In the pursuit of perfection, how far is too far? In competition, is there such a thing?
Many top performance showers do intense preparation before shows, in particular NAN and Breyerfest. What does "intense preparation" really encompass? It actually can be as simple as doing a lot of research on you entry's subject matter, or it can mean researching the judge you are showing under's likes, biases and knowledge base in order to cater to them. Some showers practice setting up their entries multiple times before a big shows. Tack and dolls and props and so on are traded or loaned out beforehand among friends to get the edge in a class(es). A horse's name, coat color, breed, accessory and prop colors can all be chosen in order to appeal more to the judge. They have the newest or nicest of everything, current molds, dolls, tack, etc. Music, video, professionally designed documentation...painstaking work goes into every single detail for many tops showers.
Some say this is cheating or at the very least not fair to showers who can't or don't want to prep so intently. What are your thoughts, MIBers? Sound off in comments!
NOT cheating. It's recreating the scene in as much detail as possible. I suppose the people who call it "cheating " were also the people who came up with the "performance lite" idea?
Not cheating at all. As others have mentioned, it is like studying for a test or prepping for a real horse event. Perhaps it just seems weird to some showers but practice does make perfect and familiarity will keep the stupid mistakes away.
Cheating is the wrong word, in my opinion. Being prepared is what it's all about! I'm in complete agreement with the previous comments.
Happens in the real horse world - you practice your patterns or elements of a pattern/test because you want to do your best once you are in the ring.
Model performance showing is no different. That's what pushes us to be better showers and have more realistic entries.
Also, in case there is a less knowledgeable judge for the specific event I am depicting, then I want to provide as much documentation to "back up" what I am illustrating. I'd better know my set up is "correct" before putting it on the table and "defending it", …
How could it be cheating? Doing a good job is cheating? That is patently ridiculous! I used to be a member of a riding club that held regular open shows. During my time as a member, I began training a few horses for clients. But I still just showed my own horse in the club shows. That seemed to be fine with everyone until I started winning more regularly, suddenly there was a new rule made that trainers could be members but couldn't show in member shows. That small minded, jealous attitude is the same thing as complaining that someone who does their homework on a model performance class is "cheating". W.T.F?
I completely agree with Mel and rebelsbutterfly---the studying for a test comparison is really quite apt. The better prepared you are, the better you're likely to do. If intense prep for performance was cheating, then so would be thorough research on model history or breed standards for collectibility or halter respectively. Doing your homework is supposed to be a fun part of this hobby. Putting together a correct, well-thought out entry ought to be rewarded.