As your model horse collection grows, you may find that keeping index card records or photo binders is too cumbersome. Each method offers the advantage of an inexpensive, visual, and hands-on way to track a collection. Yet it can be difficult to alphabetize and search for records, especially as your collection grows. Once a collection numbers about 100 horses paper-based records become cumbersome (although it's still possible to track your collection by hand.) Computer-based records for your model or Breyer horse collection enable you to search, sort, and manage large collections more easily.
Computer Programs to Keep Track of Model Horse Collections
There's no special computer program available at stores to track model horse collections. Instead, collectors rely upon several database programs commercially available for business applications. These include:
- Microsoft Excel: Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet based application that is often used for accounting and financial purposes. It can also be used to track a model horse collection by setting up columns with data headers to track each piece of information. Excel and related program are available at most major retail stores, and many computers now come equipped with Excel as part of a bundled Microsoft Office suite. Similar spreadsheet programs made by other companies can be used for the same purpose.
- Microsoft Access: Access is another Microsoft product that offers a more robust database environment. Data is entered onto a single screen, and the data feeds into the database, allowing users to sort by each data point. This makes it easier to search by such factors as breed (for all breed shows), scale, make and more.
Setting Up a Database for a Model Horse Collection
Consider the information you need to track for your model horse collection. Typical data to track includes:
- Horse's name
- Sex/Gender
- Age:
- Color:
- Breed:
- Owner:
- Make:
- Model:
- Purchase Price:
- Purchase Date:
- NAN or other show wins:
- Club Member Numbers
Club member numbers are numbers assigned to either models, individual collectors or show stables by the major model horse show organizations. TOPSA, the Totally Online Photo Show Association, provides each entrant with a number at the start of the show year in January. The show rules require that every photo entered in this online show bear the entrant's identification number. Breed associations often register each individual model horse and may assign a specific number used to track the horse's wins and placings at live and photo shows. These may rapidly become hard to manage as you get more and more involved in the hobby, so tracking them on the computer helps organize them and keep them handy for your needs.
Storing Photographs Online
While you probably organize your model horse show photos on your own computer, you may want to create a backup storage system online. Photo sharing sites such as Photobucket, Flickr and Webshots are popular among model horse hobbyists as places to share their show photos and entire "stables". Many collectors set up stables on these sites and proudly display their photos. Just be sure to make them available by invitation only; otherwise many sites have a Creative Commons-type agreement whereby you may inadvertently give permission for others to use your images. Be sure to keep your images for your own personal use or share via a link only.