Documenting your Show Horses
Documentation is a very important tool for people when showing obscure breeds. It can also be important supplementary information for specific horse traits.
In this section we're going to overview when documentation is necessary, how to properly document, and where to find credible sources of information (Sorry, Wikipedia doesn't count!)
My general rule: When in doubt, document it.
But if you document it, do it RIGHT.
I'd rather have documentation and not need it as opposed to NOT have documentation and lose a class because my breed choice was too out there and the judge didn't recognize it enough to judge it properly.
In this section we're going to overview when documentation is necessary, how to properly document, and where to find credible sources of information (Sorry, Wikipedia doesn't count!)
My general rule: When in doubt, document it.
But if you document it, do it RIGHT.
I'd rather have documentation and not need it as opposed to NOT have documentation and lose a class because my breed choice was too out there and the judge didn't recognize it enough to judge it properly.
Common types of Documentation
Here are some common types of Documentation that people use for their horses in the show ring. Some of these types can be combined on one piece of documentation.
-- Breed Documentation - This is, hands down, the most common type of Model Horse Documentation. Breed Documentation should be written when the horse's breed assignment is fairly unknown in the show ring. For example, a Thoroughbred would not need documentation, as every judge is familiar with that breed. A Tiger Horse, however, might require documentation as well as a photographic depiction.
If showing a breed cross (Example: An Arabian x Appaloosa cross) it will also be helpful to document the horse with photographs, to best match the breed assignment and the horse you're showing. Because while a cross may sound good in theory, it always helps the judge better visualize it when they have a photograph to compare it to. Some judge may feel that an Arab x Appy would have a blocky head... but if you find a picture of a refined Appy x Arab cross, it cements your breed assignment that much more. If your horse has a brand, make sure you mention pertinent information on your Documentation as well.
-- Color Documentation - Certain horses only come in certain colors. When showing a peculiar dilution in a breed where they're not seen as frequently (say, a Cremello Tennessee Walking Horse) it is helpful to provide photographic documentation that the color is recognized by the breed, even if it's considered rarer. Furthermore, padding your photographic documentation with a quote directly from the Breed Association's handbook that states that the color is recognized cements your information as true. Just make sure that your picture still represents the breed as closely as possible. If the Cremello Tennessee Walker is muddy and standing in a pasture grazing, the judge may have a more difficult time visualizing it as being on a Tennessee Walking Horse. Try to stick with clean horses standing square or a horse performing the duties applicable to the breed of choice.
-- Portrait/Marking Documentation - This is likely one of the least necessary forms of documentation. When a horse was made as a portrait (this applies mostly to Artist Resins, Stone Horses, and Customs) some people choose to include an image of the Real Life Counterpart to show the detail in matching the markings. This is not done with Mass Produced horses, such as Breyers. Typically, only a photograph is necessary, and no explanation.
Markings should only be documented if they need it or merit it. An example is listed above. My horse has a cat shaped star. I was worried it looked "too decorator-y" so I did some searching and found a foal with a very similar marking. I used it as proof that there is such a thing in nature, so it just makes the horse that much more unique (and cute!). Other markings such as Brands/Patterns (Pinto, etc) should be included with breed or color documentation since more than a photo is necessary in most cases when it comes to those topics.
-- Working/Pose Documentation - I tend to use this type of documentation mostly on horses with modified manes and tails but it can also be applied to poses. My War Horse (below) has a cut tail. The tail bone is intact but the tail hair has been cut high. This, combined with the roached mane, gave him a very unique appearance. I wanted to show him as a Draft Cross, so to explain the aesthetic choice with the mane and tail I explained (briefly) that the horse was used in Renaissance fairs to pull wagons and joust. The hair was cut for his safety in performing these tasks. It better explained the reason for the horse's appearance to help further validate the breed choice. I included documentation of a Draft Cross, as well as a Draft Cross with a cut tail that was being used for jousting to further prove my reasoning.
