Resin model horses are unique works of art created by a sculptor and cast in urethane resin, a compound that picks up all of the wonderful details in the original sculpture and may be sanded and painted to represent a real horse.   Many people around the world collect horse models, and resin horse models are highly sought-after.   Works by famous artists, painted in gorgeous colors and shown in competitions, can fetch many hundreds or even thousands of dollars.  It makes sense to take extra care when packaging such fragile, irreplacable works of art.

Here at EquinArt Creations Inc., the company that I founded in 2004 to create unique, affordable and collectible resin horse models, we have an impecable reputation for shipping these delicate items.   In over two years of business, we have had very few reported damages.  Here I would like to share our method of shipping and packaging resin model horses.  Use at your own risk.  We take NO responsiblity for your own packaging.   This is our method of shipping.

HOW TO SHIP A RESIN HORSE MODEL

1.  USE NEW CARTONS.  I cringe when I see sellers use and re-use shipping cartons.  Yes, it saves you money.  However, each time you ship a model horse in that carton, the carton loses some of its rigidity as the cardboard breaks down from being banged around in delivery trucks.   As it loses its shape, it is more prone to ripping, and provides less protection for the items inside.    The US Postal service provides free Priority Mail shipping cartons.  You must use these for Priority Mail only, but they are worth the extra charges in shipping.  Cartons are also available from all major moving companies and from office supply stores.

2.  USE A BIG ENOUGH CARTON.  Make sure that once your wrapped model horse is inside the carton there is a cushion of two to four inches of packing peanuts around all sides of the model.  If there is less than that amount of space, there is a chance that your model may hit the side of the carton during shipping.

3.  USE ONLY PACKING PEANUTS.  Another disaster waiting to happen is shipping models using air bladders (plastic bags filled with air), foam inserts (the egg-carton kind), shredded paper, or plastic bags wadded up and stuffed into the carton.  Invest in a bag of packing peanuts.   All of the other packaging materials mentioned do not provide enough cushion for resins.  Plastic models may survive with that kind of packaging, but a resin will break.

4.  USE BUBBLE WRAP.  Small diameter bubbles work better in our opinion, but we will ship with either type, as available.

5.  USE TOILET PAPER.  You may wonder, what for?  To wrap the ears and tail!  Plain, untreated white TP works best.  Do not use any kind with lotion or softeners added.

HOW TO WRAP AND SHIP YOUR RESIN HORSE MODEL

1.  WRAP THE EARS AND TAIL.   Take a strip of toilet paper about three feet long, fold it in half so it's skinnier than the usual width, and begin wrapping the head.  Hold the TP under the horse's chin and wind the paper up and over the ears, making a figure of eight.  Wrap it around and around until the horse's head resembles a mummy and the ears are covered.  Secure with tape.   Wrap the TP around the tail area as well.

2.  SECURE THE LEGS.  Fold one square of bubble wrap in half and slide it between the horse's legs.

3.  WRAP IN BUBBLE WRAP.   Pull five large squares of wrap from your roll of bubble wrap.   Wrap the horse around and around.  Secure with tape.  Now pull five more squares of wrap and wrap the horse around the other way.  Secure with tape.

4.  FILL packing carton about one third of the way with foam packing peanuts.  Gently place your wrapped model in the center.  Now fill the entire carton with packing peanuts.  Make sure you fill it to the tippy top.   Close the flaps but don't tape them.  Gently shake the carton.  If you can hear the model moving around, add more peanuts.

5.  ENCLOSE the packing slip or PayPal receipt.   I also enclose promotional materials for our products.  These are advertisements for other products, notices of upcoming product releases etc.  A thank you note is also nice for expensive items.

6.  TAPE box closed with clear packing tape.  Add fragile stickers or clearly mark the box fragile.  Add address and return address.

A FEW TIPS AND TRICKS

• Never wrap a resin too tightly!   Breaks often occur to the ears and tails when wrappings or bubble wrap is pulled too tightly on these delicate parts.  If the wrap is too tight, any bump or crush in the carton will simply snap the piece off.  If there is a big of air, the bubble wrap has a chance to do its job and cushion the resin.
• Turn bubble wrap with the rough (bubble) side OUT and away from painted models.  In hot weather, or warm shipping trucks, plastic can melt or the paint or fixative on painted models can stick to the wrap.   I have seen small circles imprinted onto horses that had the rough side of bubble wrap stuck to them.
• Leave more room in the carton than you think you need.  Many people try to use the smallest size carton available that will fit the model.  We've found this to be the least effective.   The problem is that there is less cushioning between the model and the carton walls; any crush to the carton is absorbed by the model.   If you have at least 1-2 inches of packaging material, such as bubble wrap and peanuts, surrounding the resin, that gives enough resistance so that any crush will be absorbed by the packaging.

SHIPPING METHODS

• In the United States, you have many choices for shipping.   The US Postal Service recently raised their rates and now charges a premium for cartons larger than 12" on any one size.  Smaller size packaging and Priority Mail boxes can be economical for smaller resins, tack and other items.   We prefer to ship larger items via United Parcel Service (UPS) for the ease of daily pickups as well as lower cost.
• We only use US Postal Service for shipments outside of the USA.   We've found other methods just too expensive.

USE THESE TIPS AT YOUR OWN RISK!  And enjoy collecting model horses.  It's a fun way to enjoy the horse world without the hassle of owning a real horse.  If you love horses and fine art, resin model horses are a wonderful treat to yourself!

For more about the EquinArt company, visit About EquinArt Creations