| When it comes to horse toys, a Breyer horse is | | | | entering live shows. Despite being factory-produced, |
| second to none. Creating some of the most realistic | | | | every Breyer horse is different. Some have simple |
| model horses in the world, Breyer has gathered a loyal | | | | flaws, such as uneven paint, and coloring can vary |
| following. | | | | widely. At a live show, a judge can see any and all of |
| Breyer horse toys are so well-loved and valued by | | | | these flaws, making the competition a bit more difficult. |
| their owners that there are even Breyer Horse | | | | There are two sets of classes in a live show: halter |
| Shows. Breyer horse shows are a great way to | | | | (where only the horse is displayed) and performance |
| connect with other horse toy enthusiasts. There are | | | | (where the horse and tack, including saddle and bridle |
| two kinds of shows - photo shows, where | | | | is also displayed). In a performance class, the model |
| competitors enter a photo of a diorama, and live | | | | horse is posed according to the category. As |
| shows, featuring actual horse toys. | | | | categories can be diverse - Western, English, jumping, |
| Photo shows - although entering a photo of a model | | | | and dressage are just a few - many competitors use |
| horse may seem easy, there's an awful lot to consider. | | | | props (as well as tack) to create the desired effect. |
| Photos must show the horse toy posed in a realistic | | | | Some competitors even choose to enter a |
| setting, meaning entrants can't simply stand their very | | | | customized Breyer horse in order to achieve a specific |
| small model horse in a regular-sized stable and just | | | | effect. Customized horses are exactly what they |
| click away. Gravel and dirt settings can work well, as | | | | sound like - Breyer horses that have been customized |
| can clipped grass - anything that doesn't upset the | | | | in some way. Customizations can vary widely, from a |
| scale of the picture. A blank background is fine, though | | | | new paint job and coat to replacing the plastic mane |
| some competitors prefer to include appropriately-sized | | | | with real horse hair to horse toy repairs (replacing an |
| posters depicting a realistic setting. Just like real horse | | | | ear, leg, etc). There are no limits on how a competitor |
| shows, photo shows have classes (breed, color, and | | | | can modify their horse, and classes and shows for |
| gender), and photos are entered accordingly. | | | | customized horses have become popular. |
| Live shows - live shows are closer to real horse | | | | Unlike a real horse show, Breyer horse toy show |
| shows. Horse toys are taken to the show to be | | | | competitors are limited only by their imagination. |
| judged. There are a few pitfalls to consider before | | | | |