Like the real Morgan horse gene pool, there's a whole lot of brown going on with the G2 Prancing Morgan look-alikes.
One of these things is not like the others - Starlight from the #20012
Starlight Play and Activity Set (2006-07) is a deep black with a slight metallic blue sheen and is completely without markings. By himself the G2 Prancing Morgan from the #55016
Horse Play Card Set (2005-07) can appear almost black, but when placed beside a true black like Starlight, it's obvious this horse is a deep bay. The richly shaded dark chocolate coat is satin to semi-gloss in finish. The model has a near-hind sock, star, snip, and eye-whites.
The only true glossy in the bunch is the model from the QVC
Silver Cup Series, Second Collection (2002) on the bottom-left. Like the Horse Play model, the coat is a very dark bay, but panagre, the creamy shading creeping up the body from the belly, makes the colour appear much lighter. This model has no markings and a very high gloss finish.
The model from the Just About Horses #790798
Special Edition Stablemates Gift Set (1998) is a bright red bay with black shading and a tiny star. The finish is matte and this is the only old plastic release on this mold.
One of the hardest to find G2 Prancing Morgan models is from the Tractor Supply Company #301124
Bonanza Ponderosa Ranch Set (2010). This model is very similar in colour to the Horse Play model, but is a touch lighter, matte to satin in finish, and has three socks (not near-fore), and a full stripe from star to snip.
Not all of these horses are chestnut, the stallion from the #59982
Horse and Foal Gift Set - Red Dun Morgan Stallion and Dark Bay Foal (2003-06) is a chestnut dun, though a case could also be made for a slightly sooty chestnut with counter-shading as the model is lacking leg-barring. The model is generally matte in finish and has a single sock on the near-fore leg.
The other three models are all flaxen chestnut. On the top right is #5612
Morgan (1999-02) from the Stablemate Assortment. This model is darker, more heavily shaded, and less red than the other two models. He has a star, blaze, and snip, four socks, and is generally matte to satin in finish.
World Equestrian Games Special Run #9162
Sporthorse (2014) and #5979
Polka Dot Parade (2012-14) are essentially the same, except the Polka Dot Parade model has a small snowcap blanket while the WEG model is solid. Both have a slightly elongated star and a stocking on the off-fore leg.
Though my particular models appear different - one lighter with misty dapples - this is due to the usual variation found in a run rather than changes specific to a particular release. This model can be found in the Target Special Run #720599
Horse and Foal Set (2006), regular run #5923
Horse and Foal Set - Pintos (2007-15), and Toys 'R' Us Special Run #760218
Stablemate World of Horses Shadow Box - Pintabian (2010) sets. The model is a blue-toned dapple grey tobiano with star, snip, black forelock and hind legs, near-hind pastern, off-hind sock and white fore-legs.
Both of these models are bay pintos, but the upper model is a bay frame overo while the lower one is a bay tobiano. The bay frame overo is #701706 Special Edition Connoisseur Set - Mini Mosaic (2006) - a miniature version of the 2001 Just About Horses Connoisseur model,
Mosaic. He's a medium bay with a near-hind stocking, lacy frame overo markings, and a blaze ending in a full white muzzle. The finish tends to be satin to semi-gloss.
The tobiano is from the #59977
Pinto Stallion and Foal (2000-02) set. He is a medium bay tobiano with four white legs, star, stripe, and snip. The mane is half black and the tail has a black tip.
Many thanks to Deb Walsmith for providing pictures for this post!
