Friday, December 16, 2016

Gift Sets: Mare and Foals - The Morphing Mares


* The 'Blab' mentioned below refers to The Model Horse Blab, a popular model horse community. *

On August 03, 2006, I spotted four mysterious mare and foal sets at my local Target in the Southwestern US. I didn't know if they were special runs, regular runs, or some sort of fluke release (a girl can dream, right?), but I did know I would be buying them all that day.

I have since found a Blab post on July 27, 2006 from an East Coast member mentioning these sets, so people were finding them on the shelves at least a week earlier than I did.

It is well that I purchased the models when I did because two of the four sets saw some fairly major changes very soon after their release.



Friday, December 09, 2016

Look-Alikes: G3 Mustang

There are only a few look alikes for the G3 Mustang mold which isn't used nearly as much as it deserves.



Friday, December 02, 2016

Conga! G3 Mustang

The G3 Mustang, mold #5625, was first released in 2006 and was sculpted by Jane Lunger.



Regular Run Releases
Listed from left to right

Friday, November 25, 2016

Play Sets: Fun and Games

There has yet to be a Stablemate board game, but there have been a few other games released with Stablemate companions.




The card games came first. A single Stablemate came packaged in a window box with a set of Breyer-themed Memory cards. #P55016 Horse Play Card Game - Pinto Half-Arabian (2002-04) came with a chestnut pinto G1 Arabian Stallion. The model is matte to satin in finish with a big blaze, pink nose, and four stockings.



A dark bay G2 Prancing Morgan replaced the G1 model in the #55016 Horse Play Card Set (2005-07) The model has a satin to semi-gloss finish, with an elongated start, snip, eye-whites, and a near-hind sock.



There was a gap of a couple of years before the #31002 Horse Play Card Set, 2nd Edition (2009-11) which came with a lovely dapple grey G2 Clydesdale. The model is matte in finish with small water resist dapples, bald face, pink nose, four white socks, eye-whites, and white mane/tail.



2008 was the year of the puzzles. Three Breyer-themed puzzles were released with a matching model. These sets were only available a relatively short time and can be somewhat difficult to find on the second-hand market.


The flaxen chestnut G3 Peruvian Paso which accompanied the #46002 Running Free - 300 Piece Puzzle (2008-09) is virtually the same as the #5906 Stablemates singles model. The model is satin to semi-gloss with shaded mane/tail, eye-whites, hind socks, and a snip.



#46003 Fun in the Sun 500 Piece Puzzle (2008-09) came with a lovely flaxen liver chestnut tobiano G3 Stock Horse. The model is satin to semi-gloss in finish with a large blaze, eye-whites, and four stockings.



The G3 Cantering Warmblood in the #46004 The Exciting World of Stablemates 1,000 pc Puzzle (2008-09) was an interesting frosty bay roan with eye-whites, and an off-fore sock.



Many thanks to Deb Walsmith, Sharon Walbridge, and MySt of My Stablemates for providing pictures for this post!

Friday, November 18, 2016

Look-Alikes: G3 Lying Foal

The G3 Lying Foal hasn't seen as much action as many of the other molds and therefore has only a handful of look-alikes



Friday, November 11, 2016

Conga! G3 Lying Foal

The G3 Lying Foal, mold #5630, was first released in 2007 and was sculpted by Jane Lunger.



Regular Run Releases
Listed from left to right

Friday, November 04, 2016

Gift Sets: Fun Foals - They Still Travel in Packs

The Fun Foal collections continued as well as the adult sets; the G3 Standing Foal filled the hole left by the G1 Thoroughbred Standing Foal



Friday, October 28, 2016

Look-Alikes: G3 Jumper

The G3 Jumper hasn't seen as many releases as some of the other molds. It still manages to produce a few look-alikes though.




#5907 Dutch Warmblood (2009-11) is an extremely dark, plum-toned chestnut. Though many people call it bay, it doesn't actually have any black on the legs. Marking-wise, the model has a small star, eye-whites, and four airbrushed socks.

JCPenney Special Run #410176 Stablemates Parade of Breeds - Selle Français (2006) is a gold-toned medium bay with a metallic glitter to the coat. It has eye-whites and a stenciled off-fore sock.

K-Mart Special Run #6126 Stablemates Gift Collection (2008) is a softly shaded wild bay or buckskin. It has a short blaze and eye-whites.

Target Special Run #720227 Pony Gals - Swedish Warmblood (2009) is a shaded brown chestnut with three stenciled socks (not near-fore) and a small diamond-shaped star. The tip of the self-coloured tail has some flaxen shading and the forelock is flaxen in contrast to the rest of the self-coloured mane.

#5501 Jump Off: Carole and Starlight Gift Set - Starlight (2008-11) is a light buckskin, though it could also make a passable amber champagne. The model has eye-whites and a stenciled blaze ending in a snip.

BreyerFest Breyer Store Special #711080 Stablemates 20th Anniversary Commemorative Set - 1990 Dr. Peaches (2009) is a red bay with golden undertones and inky black points. He has a broken blaze ending in a snip and eye-whites.

