A3B-Lancaster Finning, Saturday, January 27, 1296 Horse Model Show To Benefit Saddle Cinches 4-H Club KRISTEN KAUFFMAN President, Saddle Cinches 4-H Club MANHEIM (Lancaster Co.) —In recent decades, a new hobby has taken the world of horse enthusiasts by storm. Come the end of July, thousands of this pastime’s devotees converge on Kentucky Horse Park for an annu al three-day convention known as Breyerfest. Participants come from all age groups: it attracts fol lowers from the ages of six to six ty...or above! What is this equine hobby? It’s a relatively new pas time known as model horse showing! Several manufacturers produce high-quality, realistic horse mod els; Breyer and Hartland are per haps the top names in the field. But collections of models don’t have to be consigned to dusty shelves. Many of these animals are works of art, and, as such, deserve to see the inside of a show ring. Model horse showing works like this: a shower packs up his dr her best models and travels to the show site. There, a minimal fee allows the competitor to enter models in showmanship classes (in which the model is judged on appropriate position, condition and quality of finish, and proper adjustment of tack), breed classes (where the animals are judged against their breed’s conforma tional standard), and performance events (in which properly tacked up jumpers, pleasure horses, or barrel racers compete for the most appropriate tack, set-up, and man ners). Models are placed, Ist through 6th, as real animals would be; each collection (or “stable”) has the points its models have earned tallied, and championships are awarded. In short, model showing gives horse enthusiasts of all ages the chance to leant more about equine conformation, breed standards, and competitions. The Saddle Cinches 4-H Club of Manheim is planning its first annual open show, to be held on Saturday, March 16, at the Farm and Home Center in Lancaster, PA (just off PA’s Route 72). The building will be open to entrants at 9:30 a.m. on show day, with clas ses beginning at 10:00. Divisions for all ages (both children and adults) are planned; ribbons will be awarded to the Ist through 6th place models in each class, with the champion person in each divi sion receiving a rosette and a Breyer model. One of the highlights of the day is the scheduled model signing party. Breyer manufactures vari ous models inspired by the classic Misty of Chincoteague childrens’ books. Most recently, a gift set consisting of Misty H, Black Mist, and Twister was added to the Breyer line. Misty II is the great granddaughter of the original Mis ty of Chincoteague; she is owned by Kendy Allen of Manheim, as are her daughters, Black Mist and Twister. As members of the fa mous Misty family, the animals travel to schools, fairs, and shows all over the region. They’re also shown in 4-H competitions local ly. In October, 1 rode Black Mist in the Western Pleasure Pony class at the State 4-H Horse Show (I lease and train this animal). Having your horse immortalized as a Breyer model is a rarity, but a letter I sent to the Breyer company last year brought results. When I reminded the company of the talents and fame of Misty’s fami ly, it decided to produce the mod els! Breyer then worked from photos to create portraits of the real ponies. The Misty II gift set will be in stores by the time of the show, and owner Kendy Allen will be avail able to sign the models. Maureen Beebe Hursh, who was featured as a character in the original Misty books, is also scheduled to sign Misty models and books ($3 per signing). A signed model always escalates in value and collectabili ty, and a model signed by the real horse’s owner is very rare. Now on to show specifics: A model horse which is left exactly as the company manufactured it, with no touch-ups or repainting, is known as an original finish model. Some collectors choose to cus tomize original finish -models, using heat, epoxy, and Dremel tools to resculpt die models into unique or more correct positions. Models can be repainted as the collector chooses; hair manes and tails and even glass eyes are often added in an effort to create a more, realistic model. At this show, all classes will consist only of origi nal finish models, with no repainted or customized divisions. The customized horses are often more competitive and more expensive than their manufac tured counterparts, and so must be shown separately. First on the list are the show manship classes. In these classes, models should have correct con formation, be in mint condition (not scratched, faded, or marked), and should be standing square, as they would in a real grooming and showmanship class. The model is required to wear a miniature repli ca of a halter of bridle; this would make it possible for the handler to control it were it an actual animal. Models are anatomically correct, so classes are divided by sex, and, to give foal and yearling models a chance, maturity. Breed classes are an assembly of models from the same breed category; the animals are judged against their breeds’ conforma tional standard, as at any livestock show. Many models come pack aged and labeled as being a certain type of horse or pony, but the best way to figure out where a model should be entered is by sitting down with a horse breeds book. Photographs, descriptions, and rules about what coat colors a breed registry accepts can help entrants to properly place