by Paige Cerulli

Created on: December 29, 2008   Last Updated: September 21, 2011

Collecting model horses hobby lingo defined

Every hobby has a set of lingo specific to it that, when heard by people new to the hobby, can sound overwhelmingly foreign. The model horse hobby is no exception. Some of the abbreviations used by experienced horse collectors in advertisements for horses they are selling appear to be more a string of letters than of any actual real meaning. When I became actively involved in the hobby of collecting, customizing, and showing model horses a few years ago, I spent months wading through the vocabulary and asking many "silly" questions to the more experienced collectors. It was through their assistance and my own perseverance that I decoded the lingo of the model horse hobby. I hope to do the same for you now.

Classification of Models:

SR This refers to a "special release" generally the model's run is limited, either by time or by the number of models produced. These models tend to have higher prices due to this.

RR "regular run" refers to a model that has been mass produced by a company.

Etched :- A model is etched when a customizer uses a knife or small blade to remove some of the paint to reveal the white plastic of the model. This is done to make Paint and Appaloosa markings. A model can also be fully etched, which is when a customizer scrapes each individual hair into the paint, making the model appear textured like a real horse's coat would. Such models can be very expensive, due to the sheer time that the technique requires.

CM "Custom" refers to a model that has been altered by an artist in some way, generally by painting or sculpting

Body A model that is very flawed is considered a body. The model may have broken pieces or a paint job that is damaged and needs to be re-done. These bodies are often cheap because of these flaws, and customizers generally use them when customizing a model.

Shelf model refers to a model that is simply displayed and not used for showing or play.

SM "Stablemate" One of Breyer's smaller sizes of models

Resin Resin models are not generally mass produced. They are bought unpainted, and artists finish and paint them. Resins are easily breakable and are time-consuming to produce; their prices are therefore typically higher than the prices of plastic models.

Describing a Model:

NIB "New in box" means that a model has never been displayed and is still in its box. If this model is a Breyer, it likely means that it is still held in its box by its bands. In buying such a model, the buyer risks

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