-- Breed Documentation - This is, hands down, the most common type of Model Horse Documentation. Breed Documentation should be written when the horse's breed assignment is fairly unknown in the show ring. For example, a Thoroughbred would not need documentation, as every judge is familiar with that breed. A Tiger Horse, however, might require documentation as well as a photographic depiction.
If showing a breed cross (Example: An Arabian x Appaloosa cross) it will also be helpful to document the horse with photographs, to best match the breed assignment and the horse you're showing. Because while a cross may sound good in theory, it always helps the judge better visualize it when they have a photograph to compare it to. Some judge may feel that an Arab x Appy would have a blocky head... but if you find a picture of a refined Appy x Arab cross, it cements your breed assignment that much more. If your horse has a brand, make sure you mention pertinent information on your Documentation as well.
-- Color Documentation - Certain horses only come in certain colors. When showing a peculiar dilution in a breed where they're not seen as frequently (say, a Cremello Tennessee Walking Horse) it is helpful to provide photographic documentation that the color is recognized by the breed, even if it's considered rarer. Furthermore, padding your photographic documentation with a quote directly from the Breed Association's handbook that states that the color is recognized cements your information as true. Just make sure that your picture still represents the breed as closely as possible. If the Cremello Tennessee Walker is muddy and standing in a pasture grazing, the judge may have a more difficult time visualizing it as being on a Tennessee Walking Horse. Try to stick with clean horses standing square or a horse performing the duties applicable to the breed of choice.
-- Portrait/Marking Documentation - This is likely one of the least necessary forms of documentation. When a horse was made as a portrait (this applies mostly to Artist Resins, Stone Horses, and Customs) some people choose to include an image of the Real Life Counterpart to show the detail in matching the markings. This is not done with Mass Produced horses, such as Breyers. Typically, only a photograph is necessary, and no explanation.
Markings should only be documented if they need it or merit it. An example is listed above. My horse has a cat shaped star. I was worried it looked "too decorator-y" so I did some searching and found a foal with a very similar marking. I used it as proof that there is such a thing in nature, so it just makes the horse that much more unique (and cute!). Other markings such as Brands/Patterns (Pinto, etc) should be included with breed or color documentation since more than a photo is necessary in most cases when it comes to those topics.
-- Working/Pose Documentation - I tend to use this type of documentation mostly on horses with modified manes and tails but it can also be applied to poses. My War Horse (below) has a cut tail. The tail bone is intact but the tail hair has been cut high. This, combined with the roached mane, gave him a very unique appearance. I wanted to show him as a Draft Cross, so to explain the aesthetic choice with the mane and tail I explained (briefly) that the horse was used in Renaissance fairs to pull wagons and joust. The hair was cut for his safety in performing these tasks. It better explained the reason for the horse's appearance to help further validate the breed choice. I included documentation of a Draft Cross, as well as a Draft Cross with a cut tail that was being used for jousting to further prove my reasoning.
Frequently Asked Questions about Documentation
When should I document one of my model horses?
You should document any obscure or uncommon horse breed, as well as any obscure or uncommon marking. Document anything that could give a judge greater clarity on your horse and his "fit" for his breed assignment. Simply put: You should document your horse if you feel it requires it, especially if it falls under one of the types listed above.
Where do I find my documentation?
When I document a rare or uncommon breed, I tend to go straight to the source: The breed association's website. Looking to see if a Quarter Horse can have blue eyes? Go to the American Quarter Horse Association's web page and do a search for content there. Wikipedia is an open-source encyclopedia. What this means is: Anyone can edit or add things to it... even if the information isn't correct. So it isn't a 100% credible source of horse information. Try to stick to breed websites or horse books.
Should I document the rarity of my horse?
