Introduction to Model Horses
Model Horse Scales
The sizes of model horses are categorised in scales. The scales are a comparison between the size of a model horse and the size of a real horse, written as a ratio. For example, Breyer's Traditional scale models are 1:9 scale, which means they are one-ninth the size of a real horse. The lower the second number, the bigger the model. For example, Breyer Traditional scale models (1:9), are bigger than Breyer Freedom Series models (1:12).
Some people like collecting models of one scale, while some people collect models from all scales!
Model Horse Brands
Breyer
Breyer Animal Creations® began as the Breyer Molding Company, a Chicago-based plastics manufacturer. Its first model horse, the # 57 Western Horse, made its appearance in 1950. It was a special order for the F.W. Woolworth Company, made to adorn a mantelpiece clock. Breyer was flooded with requests from people who wanted to know if they could purchase just the horse! With that first horse, the Breyer Molding Company had changed the focus of its business forever! Head over to breyerhorses.com to learn more.
Schleich
Schleich is a German company founded by Friedrich Schleich in 1935, originally as a supplier of plastic parts. In the 1950s, the company became known as Schleich Figuren, producing bendable plastic figurines for the first time. In the 1960s, the company focused on producing licensed toy figurines. Head to schleich-s.com to learn about Schleich.
CollectA
CollectA is one of the largest makers of toy animal replicas. Their mission is to build "a natural world in miniature" for collectors. You can learn more at collect.biz
Where do I start?
If you or a loved one wants to start collecting but you don't know where to start, ask yourself the following questions:
What do I want to do with my models?
There's lots you can do with your model horses, and what you want to do might impact which models you decide to go for. If your models are just for playing with, especially if they are for a younger person, you may want to go for models made of a softer, more bendy plastic like CollectA and Schleich models. You might really like a specific horse breed or coat colour, so you might opt to only collect models of that breed or coat colour. There are so many things you can do with your models. You can make tack and accessories for them, photograph them, custom paint them, play with them, and so much more, so think about which models you would enjoy doing those activities with. Model horse shows are also a fun activity within the collecting community! At shows, models are judged on how well they represent a breed, how realistic they are, and by the quality of the casting and paint job. You can show models bought from your favourite brands in the Original Finish category at shows, or you can custom paint models and show them in the Custom divisions! To find out more about showing and find shows in your area, and other collecting activities, I recommend joining local collecting Facebook groups.
What's my budget?
You want to be able to enjoy your models comfortably within your own budget. You'll know how much you feel is a good amount to spend on models. If you are on a limited budget, you may opt to only collect models you are really in love with, or you may opt to collect models in a smaller scale which are cheaper e.g. Breyer Stablemates and Mini Whinnies. At Mr Bobby's Models, we always make sure to carry stock of affordable options to make model horses as accessible to everyone as possible.
Where am I going to display the models?
Consider how much space you have to store or display your model horses. You might have lots of space to put up shelves, in which case you'll have plenty of room for the larger scale models! Or, you might want to keep your collection smaller, or buy smaller models if you have a limited amount of space. Running out of space is a common collecting problem, but I say there's always room for one more model!
Need any help?
If you have any questions or need any help learning about anything related to model horses, please feel free to use the contact form on the Contact Us page to get in touch! We are always happy to help!