Let's go bird watching

Happy Friday everyone!

Today we are going to find our inner tweeters and have a look at some of the avian members of my herd. Like many I do not just have model horses on my shelves but also have an amazing collection of non-equine models. Today it's all about the birds though, so without a further ado, let's go bird watching!

First up we have CRS The Peak of Life (why I didn't decide to use a pun here is beyond me, I'm letting myself down). This is an adorable Julip dove.

Next we have CRS Impermanence who is a very cute little CollectA Kiwi

This is an unnamed Julip duck, he is very cute though!

Next we have CRS That Darn Cat! another Julip, this time a cute little chicken

Another Julip chicken, this one is CRS The Ugly Dachshund

Now we are onto the geese...there are quite a few of these! Let's start with CRS A Year of Birds

Then CRS Acastos

Next CRS A Novel

This is a swan not a goose but he likes to hang out with them, this is CRS Anger Management (aka Mr. Goose)

Then CRS Aphrorisms

Then CRS A Fairly Honourable Defeat

And finally CRS A Severed Head

And finally we have an unnamed pain of Julip pheasants. As you can probably tell they can be a bit of a pain though! Always getting into the feed room!

Do you have any birds in your collection? I would love to see them :D

Putting Together a Live Show List

I thought it would be really fun to share with you guys how I put together a show list for a model horse show.

The show I'm preparing for here is Mrs. P's CTF Show 2025. This is a specialist CTF show and has a slightly different class layout than your general show. You can see there a specialist classes for models such as WIA/CollectA or Schleich/Safari.

I haven't filmed the whole process as putting together a full show list takes a good few hours to do! But you get a good insight into how I decide which models I am going to take to a live show. It's also fun to see all the ridiculous names that I've given my models over the years!

Make sure to check in for a full show report from the show in a couple of weeks :)

Five Ways to Get Rid of Out of Control Manes

 Aaaa haired model horses, beautiful, majestic, so realistic and yet SO ANNOYING! We've all been there, that one model whose mane just WILL NOT BEHAVE! That model who gets to a show and looks like they've sat on an electric fence. I feel your pain. But do not fret! Here are my top five ways to sort out those pesky manes.

1. Toothbrush Time

The most effective way to groom manes and tails is using a toothbrush. Choose one with a flat head as this will allow you to smooth the hair out (as apposed to those weird fancy ones that are all wiggly).

You can combine this with other techniques to help smooth a mane. It is a good idea to keep a toothbrush in your show kit as a last minute solution to any loose hairs in the show ring.

2. Water

Your first go to for taming manes is going to be water. This is the most gentle thing to put on your horse and will be the least damaging item to use.

Apply the water to your toothbrush to get it damp, them smooth down the mane to get it to sit where you want. You can combine with clingfilm to help 'set' the mane in place.

3. Dry Shampoo

Dry shampoo is by far the best product I've ever found to sort out manes! I started to use it many years ago to help deal with Equorums which are by far the worst manes I've ever had to deal with on my haired models.

Like the water you don't apply it directly to the horse. Instead spray it onto your toothbrush and then use these to brush the mane and tail. It is less liquid than water and so causes less dampness if you then wrap the mane to set.

This is the one I use. There is no special reason for this other than I already owned it when I decided to try and have used the same can ever since!

4. Cling Film

Cling film is used to 'set' manes and tails in place. It works best if the mane is slightly damp before you wrap it. Once dampened into place wrap the mane (or tail) in cling film to hold it in place. Leave on for a few days before removing (the easiest method is to do it before you pack the horse for a show and then remove it for the show day)

Here is a before and after of a horse that had its forelock wrapped. You can see in the first picture it's a bit all over the place whilst in the second it is sat beautifully.

5. Aggressive Grooming

The final technique is a bit of a weird one but it is the only way to deal with Equorum manes and tails! Especially those horrid tails. This is the best method for over haired horses or ones who have had products such as gel or styling foam added and need this brushing out.

Lay the horse on your lap and then get a small hair brush (you want one that doesn't have teeth but has a softer finish). Vigorously brush out the tail onto your leg, don't touch the horse with the brush to prevent damage! This will brush out all of the knots. You may want to keep some extra mohair to hand to repair any lost hairs.

You can use the same technique with longer manes as well.

Once done use a toothbrush and dry shampoo to shape and style, adding more hair if needed.

You can see the difference in this Equorum,, his tail is now a lot neater. It was also wrapped at the top with cling film to create a nice finish.

Pony Shopping (Again)

So at the show last week I may have gone a little OTT with my pony shopping. This included phrases such as "it was a really good price" and "but I've always wanted this model" which let's face it are really dangerous phrases when it comes to me and model horse shopping!

So who did I buy? Well in my defence one of these was won in the raffle and I bought one a couple of weeks ago and just haven't photographed him yet, so those don't count right? Well I'm not gonna lie it was a bit of an expensive shopping trip, but not too expensive, I mean Beetle really was a good price, honest.

First up is CRS Beetlejuice

Beetle is a gorgeous AA Warmblood and he really was a good deal! I just fell in love with his colour, is he not stunning?