The only time you should include information about your model's run number or rarity is when the horse is being judged for Collectability. If your horse was done by a guest artist (say, a Breyerfest OOAK Auction piece painted by Sommer Prosser or a Peter Stone OOAK painted by Carolyn Boydston) you may include the name of the artist as it lends to the rarity and collectability of the horse. Some shows do NOT want you to include the artist's name, but according to NAMHSA it is alright so long as it lends to the collectability of the OF horse. The artist's name should NOT be included in any OF Halter entrant information as it has nothing to lend to the horse's breed assignment or markings. In a nutshell: Only document rarity if you're showing your horse in a collectability class.
How big can my Documentation be?
Most shows have restrictions on the size of documentation. in the North American Nationals, you're allowed to have one piece of documentation measuring up to 8.5" x 11" (a normal sheet of paper) and most shows follow that same format. Check your show's rules to make sure that your documentation falls within their guidelines. A lot of those horse books prove to be too large for the table, and sometimes even the regular paper sheet won't fit if it's an especially large class.
Should I make my own Documentation, or can I use a page from a textbook instead?
Either. The hand-made documentation is more personal, it shows the judge that YOU made the effort to locate a breed, study it, gather information on it, and present it in a very unique way. A book is far less personal and the pictures and information can sometimes be misleading... but some judges consider it more reliable because sometimes people falsify information and pictures on hand-made documentation. Don't over think it! I personally prefer to make my own documentation for the sheer fact that the horse books tend to be kind of dated and don't include some of the newer breed crosses.
When should I document markings?
Whenever there is a marking that is atypical on a horse. An example would be the horse at the top of the page. He has a star that looks like a cat's head. I found a picture online that coincidentally looked just like him so I decided to make documentation. It adds NOTHING to his breed assignment, but judges know that it's an actual marking that has occurred in nature. If your horse is a Zorse cross, you should include pictures. If it's a new pattern on an existing breed (like the sabino pattern on the thoroughbred horse). If it's a dilute color or pinto pattern on a Warmblood, you should include it documentation.
Should I list sources on my documentation?
Yes! I include sources in very tiny text at the bottom of the documentation. The sources lend to the overall credibility of your documentation. This is another reason it's very important to get your documentation from a reputable site not just wikipedia! The judge does have to take your word for it when you provide hand-made documentation, so quoting a source makes your information all the more credible.
How do I choose the right photo for my documentation?
The best way to choose is to choose the picture that best reflects the model horse. This comes in especially handy with Warmbloods since there tends to be a bit of variance in what's acceptable within a breed. I have 3 separate documentation pieces for the same breed of Warmblood. They have the same text, but different images which are assigned to 3 different models who best reflect the horse in the image. Make sure you pick a GOOD image that best aligns with the horse because in this case the judge might say "the horse in the photo has a longer hip than the model so I didn't feel the breed was a good fit" feels bad man!
You should document any obscure or uncommon horse breed, as well as any obscure or uncommon marking. Document anything that could give a judge greater clarity on your horse and his "fit" for his breed assignment. Simply put: You should document your horse if you feel it requires it, especially if it falls under one of the types listed above.
Where do I find my documentation?
When I document a rare or uncommon breed, I tend to go straight to the source: The breed association's website. Looking to see if a Quarter Horse can have blue eyes? Go to the American Quarter Horse Association's web page and do a search for content there. Wikipedia is an open-source encyclopedia. What this means is: Anyone can edit or add things to it... even if the information isn't correct. So it isn't a 100% credible source of horse information. Try to stick to breed websites or horse books.
Should I document the rarity of my horse?
The only time you should include information about your model's run number or rarity is when the horse is being judged for Collectability. If your horse was done by a guest artist (say, a Breyerfest OOAK Auction piece painted by Sommer Prosser or a Peter Stone OOAK painted by Carolyn Boydston) you may include the name of the artist as it lends to the rarity and collectability of the horse. Some shows do NOT want you to include the artist's name, but according to NAMHSA it is alright so long as it lends to the collectability of the OF horse. The artist's name should NOT be included in any OF Halter entrant information as it has nothing to lend to the horse's breed assignment or markings. In a nutshell: Only document rarity if you're showing your horse in a collectability class.
