Variation Spotlight: Draft Horse #5180

Regular Run Stablemate Assortment

#5180 Draft Horse

1989-94

Like other randomly patterned runs, each #5180 is unique. Variations in shade and dapple placement and quantity are completely random, but within this chaos two distinct dapple types do exist. Older models will have 'splatter' dapples which are created through a grease-resist technique. Newer models were painted using a water-resist method which results in 'bubble' dapples.

Look-Alikes: G1 Draft Horses

With the number of runs issued on this mold, it's no wonder there's a bit of ID confusion surrounding some of the models.The most enigmatic of the releases, the Riegseckers set, will have their look-alikes covered in their own post in May! Today we're going to cover the regular runs and the more standard special runs.

Chestnuts:

Conga! G1 Draft Horses

The original ceramic Hagen-Renaker mold, #459 Mini Percheron¹², was sculpted by Maureen Love Calvert, and leased from the ceramics company by Breyer for production in plastic. Released in 1976, the Draft Horse mold was discontinued along with the other Generation One molds in 2005, though he did make a surprise one-time comeback in 2014 as a bonus model from the Vintage Club.

During this time, Breyer only released four regular runs on this mold, but they more than made up for that with the special runs- twenty six! This made him hands down, the number one most used Generation One mold; his nearest competitor is a full eight runs behind. With the plethora of limited special runs (especially that Riegseckers set!) on this mold, it's safe to say this is a nightmare conga to complete.

Variation Spotlight: G1 Draft Horse #5055

Regular Run Stablemate Assortment

#5055 Draft Horse

1976-88

The long life of #5055 made it a fun model for variation hunting. Light to dark colour variations, stockings, facial markings, flaxen or self coloured mane and tail, this run had it all.