#9115 The Eight Disciplines of the World Equestrian Games - Jumping (2010) is an even-toned red bay with eye-whites, a small star, and three stenciled socks (not near-hind).




JCPenney Special Run #410436 Stablemates Parade of Breeds - Dutch Warmblood (2008) is a chestnut tobiano with four white legs, eye-whites, and a blaze ending in a snip.

#5908 Sport Horse - Chestnut Pinto (2011-14) is a chestnut splash white with flaxen shading in the mane and tail, four stockings, and a large blaze ending in a white muzzle.


Friday, October 21, 2016

Conga! G3 Jumper

The G3 Jumper, mold #5620, was first released in 2006 and was sculpted by Jane Lunger. This mold is also sometimes called the Jumping Horse or Jumping Warmblood.



Regular Run Releases
Listed from left to right

Friday, October 14, 2016

Gift Sets: Stablemate Collections - So Happy Together

The Stablemate Collections continued after the introduction of the G3 Molds with regular and special run sets.



Friday, October 07, 2016

Friday, September 30, 2016

Conga! G3 Highland Pony

The G3 Highland Pony, mold #5628, was first released in 2006 and was sculpted by Jane Lunger.



Regular Run Releases
Listed from left to right

Friday, September 23, 2016

Gift Sets and Singles: BreyerFest Store Models

The BreyerFest Store offerings increased in quantity and variety over the years.


While it wasn't the first time Breyer released their Stablemate molds in porcelain, but it was the first time a new Stablemate mold appeared in porcelain before being released in plastic.

#711075 Isabel and Chloe (2005) featured a pair of pearly grey unicorns on a grassy, flower-strewn base. This was the first time collectors would see the G3 Walking Arabian and the G3 Lying Foal. 725 of these sets were released.




After a two year hiatus, the Stablemate keychains were back...at least a Stablemate keychain. #711985 Stablemates Keychain (2005) is a G2 Prancing Morgan in what is called "charcoal" in Breyer-lore; the closest horse colour it resembles is called "black silver". This glossy model had four socks, a bald face, and gold keychain hardware with a small fob with the Breyer Logo. Around 2,000 of these models were made.




There was a distinct lack of keychains at the 2006 BreyerFest, but they returned in 2007. 2,500 of the #711307 Cream Soda (2007) keychains were made. The model is a G3 Belgian as an American Cream Draft Horse in gold champagne with four socks, blaze, red and blue tail ribbons, slightly metallic finish, and silver keychain hardware.





#711077 All American Tribute (2007) consisted of representatives of three American Breeds. 1,250 of these sets were produced.

The G3 Standing Stock Horse is a Colorado Rangerbred in flaxen liver chestnut blanket appaloosa with star, eye-whites, and hind pasterns with striped hooves. The G2 Paso Fino is a bay dun Florida Cracker and the G3 Tennessee Walking Horse is a....Tennessee Walking Horse in black tobiano with four white legs and purple ribbons.





Our final model is something a bit different. Some do not consider the Chang'An mold an offical part of the Stablemate line, but he did start life as a Stablemate, the G2 Andalusian to be exact. Some re-sculpting turned the spirited Andalusian into an iconic Chang Dynasty Horse. Only 800 of #711078 Chang'An - Tang Dynasty Horse (2008) were released, though actual numbers in the wild are likely to be significantly lower as breakages were very high due to the thin legs and the lack of support from a base.


Many thanks to Sharon Walbridge and Deb Walsmith for providing pictures for this post!

Friday, September 16, 2016

Look-Alikes: G3 Friesian

There are a decent number of look-alikes for the G3 Friesian, the most tricky being the four black models.



Friday, September 09, 2016

Conga! G3 Friesian

The G3 Friesian, mold #5623, was first released in 2006 and was sculpted by Jane Lunger.



Regular Run Releases
Listed from left to right

Friday, September 02, 2016

Singles: BreyerFest Single Day Ticket Models

In the beginning, the only ticket available for BreyerFest was the full three-day ticket which came with the Traditional scale celebration model. In 2004, Breyer began offering the Single-Day ticket. These could be purchased for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and came with a special Stablemate.


The models were given out in white gift boxes, nestled in a bed of blue satin. The packaging felt quite luxurious and kept the model protected during a busy day at the horse park.

Friday, August 26, 2016

Look-Alikes: G3 Cantering Warmblood

Quarter Horse, Warmblood, Morgan - the G3 Cantering Warmblood can pass as many breeds. As varied as the breed choices are the colours the mold can be found in and look-alikes abound.


Walmart special run American Girl: Saige Paints The Sky (2013) is white plastic with tiny grey flea-bites, mane and tail fading from black to white, shaded eyes, muzzle, and joints.

#5906 Warmblood - Flea-bitten Grey (2006-08) is painted pearly white with grey shading, chestnut flea-bites, white mane/tail shaded with grey, grey shaded joints and muzzle, near-fore and off-hind socks, and a blaze.


#5378 Show Jumping (2014-15) is a bay going grey with white mane/tail striped with black, black legs and eye-whites.




