What Makes the BreyerFest Youth and Children's Show Unique?

Believe it or not, BreyerFest at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky is less than two months away! As you begin planning your schedule for the big weekend, why not consider a morning at the BreyerFest Youth and Children’s Show on Saturday?

If you’re a budding model horse hobbyist interested in the world of model horse showing, but you've been too intimidated to start, this show is for you. The show prides itself on being an educational, low-stress environment, and our experienced judges and stewards will help you every step of the way!

Aside from the “kids only” aspect, here are three features that are unique to the BreyerFest Youth and Children’s Show!

1. A level playing field!

The BreyerFest Youth and Children’s Show values fostering the next generation of model horse showers above all else. To keep things fair, we limit models shown to only regular run models and BreyerFest models. (“Regular run” models are models that are listed in Breyer’s catalogs and are available to purchase from any Breyer retailer – in a nutshell, they are models that are not limited in any way.)

Collectibility of models does not factor into judging whatsoever, so you can focus your time on perfecting your breed documentation and performance setups rather than worrying about expensive, limited edition models stealing the spotlight!

2. The Celebration Model class!

The BreyerFest Youth and Children’s Show is the only place where you will find the famous “Celebration Model” class. This fun class, held towards the middle of the show, is an excellent lesson in handpicking model horses for maximum showing success. The sea of Oliver models may look identical at first, but the judges and stewards will place the class just as they would any other. Then, they will gather the entrants around and explain their placings.

Common factory "oops" such as overspray, shiny marks and fuzzy edges on white markings can all knock a horse down in placings when all other factors are equal and a judge needs to be critical. On the other hand, exceptional detailing such as neatly-painted hooves and shading with a large amount of depth can make up for these flaws. Who knows – your Oliver just might be the best of the bunch!

3. Meet new friends from around the country!

BreyerFest is the largest gathering of model horse fans in the world, and attracts visitors from across the country and the globe. By extension, as the BreyerFest Youth and Children’s Show is also the largest model horse show for kids in the world, so our entrants are just as varied! You may be seated next to a stranger in the morning and walk away with a new friend by the afternoon. Meet your online friends in person and get together for some friendly competition! Model horse shows are one of the best places to chat about your beloved plastic ponies, and they’re one of the easiest ways to share your collection with fellow collectors in person.

4. BONUS – Air conditioning!
   

Listen, we love BreyerFest just as much as you do. But let’s face it – the heat and humidity of Kentucky in July can be brutal. The Youth and Children’s Show is held in the Alltech Arena (home of the Celebration of Horses evening show), which is fully air-conditioned! Spend your Saturday morning cool, comfortable, and sweat-free while oogling at all the pretty ponies in the room.

If you’re interested in entering the Youth and Children’s Show, be sure to act quickly! Registration ends on June 28^th at 5:00pm EST, and advance registration is required to show.