We present a class of simple models for global bifurcations creating horseshoes. Some properties known for H6non mappings are easily obtained for these models such as, e.g., the existence of nontrivial hyperbolic sets. Kneading sequences techniques allow us to exhibit explicit differences with the global bifurcation diagram for maps of the interval. Explicit examples displaying wild hyperbolic sets and infinitely many sinks are also given as an illustration of the simplicity of these models.