Sunday Soapbox: Watching the tables

As long as there have been model horse shows, there have been accusations of judge misconduct in regards to pinning their friends' horses. While I have no doubt this has happened, I would argue that most of what people think they're seeing is... not that. In today's Sunday Soapbox guest post, Lesli Kathman tackles this topic head-on with a clear explanation of why judges do some of the things they do. Spoiler alert: It's not about giving ribbons to their friends.

Watching the Tables

by Lesli Kathman

So often when I read one of perennial "judges are awful" posts on social media, the "proof" offered is something that looks very different to someone who does a lot of judging. Here's a recent example, taken from the Modelholics Anonymous group. Someone said they knew cheating was happening because the judge watched people - "their friends" - bring horses up to the table. 

As a judge, I watch my tables a lot. Many times, I am assessing whether or not I can double-load the other half. That's become so much more of a thing in recent years as we've broken the classes down more minutely and fewer horses enter each one. Double-loading means people aren't there all day, which goes a *long* way in making the show a better experience for everyone. The host won't get venue late fees. Entrants might have enough time and energy to grab dinner after the show. Distant showers might have time to drive home, or more daylight hours to do so safely. 

I am also trying to catch horses in the wrong class. This is especially important now as breed lists have changed and there is some confusion. If I monitor things as they come up, I know who to give a heads-up if something needs to leave. That also means I am often glancing at tags and looking for the person who brought the horse. 

Worse, I've even glanced at a tag, looked for an owner... and then not looked at the horse again. In these cases, the tag showed a major misunderstanding - i.e. British Spotted Ponies are *appaloosa* spotted, not pinto spotted - and I had more than six horses in the class so it wasn't going to place. No need to look further... but I did try to look to see who picked it up so I could let them know the problem was an easy fix. (Picking something, almost anything, else as a breed!) 

My focus on the tables is about the logistics of the show, but more than anything, it's about trying to make sure people who came all that way for a day feel welcome and have a good time. I try to keep tabs on which entrants are in my division. I am alert to folks getting overwhelmed, because I will pause if the schedule permits. If I haven't laid down the ribbons, I let people bring a late entry. Whenever possible, I try to make my ring shower-friendly and shower-focused. 

What I don't do is worry about whether being friendly with entrants or looking at the wrong thing will be misinterpreted. I trust that entrants who have questions will ask them, rather than assume the worst. Because, really, why would anyone spend a Saturday crouched down along a table, writing on a clipboard, if they didn't care about serving the hobby community?

Thank you, Lesli, for this detailed - and accurate - explanation of why a judge can and should watch their tables. I really hope this will help clear up some of the misconceptions that plague our community. 

Mayhem

Last night, Indigo, Daktari and Gun Runner's shed - which was always meant to be temporary - was picked up by by gust of wind and deposited, upside down, on the other side of the fence.

The other side of the fence is where Sage and Luna are currently spending their days.

When we turned them out this morning, we thought they might be concerned about the new addition to their field.

They weren't.

They walked a couple careful laps around it.

Both directions, of course.

Then they decided it was fine and went back to eating.

Later, when we brought them in, there was a backhoe digging a hole between the field and their stalls.

We let them take a good, long look - neither expressed much concern - before tucking them into their stalls and saying goodbye for the day.

Except it wasn't actually goodbye. A couple hours later, the barn owner put out an SOS. Broken water line, entire stable except for the show barn dry, please come and help. Seth and I jumped into action.

We brought enough water for Sage...

and Karen's two.

When that was depleted, we went up to the show barn and refilled.

All the usual suspects were present, and everyone worked hard making sure all the horses were provided for. 

Teamwork makes the dream work.

Just as we were finishing up, the water was turned back on. It's not right, but it's good enough for now. Hopefully, tomorrow it will be good enough for real.

This was a weird day at the barn.

Usually, most stable related mayhem is caused by horses, but  today, the horses were innocent.

Good night again, sweet girl. I hope you sleep well. These things often come in threes, and there's no telling what tomorrow may bring.

Joanna's diorama entry

Here's another short one! 

Joanna Bechtel Chronister sent this photo of her 2026 BreyerFest Diorama Contest entry with the following description: Medeltidsveckan (Medieval Week) is Sweden's largest historical festival. It takes place in Gotland every summer for eight days. Many choose to dress up in medieval attire. There are tons of events like jousting, shopping for pottery and glass beads and archery.

Thanks for sharing, Joanna! Good luck at BreyerFest!

Shauna's diorama entry

Last Sunday evening, I posted a call-out for BreyerFest Diorama Contest entries on the Braymere Custom Saddlery Facebook page.

Eighteen hours later, my phone chirped while I was at work. I checked it and saw... this.

I was completely befuddled, and Shauna offered no real explanation.

I shook my head and went back to work. An hour later, it all clicked. That was Shauna's Diorama Contest entry!

In my defense, the last couple weeks at work have been a lot. Also, I always forget that - unlike me - most Canadians are eligible to participate in this contest.

Anyway, you now know everything I know about Shauna McDaniel's 2026 BreyerFest Diorama Contest entry. Creepy Yule Meow to you, too, Shauna and good luck at BreyerFest!

