black

Breed: Percheron

Make: Safari

Artist: Catriona Harris

18th Place

Stable Name: Lyla

Show Name: CRS Lobelia

Colour: Chestnut Leopard Spotted

Breed: Appaloosa

Make: Breyer

Artist: Frances Stevens

19th Place

Stable Name: Milly

Show Name: CRS A Descent Into The Maelstrom

Colour: Buckskin Pinto

Breed: Tinker Pony

Make: Breyer

Artist: Deborah Brown

20th Place

Stable Name: Sally

Show Name: CRS Serenity

Colour: Chestnut

Breed: Haflinger

Make: Safari

Artist: Catriona Harris

Which is your favourite out of these models? Have I managed to introduce you to a few new artists you may not have thought about before for your models? I hope so! There are some really lovely little models here and for all that I do love a Deb Brown custom there are some nice examples from a few other artists as well.

My Best OF Models

Previously I shared with you all my favourite ARC models, today I am going to be sharing my favourite OF models.

These models are all Original Finish plastic models, they are mainly Breyer but there is a little Stone in here as well.

The models have been sorted by their average point scores based on their live show placings.

1st Place

Stable Name: Lacie

Show Name: CRS Lilypad

Colour: Grey

Breed: French Trotter

Make: Breyer

Original Model: Best Friends

2nd Place

Stable Name: Bobby Jo

Show Name: CRS Hick Billy Hick

Colour: Dun Pinto

Breed: Paint Horse

Make: Breyer

Original Model: Bobby Jo

3rd Place

Stable Name: Sultan

Show Name: CRS The Blackout

Colour: Bay

Breed: Arabian

Make: Breyer

Original Model: Sultan

4th Place

Stable Name: Bushka

Show Name: CRS Bushka

Colour: Bay Pinto

Breed: Icelandic

Make: Breyer

Original Model: Bushka

5th Place

Stable Name: Pisces

Show Name: CRS Na h-Lasgan

Colour: Decorator

Breed: Decorator

Make: Breyer

Original Model: Pisces

6th Place

Stable Name: Diesel

Show Name: CRS Rob Roy the Highland Rogue

Colour: Grulla Pinto

Breed: Paint

Make: Breyer

Original Model: Diesel

7th Place

Stable Name: Shiloh

Show Name: CRS Jinkx Monsoon

Colour: Bay Pinto

Breed: American Warmblood

Make: Breyer

Original Model: Shiloh

8th Place

Stable Name: Frutella

Show Name: CRS Frutella

Colour: Bay Pinto

Breed: Abaco Barb

Make: Stone Horses

Original Model: Piccadilly

9th Place

Stable Name: Hermosa

Show Name: CRS Black Widow Dawn

Colour: Black Pinto

Breed: Campolina x Kladruber

Make: Breyer

Original Model: Hermosa

10th Place

Stable Name: Hamlet

Show Name: CRS Human Race Dependency

Colour: Chestnut

Breed: Miniature

Make: Breyer

Original Model: Hamlet

11th Place

Stable Name: Croi Damsha

Show Name: CRS Siol Ghoraidh

Colour: Buckskin

Breed: Connemara

Make: Breyer

Original Model: Croi Damsha

12th Place

Stable Name: Marble

Show Name: CRS Milan

Colour: Bay Pinto

Breed: Working Hunter Pony

Make: Copperfox

Original Model: Marble

13th Place

Stable Name: Hickory Hills Wall Street

Show Name: CRS Alissa Summers

Colour: Chestnut

Breed: Donkey

Make: Breyer

Original Model: Hickory Hills Wall Street

14th Place

Stable Name: Tunbridge Wells

Show Name: CRS Maitri Daydream

Colour: Bay Roan Sabino

Breed: Show Cob

Make: Breyer

Original Model: Tunbridge Wells

15th Place

Stable Name: Cadno

Show Name: CRS Kenya Michaels

Colour: Bay

Breed: Connemara

Make: Copperfox

Original Model: Cadno

16th Place

Stable Name: Leech

Show Name: CRS Giant Leech

Colour: Bay

Breed: Connemara

Make: Breyer

Original Model: Sable Island Horse

17th Place

Stable Name: Della Robbia

Show Name: CRS Christmas Dreams

Colour: Decorator

Breed: Decorator

Make: Breyer

Original Model: Della Robbia

18th Place

Stable Name: Italy

Show Name: CRS The Italian Girl

Colour: Black

Breed: Shire

Make: Breyer

Original Model: Shire and Corgi Set

19th Place

Stable Name: John Henry

Show Name: CRS A League of Their Own

Colour: Bay

Breed: Thoroughbred

Make: Breyer

Original Model: John Henry

20th Place

Stable Name: Patrick

Show Name: CRS The Philosopher's Pupil

Colour: Chestnut

Breed: Irish Draught

Make: Breyer

Original Model: Irish Draught

Which is your favourite of these models? I definitely have a thing for Connemaras!

New Peter Stone Mould!

Now I know I've been really naughty and stolen a picture off Facebook but I am just so excited about this I had to share!

Stone Horses have a brand new mould and it is sculpted by my all time favourite sculptor Maggie Bennett!!!

This is Remington:



He will be released in Traditional scale but they are offering some Pebbles resins this weekend if you head on over to their Facebook group (usually the best place for Stone news): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=249497304471

I don't care how many kidneys I have to sell I need one of these. They are beautiful! I think I want a bay...or a palomino...

