The Value of Knowledge

I've been thinking a lot lately about knowledge and how it's valued by model horse collectors. Model horse knowledge seems to fall into several different categories:

• Industry and hobby knowledge: includes knowledge of the history of model horse manufacturing--which molds and models were manufactured, by whom, and when--as well as an understanding of the history and development of the hobby as a whole.

• Real horse knowledge: includes knowledge about conformation, breeds, color genetics, bloodlines, performance, and more.

• Artistic knowledge: knowledge of, and talent for, creative processes, including sculpting, firing, molding, prepping, customizing, finishing, tack-making, photography, prop-making, and more.

A related category is social capital, which one gains not only, I think, through possessing, displaying, and generously sharing the above categories of knowledge, but also through hobby networking: commissioning and purchasing artistic work, attending live shows and other hobby events, participating in photo shows or online forums, and more.

Which variety of knowledge or capital is most valued depends, of course, on context. For example, a live show halter judge may gain respect for her knowledge of breed standards, a performance judge for her experience with reining or dressage, a collectors' class judge for her understanding of hobby history and manufacturing. In other arenas of the model horse world, such as breeding, an understanding of color genetics or bloodlines may be far more valuable.

I'll post more on this later. In the meantime, do ou have any thoughts?