an ani mal. And of course, asking the judge at the start of the show can be a big help. Most model judges are very helpful, often offering entrants suggestions for success ful showing. Performance classes are per haps the most interesting division. In these, models are expected to wear correct, well-fitted saddles, bridles, and harness. The models are then judged on how realistical ly they appear to be performing a given event. For example, a barrel racing horse would be expected to be galloping through a barrel race pattern, complete with miniature barrels. The model would be wearing a western saddle and bridle. The only thing lacking would be the rider! Incidentally, model tack isn’t hard to come by: most tack shops carry Breyer’s model tack. Private collectors also offer custom-made saddles. Here is a brief explanation of what each performance class requires: An English pleasure horse should appear to be moving quietly and willingly at-the walk, trot, or canter. It should wear an English saddle and bridle. In - jumping, a horse with English tack should be trotting or cantering toward a jump. Some models are positioned in a jumping position, and these are fine, too. Both En glish and Western mil classes require the horse to be negotiating an obstacle (such' as a bridge or low jump). Western pleasure entries should wear Western sad dles and bridles. They should be walking, trotting, or cantering, and should appear relaxed and calm. Weston events include bar rel racing, pole bending, calf top ing, etc. Here, a properly tacked up horse should be executing the given event, complete with bar rels, poles, or calf. Cart and har ness requires a model or team of models harnessed to a sleigh, cart, or wagon. Costume class requires models to be decked out in realistic cos tumes. Popular costumes include an Indian warrior’s skin blanket and feathered bridle, an Arab’s tassled saddle and bridle, and a knight’s richly-ornamented war horse. Finally, the bam class is simply a creative, realistic set-up of models and a stable. The aim of model showing is to recreate an actual horse show on a small scale. Not only is this less expensive than attending an event at Quentin, but it also opens up the field of competition to children and non-horse-owners as well. Model showing provides a chance for horse enthusiasts to learn more about various breeds and events... without the high stakes or high expenses of actual showing. It also makes a great weekend event for riders sidetracked by slushy spring weather! A pre-entry fee of $8 allows showers to enter over 20 classes; it also guarantees them table space to set up and store their models at the show. $lO on show day. allows a competitor to enter, but an# Bay laopard blanket Appaloosa colt modal Buckskin Mustang gsl town, PA 17022-9520, or call (717) 367-5295 (evenings). If the concept of model horse Checks can be made out to Saddle showing sounds interesting, regis- Cutohcs registrar ter for toe Saddle Cinches show! uon. a class list and details will be Send an SASE to Saddle Cinches mailed to entrants. Support toe Model Show, c/o Kirsten Kauff- • 4-Hhorsc program and give toe man. 761 Hess Rd.. Elizabeth- hobby of model showing a try! space is not guaranteed. Cattle Consistency Program Set YORK (York Co.) “Cattle Consistency: Implications for Packers and Producers.” a prog ram designed to encourage pro ducers to remain competitive in the beef business, is set for Tuesday, Feb. 20 at Hoss’i Steak and Sea House West beginning at 6:30 p.m. With the continued trend toward value-based marketing in the industry, it is extremely important for beef producers in all segments of the industry to be aware of beef packers priorities when purchasing cattle. Beef packers are increasingly they buy feeder cattle, trying to produce branded and spe- The cow/calf producer is the cification products that are consis- design engineer who can breed lent for characteristics such as cattle that meet die specifications quality, product size, .weight and feedlot operators want. Regardless shape. Under present marketing of your niche in the production conditions, they are constantly process, dontmiss this opportunity faced with the challenge of finding .to learn more about the importance a market for vastly different kinds of cattle consistency to the entire of cattle. beef industry. There is a cost to producers Advance registration is associated with marketing this requested for the meeting so that wide variation in totality. The adequate seating is available at the value-based marketing approach restaurant Each participant will encourages producers to first order the iWnnw of their choice investigate the specifications from Hdss’s menu. demanded in the marketplace and To register for the meeting, c-ah then attempt to design a product to Penn Statefcoopcrative Extension mea tha niMiiies. at (717) 840-7408 or stop by the Ing. ing practices of a major Pennsylva nia beef packer, Moyer Packing Company. Steve Bryce is the head cattle buyer for the company and he will address the effects different kinds of cattle have on the packer. The meeting is important to both the cow/calf producer and the feedlot operator. Fccdlot operators have the opportunity to adjust their feeding programs and strategies to meet market demand and to care fully consider the kind of finished cattle the market demands when
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