Painting, Painting, Painting

My hands are now pretty much always covered in paint and I had a massive fight with my airbrush (we are just about on talking terms again, it has promised to behave as long as I maybe use it a little less) but I am making really good progress with these customs. I am now working on a rate of painting one a day! That's quite impressive when you think one a month was an achievement before lockdown.

Even the custom category on the website actually has products in it for once! That is quite unusual: https://www.chestnutridge.co.uk/store/c3/custom-finish#/

So here are the new guys :D

Come Undone

First up is 'Come Undone' a Breyer Stablemate G2 Shetland that has been painted to a light bay. He has a little white star and a single white sock.

Commander

Second is 'Commander'. Commander is a Safari Mini (Toob) Shire that has also been painted to a light bay.

Communitarianism

This is one of my favourites of the bunch. He is a Peter Stone Chips Friesian that has been painted to a star dapple grey. A really dramatic looking model.

Communication Breakdown

This is the first of the new Mini Whinnie unicorns to be painted. This little guy had his horn removed before being painted to a dark bay with a white star.

CRS Calcareous Earth

Alchemy is a gorgeous Maggie Bennett micro resin 'Aquilla' who has been painted to a light dapple grey. This one is joining my ever growing herd of tiny resin things! He doesn't seem too pleased about it though...

How Do I Pick A Model?

With so many beautiful model horses in the world how do you pick your next one? Everyone has their own system when it comes to picking their next model horse, so I thought I would give you the lowdown on how I choose mine.

The "Ooo That's Pretty" Approach

OK so let's be realistic about this. I'm going to talk about lists and savings and grails and all kinds of useful systematic approaches below but 90% of my models were purchased as impulse buys because I liked them.

This is particularly true of things like resins, chinas, RubberNedz and customs. I rarely save up and say "I'm going to get an AA Mule" for example, in fact I've never done that, yet I still seem to have about 10 of them...

This usually happens at live shows as well, I've sold a few things, there's money in my pocket, Donna gets out some pretty horses to sell...you get the picture! Deb Brown listings on eBay are also really bad when it comes to this.

Veronica is an example of an impulse purchase. I literally just bought her because she was called Veronica's Vodka!

The "OMG WHAT A BARGAIN" Approach

If it's cheap or reduced I want it. Doesn't matter what it is. The moment TK Maxx gets Breyers in I'm buying them. All of them. I don't care what they are they are cheap and I want them. Retailer running a sale? Having that. Someone selling something off cheap at a live show? I'm having that. Noticed bargain listing on Facebook? I'm having that.

I would say this probably equates to around another 8% of my collection, especially if you include stuff that I've won in competitions, raffles or been given as gifts!

Katya is an example of a bargain purchase. I got her a couple of years ago from TK Maxx when they were selling Breyers.

The Planned Approach

So when I first started collecting model horses I had a notepad in which I planned all my future purchases. I saved up my pocket money each month and when I had enough I sent off an order form and cheque to Julip and got my new pony, accessory or companion back.

Nowadays I still try and stick to this, I still have a savings chart in my journal but as with many things in life my savings often get spent on more important things, like food, or vet bills. At the moment I'm trying to save for Sonorah who I need for my Bobby Jo conga, but that is going to take a very long time!

I do also still have a list of horses I want to buy, although it is generally a bit more general than it used to be. Now it says things like "Bay FCM ISH" or "Custom Salinero" they are more general statements that may eventually be achieved although it is unlikely I ever will (VET BILLS).

So how do you decide which model to buy next? Are you a bit of an impulse buyer like me? Or are you a bargain hunter? Or do you strategically plan and save up your money? I'd love to know! You could even write a guest Blog post on this topic for me and I'll add it to the Blog :D

Minstrel is one of my earliest Julips, I saved up for 16 weeks in order to buy her.

This blog post was written by Catriona Harris, owner of Chestnut Ridge and model horse fanatic.

Template Listing - Listing Items on eBay

I just finished listing a load of items on eBay and thought I would do something I had been meaning to do for a while now. I already publish a guide to selling model horses on eBay which can be found here:

http://www.chestnutridge.co.uk/product/A_Beginners_Guide_to_eBay_GUIDE3

But I thought it might be quite a good idea to publish a template which people could simply copy and paste and write into it their description of their item. That way people could remember to include all relevant information. If there is anything you think I should add then let me know.

So here it is...

Template eBay Listing - Copywrite Chestnut Ridge


You are free to use this template as much as you like but please do give credit where credit is due and do not reproduce the template itself outside of the eBay selling context.


Items that are in green are descriptions of what should go into each area

Listing Title

e.g. Custom Breyer Andalusian

Important Information

e.g. Tack is for a MODEL HORSE

Scale

Finish

Mold Name

Manufacturer

Artist

Size

Colour

Face Markings

Leg Markings

Live Show Placings

Condition

About The Horse/Tack

Include a general description of the item including all requirements and in particular order times for hand made items. This should be as long and as detailed as possible.

Shipping Information

Include here your shipping times and policies

Postage Prices

List your postage prices for all countries and methods you offer

Policies/Information

Additional information such as "Buyer must pay within 3 days of auction finishing"

Please take a look at my other items

Please just ask to see any more pictures or for any more information

Thank you for looking