Preparing for a Show

I have not been to a model horse show in probably eight to ten years. I have simply been too busy, and many of the shows within driving distance have been held on weekends when I have other commitments.

Laughing Bear Live, a benefit for long-time hobbyist Lynn Fraley (she's battling colon cancer), is being held Saturday in Cedar Rapids. That's just north of Sarah, so I entered the show. (Sarah will also be getting her teaching certificate from the University of Iowa on Friday!) Bonus for me - Trinity is going to come with me and help me show!

Preparing, planning, and packing for a show is quite an undertaking. You begin with the class list, sorting your horses into the classes in which you want to show them.

 The plastic model entries (Breyers) are done - since they are upstairs, I packed them there and Curt brought the tubs downstairs for me.

The tubs of Breyers are in our bedroom, ready to go!

 I used almost all the pony packs I'd made earlier this spring in packing the Breyers. Good thing I bought another bolt of fabric and can make some more!

I put a label inside each tub so I know what is inside. That way I can pull the horses out as needed.

Resins I plan to show. They're older models and may not do too well as a result - some simply stunning pieces have been produced in the past decade, and they're too costly for me! The blue roan was a gift from Kathleen Moody (her LDS Rockwell Moyles horse that she sculpted for her Mormon friends) as was the Moody Magnificent. (Kathleen is a very generous friend.) Also going are my Okie Rio painted like Cee, my Parr's Dream Doll, and some North Lights. Oldies but goodies!

I will be wrapping the resins and chinas in bubble wrap, so the tape is necessary to secure them.  I am not taking too many chinas as there is always a breakage risk.

 Tagging the models can be a time consuming task, but a necessary one as well.

 The tub for the resins, chinas, and customs along with a few pony packs and the bubble wrap.

 Essential to showing are cloths for wiping off dust and fingerprints before putting the model on the table.

 Cosmetic brushes also work well in getting dust and dirt out of tiny crevices in manes and tails.

The felt pads are used under tippy models - you lay the model on them, the judge looks at one side, and then you flip them to the other for judging. This limits breakage. (I use blue as a subtle hint that my models are first place worthy!!)

 Some of the chinas I am taking. My Cheval Friesian (very hard to find but not sure he will do well as this is a halter show, not a collectibility show), my HR Windsong Sherif (Top Ten at the very first North American Nationals in 1995!), my Lakeshore Marshall, Pour Horse Hadrian, china Okie Rio, and HR Donkey, Harry.

 The new table cover I made with my stable name on it. I love how it turned out!

 A close up of the table cover.

I will finish up packing today as we are leaving for Iowa tomorrow. JC and Trinity have baseball and softball games tomorrow night, and we get to go! And, since Trinity is going to come to the show with me and help out, I really hope we earn some ribbons for her sake - I've even got a horse named after her that I will be showing. (One named after JC, too!)