WHAT ARE LSQ AND PSQ?

You've seen the terms LSQ and PSQ in auction postings and aren't sure what they stand for? Or maybe you know what they stand for, but are unsure what they mean? This guide is designed to help you begin to understand these terms and if/how they may affect your potential purchase.

DEFINITIONS

• LSQ translated means LIVE SHOW QUALITY. This means that the figure or tack is an accurate representation of the real thing, and of quality to be inspected in a live model horse show environment. Since judges can see the model (and tack) from all sides it must be in good enough condition to pass close inspection against other competition.

• PSQ translated means PHOTO SHOW QUALITY. This means that the figure or tack is good enough to use for photo showing, but may not be of a quality to live show. Because the model is only presented in a photo setup and judges can only see what shows up in the photo, small imperfections may be concealed through photo showing.

IS LSQ OR PSQ NECESSARY?

Does Live Show Quality or Photo Show Quality actually matter to your purchase? If you have no intentions to show your item, then you should base your bid decisions on other factors.

If item condition is essential to your purchase, LSQ may be a term to consider, as it should indicate that the item is in live show condition. A model that is live show quality should not have visible flaws such as scratches or noticeable repairs, paint or finish rubs, breaks, warps, etc.

Photo Show Quality items can have minor flaws which may or may not preclude them from being Live Show Quality, but can be more easily hidden through photo-showing where they are presented in a photo and a judge can only see one side of the presentation. Therefore, if a model has a small scratch or rub on one side, but looks lovely on the other, it could be photographed from the good side for showing purposes. (Any such marks should, of course, be disclosed in an auction listing for purchasers' consideration.)

There are no exact hobby standards for Live and Photo Show Quality, and both are subject to each person's own opinion. Some people are extremely picky and feel that anything less than absolute and total perfection is not Live Show Quality. Unfortunately, in the model horse hobby it is nearly impossible to find a truly flawless model. What is Live Show Quality to one person, may be Photo Show Quality (or less) to another.

Hopefully this guide will assist in understanding some of the terms used in model horse hobby postings.

For more model horse terminology, please click here: What Are OF & CM?