Start a Model Horse Club!

Share the model horse love online or in your community

By Lindsay Diamond

Whether you’ve been a collector all your life or you’ve just gotten your first model, the excitement of wanting to share your love of models means looking for ways to connect with other collectors. But where do you look?

Model horse clubs and organizations are a great way to meet fellow collectors and make new friends. With the internet, it’s become much easier to meet people from not only in your local area, but around the world! There are groups specifically for sharing pictures of your collection and newly acquired models, tack making, customizing and painting, breed assignment, buying and selling, and so much more.

Online Clubs

Online clubs offer a great way to meet new friends from all around the world. The influences from different areas can mean learning about the different cultures where members come from, as well as different horse breeds, pieces of tack, and disciplines. 

For those who might not have shows in their area, there are several online clubs for photo shows. Photo shows can be hosted by a club or via an online forum. They are advertised online, requiring photos to be submitted via email or snail mail, depending on the show. Awards can be as simple as satin ribbons or as elaborate as unpainted medallions, resins and other model horses! 

In-Person Clubs

If online groups aren’t your thing, there are in-person opportunities for collectors to join or create clubs. In-person clubs offer the comradery that can only come from meeting friends face to face. They provide the opportunity to bring models to show off, offer hands-on help in order to learn new techniques. It can be fun to create a club to include all ages and interests, as the diversity and knowledge that comes with a variety of ages will not only let all members of the club learn, but it will also offer more ways for word to be spread about your club and events you wish to hold.

Younger collectors may find that 4-H is a great way for them to get into the hobby and learn from those with more experience. 4-H offers many different educational routes - including model horses!

The best part about both online and in-person clubs is that that the connections you make can turn into lifelong friendships, expanding beyond the model horse hobby. 

Promoting a Club and Attracting New Members

One of the easiest ways to promote your club and club events is by using social media and online forums. The younger generations of model horse hobbyists are very active on social media and are always looking for events and clubs in their area. Create a group page on Facebook for your club and spread the word! 

If you’re in an area with tack stores and barns, consider putting up flyers. Real horse people might be interested in checking out what models are all about, and it’s a great way to get new members. 

Organizing Events or Hobby Days

Once you’ve gotten a few members and have formed a club, you might start by getting together with members to talk about your models and have a little “show and tell.” Your club can also host shows and workshops, and can meet as frequently as desired.

So what sort of events will your club host? There are many options, depending on the interest of your club members. Learning opportunities could include hosting a clinic with real horses to learn more about the anatomy and conformation of horses in order to better understand what makes a good model to show. Another option is to host a model horse show. The options for hosting a show are endless – they can be judged only on breed or performance, only include mini scale horses, only include one manufacturer or models, or many other possibilities. 

Model horse shows are some of the most popular events a club can hold.

If you have an interest in customizing horses or making tack, set up a day to have fellow hobbyists join you in the fun! Getting together with friends who can paint or make tack not only let you spend the day with them to talk about models, you can share tips and tricks and knowledge about the task at hand. 

The Do's and Don'ts of a Successful Club

No matter what type of club you want to form – online, in-person, a combination of both – follow some simple guidelines to form a successful club!