How big can my Documentation be?
Most shows have restrictions on the size of documentation. in the North American Nationals, you're allowed to have one piece of documentation measuring up to 8.5" x 11" (a normal sheet of paper) and most shows follow that same format. Check your show's rules to make sure that your documentation falls within their guidelines. A lot of those horse books prove to be too large for the table, and sometimes even the regular paper sheet won't fit if it's an especially large class.
Should I make my own Documentation, or can I use a page from a textbook instead?
Either. The hand-made documentation is more personal, it shows the judge that YOU made the effort to locate a breed, study it, gather information on it, and present it in a very unique way. A book is far less personal and the pictures and information can sometimes be misleading... but some judges consider it more reliable because sometimes people falsify information and pictures on hand-made documentation. Don't over think it! I personally prefer to make my own documentation for the sheer fact that the horse books tend to be kind of dated and don't include some of the newer breed crosses.
When should I document markings?
Whenever there is a marking that is atypical on a horse. An example would be the horse at the top of the page. He has a star that looks like a cat's head. I found a picture online that coincidentally looked just like him so I decided to make documentation. It adds NOTHING to his breed assignment, but judges know that it's an actual marking that has occurred in nature. If your horse is a Zorse cross, you should include pictures. If it's a new pattern on an existing breed (like the sabino pattern on the thoroughbred horse). If it's a dilute color or pinto pattern on a Warmblood, you should include it documentation.
Should I list sources on my documentation?
Yes! I include sources in very tiny text at the bottom of the documentation. The sources lend to the overall credibility of your documentation. This is another reason it's very important to get your documentation from a reputable site not just wikipedia! The judge does have to take your word for it when you provide hand-made documentation, so quoting a source makes your information all the more credible.
How do I choose the right photo for my documentation?
The best way to choose is to choose the picture that best reflects the model horse. This comes in especially handy with Warmbloods since there tends to be a bit of variance in what's acceptable within a breed. I have 3 separate documentation pieces for the same breed of Warmblood. They have the same text, but different images which are assigned to 3 different models who best reflect the horse in the image. Make sure you pick a GOOD image that best aligns with the horse because in this case the judge might say "the horse in the photo has a longer hip than the model so I didn't feel the breed was a good fit" feels bad man!
Remember: Do it RIGHT.
Pictured is my first horse in my first class at my first show..... and wouldn't you know he NAN qualified? I owe it largely in part to the breed choice and the documentation which perfectly reflected the breed choice.
Documentation can make or break your horse. So if you do it, make sure it's done RIGHT.
When you document a horse, it truly does help them stand out that much more. The judge can see that you spent the extra time to research your breed assignment and ensure it was a great match. Additionally, when you document your horse the judge spends just that much more time with your horse because they're reading the information and comparing the picture to your model. Since you have their attention, make sure everything is right so that they don't look at the picture, then the model and say "This model's head is far too refined compared to the breed you have pictured!" and move on to the next horse.
If you research your breed properly, source your information, get proper pictures that best reflect the mold you're representing, and lay everything out clearly, neatly, and professionally.... it might give you that extra boost to a higher placing!
Documentation can make or break your horse. So if you do it, make sure it's done RIGHT.
When you document a horse, it truly does help them stand out that much more. The judge can see that you spent the extra time to research your breed assignment and ensure it was a great match. Additionally, when you document your horse the judge spends just that much more time with your horse because they're reading the information and comparing the picture to your model. Since you have their attention, make sure everything is right so that they don't look at the picture, then the model and say "This model's head is far too refined compared to the breed you have pictured!" and move on to the next horse.
If you research your breed properly, source your information, get proper pictures that best reflect the mold you're representing, and lay everything out clearly, neatly, and professionally.... it might give you that extra boost to a higher placing!