Second is CRS Absolute Zero (Zero)

Zero is a Schleich Knabstrupper Foal and is part of the new 2019 range. I found him in a toy shop and, well, finding a Schleich in good condition is so hard to do I just had to give him the home he deserved!

Third is CRS Durendel (Duren)

What an appropriate name? I really wanted this one when Donna first created him, but someone beat me to it. So when that person put him up for sale I just had to have him!

Fourth is CRS Acajou (Acai)

Obviously I needed a new Julip Fjord foal, I mean this one is at least on a different mould! But isn't she the cutest thing?

Finally is CRS Acid Green

Merlin is part of the new series of Mini Whinnie surprise models and is what I won in the raffle (along with a Stablemate Surprise model that I already have). I love this mould, it is one of the nicest Mini Whinnie moulds, so definitely a good win! He's in good condition as well, so he'll be up for coming to a couple of shows I think.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my rather eclectic collection of new arrivals :) I promise to be good at the next show on Sunday and not do so much shopping...honest gov...

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.

The Julip Hoard

Wow, what a 24 hours it's been! I've finally sat down today and gone through my images and catalogued the 18 Julips I'm keeping out of the lot (spot the missing one :p).

There are still two, however, that I'm not sure on the mould of, I think I've got the rest right but feel free to correct me if you think there are any errors! And if you can ID the mould on the two that I'm not sure on that would be amazingly helpful :)

For those who aren't on Facebook here is where these came from and their story:

So a few weeks ago I came across a very interesting auction online.

It was described as 18 Julip horses and accessories and had one very poor photo that basically showed some boxes and a black horse stood up.

After much computer based inspection I could make out what appeared to be a few originals, enough that I knew it was worth taking a punt on and enough that I could set a maximum.

So I spoke to Brendon (and my parents) and he agreed that he would drive me to Cornwall to pick them up if I won. He also agreed they could be my birthday present and we set a maximum we were prepared to pay (afterall for all we knew there could be 18 modern HOTY models in bad condition)!

Last Wednesday I sat in my parents hall, praying to the gods of internet connections, and watched half an auction until my lot came up.

I bid. And bid. And came very close to my maximum! Someone in the room was bidding which gave me confidence that they weren't all awful. In the end we paid less than our maximum including fees which was nice :D

And so today we got up at 4.30am to drive to Cornwall to find out exactly what I got. I had set my hopes low, but I knew at the price we paid there only needed to be 3 originals for it to be worth while.

Well what can I say. There are some moments as a collector you just get lucky. Lucky you found the thing, lucky nobody else found the thing and lucky you were prepared to take a risk (and an amazing husband).

In total there were 19 (somebody can't spell) horses. 18 Julip Originals and the black thing I could see in the listing that is maybe a custom? Maybe a repair job? No idea.

There were also 8 riders, a huge amount of tack, a few little bits and bobs, some 1980's catalogues and a fox hound :D (o and a metal comb which obviously I am very excited about).

I am so over the moon with these guys :) 18 of them are staying with me, one is going to live with someone very special who I think needs cheering up. I've named one of them but the rest are yet to be named! The dapple grey has been named Cloudberry, it just seemed to suit her.

Some of them were tagged with breeds and I do actually have the name of the original owner as one of the boxes was addressed. Sadly none were tagged with names :( But they've come to a good home, they'll live with me and the rest of my extensive Julip herd (they've already met Crackers...) for the rest of their lives :D No more cold auction rooms for these babies, just a cold pony room instead!

(I'm afraid to say some are going back into boxes if they can't stand to help preserve them, the rest are going in the glass cabinet with the other vintage Julips).

Enjoy the eye candy :D I know I can't stop looking at them!

Now onto the models, each one now has a name :)

(1) CRS The Dark (Pebbles)

Child's Hunter Pony

(2) CRS The Death of Lorca (Lorca)

Show Hunter

(3) CRS Decameron (Deca)

Dartmoor

(4) CRS The Devil's Discus (Discus)

Child's Hunter Pony

(5) CRS Cloudberry (Cloudberry)

Arab Stallion

(6) CRS Big Red (Red)

American Quarter Horse

(7) CRS Doctor Zhivago (Zhivago)

Shetland

(8) CRS Droll Stories (Drolly)

Shetland?

(9) CRS Ecstasy (Ecstasy)

No idea! Any ideas?

(10) CRS Elmer Gantry (Elmer)

Cob Mare

(11) CRS Fanny Hill (Fanny)

Fell

(12) CRS Feast of the Seaweed (Seaweed)

Thoroughbred

(13) CRS Fifty Shades of Black (Fife)

Heavy Hunter

(14) CRS Frankenstein (Franken)

Highland

(15) CRS Forever Amber (Amber)

New Forest

(16) CRS The Fugitive (Fugi)

Welsh Pony

(17) CRS The First Circle (Cicle)

Welsh Pony

(18) CRS God's Laugh (Laura)

Also not sure about this one? Any ideas?

And finally we have CRS Grapes of Wrath aka Grape the Foxhound :D