Nelli's diorama entry

Over the last few years, Wyoming's Nelli Jeanne Lucus has emerged as one of the BreyerFest Diorama Contest's perennial superstars. No matter the theme, you can count on Nelli to make something big, ambitious and really unique. Here's the overview of her 2026 entry.

Yule! Centuries of Celebration

by Nelli Jeanne Lucus

There are many Nordic festivals that bind the seasons together, such as Sigrblót and Alfarblót, but without celebrating winter, we cannot have summer. My entry for this year's contest highlights and celebrates the Yule season! Yule is truly the “mid-summer of the winter” as it is packed with fun activities, lots of food and decoration, and has over seventeen centuries of history that ties together Nordic culture! Yule celebrates the reappearance of the Sun and the fertile land’s rebirth at the winter solstice. It is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world!

The glowing bonfire and strings of lights bring warmth and light to welcome the Sun. Horses of all kinds rejoice together with dancing and wassailing (caroling).

Bringing good luck and protection for the coming year, the yule log is decorated and celebrated throughout the winter solstice. Traditionally, a birch or oak log would be harvested and burned during the solstice, but the cake variant was adapted in the 19th century as modern housing transitioned to smaller fireplaces. Atop the yule log is holly, which brings protection and strength to continue persevering. Scaling the Yule log are three iconic figures of Nordic culture: the Swedish Dala Horse! Dating back to the 1700s in the Dalarna region of Sweden, soldiers and woodworkers would pass the time in the winter by carving small horses out of pine scraps. Utilizing leftover house paint, usually red, which symbolized joy and protection, and then decorated with kurbits— the swirling floral patterns inspired by nature and Norse mythology. What was a toy for children has now become a symbol of hope, home, and heritage. This trio was modeled after Nils Olsson’s works in Nusnä, Sweden, who started creating original Dala Horses in 1928. To this day, each horse is hand-painted, making each one unique!

A Scandinavian celebration wouldn’t be complete without the Julbock, or Yule Goat! The Julbock started as a symbol of good luck during the winter months, and by the 17th century, it was associated with Christmas festivities. In Swedish tradition, which has since faded, young men would dress up as goats and rally door-to-door delivering gifts. 

These “yule goats” were often mischievous, which brought an element of playfulness and surprise to the celebration. Today, the red ribbon and straw goat are popular decorations in homes across Sweden and are iconic. Four Julbocks can be seen dancing their way across the ice.

With this year's earlier submission deadline, I felt a little rushed and this is certainly not my best cut of work. Still, I have about ninety five hours of work in this piece, most within the last four days! Features include lighting suspended above the ice pillar and slide, as well as the bonfire,  four custom Julbocks on a motorized ice-skating rink, three Dala Horses and the yule log. All the models were created from Mini Whinnies! 

I don't know, Nelli. You might not think this is your best effort, but I think it's pretty cool. I especially love the little jumping Dala horse and the goats! Congratulations on getting in done, and good luck at BreyerFest!

Kayla's diorama entry

Continuing on with our tour of the 2026 BreyerFest Diorama Contest entries, here's a really neat - and dramatic - scene from Kayla Blaine. 

She writes: Mine is called “Hoof Helly Aa”.

It is based on Up Helly Aa, which is a traditional fire festival held each winter in the Shetland Islands of Scotland. Up Helly As celebrates Shetland’s Norse and Viking heritage with torchlit processions, participants dressed as Vikings, music, and the dramatic burning of a replica Viking longship. The festival usually takes place on the last Tuesday of January and is one of Scotland’s most famous cultural events. In my diorama, I decided to bring this beautiful celebration to life with both classic and stablemate sized models.

I dressed the stablemates up as Vikings that are helping ignite the fire.

 Within the fire, is a re-sculpted classic model to represent the dragons that they light on fire.

Here are some work-in-progress photos that show how I made it.

Thank you, Kayla. This is awesome. I really appreciate how fiery your pictures are. Good luck at BreyerFest!

Donna's diorama entry

From waffles to flowers! Here's a look at another outstanding 2026 BreyerFest Diorama Contest entry.

The Beetle's Ride

by Donna Houchins

This diorama is inspired by the Odense Flower Festival, which takes place in Odense, Denmark every August. It is part of the H.C. Andersen Festivals celebrating Hans Christian Andersen, who was born in Odense in 1805. Each year has its own theme centered around the worlds created by H C Andersen. Large scale, creative flower and plant displays interpret the annual theme.

While H C Andersen is famous for many fairy tales that have been retold throughout the world, he also wrote a wealth of stories that are now more obscure. My diorama depicts one of his stories that centers on a beetle and a horse – “The Beetle Who Went on his Travels”.

In this depiction, the beetle is riding on the mane of the Emperor’s horse who wears golden horseshoes. It is created with dried plant material over the Breyer Freedom Scale “Brabant” horse, and depicts a floral installation as may be seen in Odense during the festival. The beetle is created with leaves and twigs. There are approximately 2500 small dried flowers in this diorama!

I had a lot of fun making this, though at times I was questioning my life choices while gluing on tiny flowers with tweezers!!  

Thank you for sharing your entry with us, Donna. This is wonderful. I doubt you'll need it, but good luck at BreyerFest!