The model on the top is the first version of Target Special Run #720599 Horse and Foal Set - Appaloosas - Grullo and bay foal (2006) and was only available for a few weeks. The models are made with translucent plastic and are darker and more heavily shaded than the later version. They are black dun with an apron face, eye-whites, four stenciled socks, and a stenciled lacy hip blanket.

The first model was shortly replaced by a new version of #720599 Horse and Foal Set - Appaloosas (2006). These models are made with opaque white plastic and are lighter and less shaded than the previous version. The four socks and blanket are airbrushed and the spots are a red-brown. The facial marking is the same and the eyes have eye-whites.

This model was later released as regular run #5921 Horse and Foal Set - Appaloosas (2007-15) and special run #710724 Emergency Animal Rescue Set (2007-15).




#10316 Graceland Stables Stablemates Assortment - Bandit (2010-2012) is a bright red, shaded chestnut with four stenciled socks, cream hooves with grey stripes, blaze, slightly darker mane/tail, and near-side blue eye.



#5360 Eventing Play Set (2007-09) is slightly darker than the above model, with four stenciled socks, cream hooves, thin blaze, and eye-whites


#5388 Competing at the Games (2016-Current) is a lighter orange chestnut with four airbrushed socks, darker mane/tail, cream hooves, and blaze.




#5980 Show Stoppers (2012 -14) is a chestnut roan with shaded mane/tail, large blaze, and four airbrushed socks. It was later released as  #5935 Red Roan Warmblood with Rider (2015-Current).

#5963 Mystery Foal Surprise Gift Set (2013-Current) is a plum coloured bay roan with white and brown roaning, black points, and no white markings.



#46004 The Exciting World of Stablemates 1,000 pc Puzzle (2008-09) is a bay roan with heavier roaning over the hindquarters, white tail fading to black, eye-whites, and an off-fore sock.




#5503 Stevie & Belle Set: Found Horse - Belle (2008-11) is solid black with a tiny star and eye-whites.

World Equestrian Games Special Run #9164 Hanoverian (2014) is solid black with large star and eye-whites.

World Equestrian Games Special Run #9128 Stablemates Shadowbox (2010) is a shaded black with medium star and three socks, not off-hind.





#5907 Sport Horse (2009-11) is a bay blanket appaloosa with airbrushed blanket, two-toned mane/tail, and eye-whites. It was later released as  #701720 Stablemates Visiting Vet Horse and Trailer (2012-14)




#5934 Roll & Go Western Play Set (2011-12) is a shaded golden buckskin with no white markings. It was also released in Tractor Supply Company special run #301124 Bonanza Ponderosa Ranch Set (2010).




BreyerFest Single Day Ticket #711208 Compass (2008) is a red bay frame overo with eye-whites.

BreyerFest Breyer Store Special #711080 Stablemates 20th Anniversary Commemorative Set - 2006 Joker (2009) is a dark bay, almost black, tobiano with four white legs, blaze, white muzzle, white tail, two-toned mane, and eye-whites.

JCPenney #410176 Stablemates Parade of Breeds - Dutch Warmblood (2006) is a golden bay tobiano with star, thin blaze, and four white legs. The mane and tail are two-toned.


Many thanks to Sharon Walbridge, Deb Walsmith, and MySt of My Stablemates for providing pictures for this post!

Friday, August 19, 2016

Conga! G3 Cantering Warmblood

The G3 Cantering Warmblood, mold #5629, was first released in 2006 and was sculpted by Jane Lunger.



Regular Run Releases
Listed from left to right

Friday, August 12, 2016

Play Sets: Arts N Crafts - Activity Sets

Play sets were on the increase around the time the G3 molds were released. Activity sets were similar to the standard play set in that they contained a model or models with some accessories, but they also came with a colour and activity book produced by Scholastic. These sets came in a yellow cardboard box shaped a bit like a gift bag.



Friday, August 05, 2016

Footnotes: It's Not Easy Being Green - Colour Issues

The issue with yellow and red paint continued with the G3 models. This problem was likely resolved sometime after 2006-ish as I haven't seen greenies later than this.



UK Exclusive #1402 British Breeds 4 Piece Gift Set - Highland Pony (2006)

Friday, July 29, 2016

Conga! G3 Cantering Stock Horse

The G3 Cantering Stock Horse, mold #5617, was first released in 2007 and was sculpted by Jane Lunger.



Regular Run Releases

Friday, July 22, 2016

Play Sets: Smaller Than a Breadbox - Pocket Barns

The release of Pocket Barn sets saw a spike in 2007/08 with a regular run and a handful of special runs.

Friday, July 15, 2016

Look-Alikes: G3 Belgian

For such a small conga, the G3 Belgian has a surprising number of look-alikes and some of them can be a little tricky.



Friday, July 08, 2016

Conga! - G3 Belgian

The G3 Belgian was first released in 2006 and was sculpted by Jane Lunger.



Regular Run Releases
Listed from left to right

Friday, July 01, 2016

Singles Assortment: The Third Generation - It's Sneaky!

By 2006 collectors were beginning to get a bit bored, the last assortment had been released in 2003 and were getting rather stale. At the time, the main sources for hobby information was Blab and a few email lists, so not everyone was expecting the new collection which was released in the middle of 2006.