Model Horses - Brief History of The Hobby

Brief History of The Hobby

In the late 1960s, UK collectors came together through PONY magazine, and several clubs and newsletters born, the most important being The Postal Pony Club. From this was born the Lindfield Model Showing Association and later Model Horse News (MHN), a bi-monthly magazine which ran until 1989. In 1979 The International Arabist magazine appeared, which though restricted to Arab horses and their descendants, was the first magazine to actively seek to unite hobbyists from around the world. While MHN remained largely in the original tradition of Julips, etc., TIA promoted realism through custom Breyers, etc. TIA changed its name to Model Horse International (MHI) to reflect its move away from purely Arabian interest, but the magazine folded around 1989. MHN also folded around this time, but was replaced by Model Horses Unlimited (MHU) catering for both realistic and more traditional models, and which is still in existence today.

During the 1960s, hobbyists such as Ellen Hitchins, Simone Smiljanic, and Marney Walerius began to organize photo shows. One of the earliest known clubs was the IMHA, or International Model Horse Association, which was run by Ellen and Simone. Many young hobbyists got their start after reading a short article about the model horse hobby, which was published in the March 1969 issue of The Western Horseman magazine. In the 1970s, US model horse collectors decided that their horses should be doing something else than just sitting on a shelf. They began to seek each other out, and early hobby magazines such as Breyer's Just About Horses and Model Horse Showers Journal were the means for lifelong friendships to be started. Realism became the goal of the hobby and as the hobby grew and more techniques were shared, the shift in realism became more apparent. For example, an early bridle might have been made out of string. Today it would be made from leather, and include actual miniature bits.

Clubs also formed as an outlet for collectors. Most clubs are devoted to particular breeds, performance activities (such as racing, eventing etc.) or regions, and just like real horse clubs, there are year end awards, club events, point programs and newsletters for members.