Finding That Perfect Model

The thing I love most about the new look Chestnut Ridge is that you have the opportunity to see the model you are purchasing in advance.

No longer do you just get an image like this:

Which is great, you can see the product, but you don't know what your exact horse will be like. Will it be darker? lighter? will it have rubs? Will it be showing condition? What does it actually look like 'in the flesh'?

Now you get to choose a horse by seeing pictures like this:

Shown is the CollectA Mangalarga Marchador.

Essentially you receive the exact same model, it's still a brand new CollectA with tags attached. The only difference is that you can see the model in advance and know exactly what your getting. You won't need to return it because your model is rubbed, because you'll be able to tell in advance. Want a slightly darker or lighter variation? We offer you the choice of several different models so you can find your favourite.

You also have the chance to see what they look like in the flesh, great when the manufacturer pictures aren't that great!

It's definitely a unique way to buy model horses and I wish that I'd had the choice of such a dealer 10 years ago! I'm so lucky that now I can pick and choose my models, to find the right one for me :)

11 Years On...

It's Autumn, which means one thing. It is the anniversary of the creation of Chestnut Ridge. An anniversary that is always marked by the selling of our first ever item, Swan Lake:

Sold for around £10.00 on eBay Swan Lake was the first ever product that Chestnut Ridge sold. Back then nearly everything we sold was through eBay. After a few months of just selling customs we started selling tack as well.

It wasn't until 2009 that we got our own website. Within a year we had started selling a variety of hobby supplies as well as custom model horses, custom tack and second hand models.

In 2015 things changed a lot, as you can see from this Horse and Hound advert published in Autumn 2015:

We started selling Breyers, Schleich and CollectA. With hundreds of parcels leaving every month some days I could spend up to 8 hours just packing up models! It was insane!

Which is probably why when given the choice to re-evaluate things I chose to go back to routes. Customs, custom tack and hobby supplies with a selection of second hand model horses, back to our routes and back to what we were 8 years ago.

That said I do miss it, I miss the money (obviously) but coming up to Christmas, the busiest and most stressful time of the year the thing I miss most is the knowledge that on Christmas day hundreds of people will be brought joy as they opened presents purchased from Chestnut Ridge. Because that was always the best part of what we did. And I am going to have a little cry that I won't get that feeling this Christmas.

FAQs

I'm working on the FAQ page for our website and thought I would share the initial draft here. 

If you have any more questions that you think should be added then just drop me an email or comment below and I'll add them in :D

Making a Purchase

How do I add an item to my cart?

To add an item to your cart click on the product page. Then at the bottom right click on 'Add to Cart', when you have selected all the items you want to order click on the 'cart' button the left and then click 'Checkout' on the popout menu.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept payment via PayPal, Debit or Credit Card (through the PayPal checkout). We can also accept cheques from UK customers and payment in cash if the item is collected from a live show.

Do you offer brand new horses?

Many of our horses are brand new with tags (such as Schleich and CollectA). If you see the tags in the image then you know you are getting a new item.

We do also sell standard items through our eBay store. These don't allow you the choice to choose your exact model but is a good way of purchasing boxed Breyers if you would prefer this.

Shipping and Returns

How much will shipping cost?

You can find a full breakdown of our shipping costs here: https://www.ukmodelhorses.com/shipping--returns.html

Do you ship internationally?

Yes we ship all over the world on a regular basis. You can see a breakdown of our international shipping costs here: https://www.ukmodelhorses.com/shipping--returns.html

My item was damaged in transit, can I return it?

Of course. You are welcome to return any item within 14 days, please just drop us an email at catriona@chestnutridge.co.uk to return your item.

Help! My item has not arrived yet.

If your item hasn't yet arrived and you believe it should have please just drop us an email. Sometimes shipping can take a little longer but most UK orders should be with you within one week.

I don't like my item, can I return it?

You are welcome to return the item within 14 days as long as it is in the same condition as when you ordered it. Please just email me to arrange the return.

I need my item by X date, will it arrive by then?

If you need an item by a particular date such as a birthday or show please email us first. We can recommend a shipping method that will make sure that your item arrives in time. We offer a variety of tracked and expediated shipping methods to get your item to you as quickly as possible.

About the Hobby

What does X mean?

If you are confused by a hobby term on this website please take a look at our glossary: https://www.ukmodelhorses.com/glossary.html

I want to start showing my model horses, where should I start?

