A horse show of a different color will take place on Sat., Feb. 28 beginning at 8 a.m. in the basement of the Becker Baptist Church. The program is titled: “Pocket Change for Ponies Model Horse Show,” and will feature model horses in a judged competition that has attracted entries from around the mid-west and Canada, according to organizer Aimee Schulz.
All of the proceeds from the event will go to the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation, Schulz said, an organization that works with abandoned and rescue horses and other hooved animals, arranging medical care, foster homes and adoptions.
The model horses to be shown in Becker are all owned by collectors who take part in national shows and compete for “best in show” and other honors much like a real horse show competition. Models are judged on condition, configuration, coloration and the quality of the representation relating to the breed it depicts. Winners in regional events like the one in Becker can go on to national competition, Schulz said. Some of the models date back several decades and special breed representations from top manufacturers such as Breyer® and Stone® can cost as much as $4,000, Schulz said. Horse models can be modified as to tack and other equipment, and are judged accordingly in various classes. Categories are set aside for “open” and “novice” entrants, with an open class entry fee of $30 and a novice ticket at $10 for the day, including table space for both.
The event will also include a raffle and a silent auction, with benefits again going to the rescue foundation. There will also be concessions on-site for breakfast and lunch during the day.
Schulz, a senior at Becker High School, is also an accomplished horsewoman, and has taken “Lulu,” her miniature horse, to two national titles and a spot in the Hall of Fame in her competition class. Her horse was “the one nobody wanted” because of her temperament and the fact that she had lost an eye, but “something clicked” between them. Schulz was 11 years old when she met Lulu, and she became determined that she would train the horse and make her a champion, which she did.
Becker Baptist Church is located at 11951 Hancock St. in Becker, MN. Doors open at 7 a.m. on Sat., Feb. 28, with judging and classes starting at 8 a.m. More information at mnmodelhorseshows.weebly.com, visit the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation website or call them at (763) 856-3119.