The first thing I would recommend you do is join some Facebook groups or Forums devoted to model horses. This is where most shows are advertised so you will be able to see any upcoming shows that you are interested in. I would then take a look at the showing pages of our website so you know what to expect.

I want to start painting model horses but I don't know where to start?

I would recommend you start by purchasing a painting kit. There are a variety of these around, Breyer make small ones and larger ones. These will include a blank model horse, paints and brushes.

Going forward I would invest in some primer and sealant so that you can create more realistic pieces.

What model horse should I buy next?

Buy the one you like!

Two New Customs

I finished these guys off last week whilst I was at home but didn't have time to gloss them so brought both horses and gloss back to my mum's house!

Today I finally got around to glossing them and photographing them. I don't have a light tent or anything here so I have to make do with a white photo background wrapped around a bit of a Billy Bookcase and then propped in front of an open door (whilst also attempting to make sure Caesar doesn't make a break for freedom).

Change the World

Change the World is a Breyer Stablemate G2 Rearing Arabian.

This model has been painted to a liver chestnut with minimal sabino markings. He has heavy whites on four legs and a white blaze. He was based on a photo of a hackney pony and I'm really happy with how the colour came out. It really suits this mould.

He would make a lovely little Arabian for showing, he's a little bit different and the heavy white really suits this particular rearing model.

If you would like him he is for sale on our website priced at £25.00. You can buy him here: https://www.ukmodelhorses.com/store/p169/Change_The_World.html#/

Changes

Another chestnut and again a dark rich colour rather than the usual bright almost orange ones I like to produce :p

Changes is a Breyer Stablemate G3 Peruvian Paso. He has subtle dappling on his barrel done in pastels. He was painted in airbrushed acrylics with pastels on his mane and tail to add more depth to his colour.

He has a fine white stripe and a white sock on one rear hoof. He is a really lovely and unique looking model on a very popular mould.

He is priced at £25.00 - if you would like to give him a home please just drop me an email and I'll arrange payment. Postage will be £2.95 for 2nd class UK but we also offer faster and tracked options as well as international shipping.

If you want to learn more about customising model horses or follow a few tutorials so you can create your very own custom models then take a look at our website www.ukmodelhorses.com

Updated Supreme Champion Data

I've been inputting the more recent data into the Supreme Champion spreadsheet, weirdly despite inputting nearly all of this year's champions hardly any of the data has actually changed from the beginning of the year!

The top finish is still Artist Resin

The top colour is still Grey

The top breed is now a joint between Warmblood and Appaloosa. Warmblood has now officially overtake Thoroughbred (5%) which now stands joint with Paint Horses (5%). Both Appaloosa & Warmblood are on 6%.

In Hand entries are still by far more popular (it would be more interesting to see whether at shows that involved both performance and in hand which was the more popular choice).

And Scene is still the most popular choice for a performance Supreme Champion by far.

So little to report! There are still a few more shows this year and I am missing a lot of data from over the Summer because I had a break and can't find images for a lot of shows. So if you think you've got some data to contribute (UK shows only please) get in touch :D

I got bored and threw together this as well:



So yes, if you want to win according to the data you need a Grey Artist Resin Warmblood :)

Packing...It's Important

When we are packing things up at shows we can often just want to get packed and sometimes cut corners or make silly mistakes.

Well today we are going to go back to April 2016 when I stupidly put two AA Rearing Arabians into their pouches the wrong way up! The result was that all their weight was resting on the sticking out leg. It is no surprise therefore that by the time I got home (all of like half an hour later), the legs had snapped.

Thankfully the amazing Arla was able to repair them so they look as good as new but I certainly won't be making that mistake again!

Counting Up The Collection

OK so I should start this with a preface, I have not counted. I mean half the models are in boxes so I can't really count!

But I thought it might be fun to share some pics from just after I moved (and a few more recent ones) on the old temporary shelving. If I was at home I would take some more recent pics but you'll just have to deal with these ones for now :p

For the curious I estimate that I have around 2,000 but honestly I'm not really sure. I have around 1600 properly catalogued.

Some of the main Traditional shelves with smaller models in front:

The Stablemate shelves as of June. It's now October and these are completely full. I went a bit Stablemate over board over the Summer...

My Bobby Jo conga :D

Some of the other Traditional shelves:

The whole pony room (it looks so empty...)

It disturbs me that there are now four new horses on these shelves!

GEESE

A random pile of stuff...

Did someone say random pile of stuff???

How is it that I've moved to having a much larger pony room but have already run out of space and haven't even finished putting my collection out?!?! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!