Featured JAH - 5/24/25, Jan/Feb 2009

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured JAH! We're starting another new year with this week's issue, so let's get started with Jan/Feb 2009! 

On the front cover, Breyer's Mon Gamin model makes his debut. I like the little Breyerfest 2009 banner in the background. 

In the Editor's Desk, Arlene recaps the Velvet Rope Event (the second Breyer collector event) and previews the magazine as usual. 

On page 3 we have Letters to the Editor. 

On page 4 is the first page of the article about Pokerjoe. 

The Pokerjoe article concludes on page 5, and there's also a reveal of his Breyer model. I always liked the Pokerjoe model because of his white tail. The real Pokerjoe died earlier this month at age 33, according to a post on Tommie Turvey's Facebook page. I saw their act at Breyerfest several times. I'll also never forget the time I turned the TV on in our room at the Clarion during Breyerfest and Pokerjoe happened to be in whatever horse movie was on at the time. RIP! 

On page 6 we have the first part of the Velvet Rope Event recap. This was only the second time Breyer had held an event for collectors (aside from Breyerfest, of course). 

The VRE recap concludes on page 7 with some photos of the event and reveals of the models produced for the event. All of them sell for a pretty penny nowadays. Attendees of this event were able to tour Breyer headquarters in New Jersey - the last time they did a New Jersey event was in 2014 for the Big Easy Bash, so I wonder if the next collector event will take place in NJ? They're long overdue for another factory tour. Edit: Nope, it’s Canada! Maybe the next one will be in NJ. 

On page 8 we have an article about Breyer's Fun Foals Treasure Hunt! 

The goal that year was to purchase a mare and a stallion, then send in your UPC code for a randomly-selected free foal. It was a clever idea, and allowed for several different varieties of foals due to the horse colors involved. 

On page 10 we have the first part of the article about Mon Gamin, whose model was featured on the cover of the magazine. 

The Mon Gamin article concludes on page 11. I couldn't find any recent information on the real Mon Gamin, but according to the FEI, he would be 29 years old if still alive and last competed in 2014. Can anyone shed some more light on this? 

On page 12 the very handsome Auld Lang Syne makes his debut! I never did own one of these guys back when I collected Kennebec Count. His mold really hasn't been used much, has it? I guess he's never been overly popular. 

After skipping The Artist's Sketch, Mailbag and the first part of Model Horse Show, on page 16 we have an update on Breyer Canada. 

A Breyer UK update follows on page 17. 

After skipping the rest of Model Horse Show, an ad for Wind Dancers, another ad for the Pony Slumber Party Set, Winners' Circle and a how-to article, on page 24 is the first page of this week's Vintage Point featuring various Misty of Chincoteague-themed-and-adjacent models. 

Vintage Point continues on page 25. 

Vintage Point concludes on page 26 with a photo of poor unloved Sea Star. 

After skipping the 2008 Retired List and the Calendar of Events, on page 28 we have On the Trail with Breyer. 

On the back cover we have a reveal of the Flamenco Set, featuring Legionario in a beautiful dapple gray, and with that we've reached the end of this week's issue! Check back next week for Mar/Apr 2009! 

Featured JAH - 5/10/2025, Sept/Oct 2008

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured JAH! This week's issue is Sept/Oct 2008, so let's get going! 

On the front cover, the brand-new Newsworthy model takes a jump. 

In the Editor's Desk, Arlene talks about how great Breyerfest 2008 was and reveals the dates for Breyerfest 2009. 

On page 3 we have Letters to the Editor. 

On page 4 is the first page of the article about Newsworthy. 

On page 5 we have the rest of the Newsworthy article. I couldn't find much information about Newsworthy, but with a birth date of 1993, he has probably passed on by now. 

On page 6 we have the first page of the Breyerfest recap/photo album. 

Breyerfest photos continue on page 7, including a photo of the legendary $13,500 auction Alborozo. To this day, he has never popped up in public again that I know of. His sale price was a record that stayed unbroken until 2019 when the glossy buckskin pinto Alborozo auction model sold for $22,000. 

The Breyerfest photos continue to continue on page 9. 

The Breyerfest wrap-up concludes on page 10 with an article about the design, production and then destruction of the Alborozo mold, including photos of the destroyed mold. Alborozo remains a very popular model, being pretty much the only Celebration Horse that has gained significant value with time. And OF Alborozo models will only get rarer over time as people customize them. 

As for the destruction of the mold, over the years I've seen at least four "hobby lore" explanations for why it was done: 
1. Publicity stunt
2. A gesture of goodwill to Brigitte Eberl, who'd been burned by Stone in the past
3. The mold was made from a different type of steel that gives more detail, but wears out much faster than usual
4. An agreement with the real horse's owner

If you take the above article into consideration, the publicity stunt is at least the "public" reason for destroying the mold. Prior to sculpting Alborozo, Brigitte Eberl had sculpted something for Stone with the understanding that it would only be produced in plastic, only for Stone to release it in resin (thus directly competing with her own resin business). So it's thought that the destruction of Alborozo was a goodwill gesture from Breyer to Brigitte. I've never seen confirmation of that anywhere, though. I've also never seen any evidence for the destruction being due to an agreement with Avi Cohen, the real Alborozo's owner. As for the "mold being made from different steel" thing, my assumption is that the mold was made differently because it was going to be destroyed and thus didn't need to last as long. 

I wouldn't be surprised if all four of these possible reasons have a grain of truth of them, but I don't think we'll ever know for sure, unless the involved parties eventually spill the beans. It's been 17 years since all this went down, though, so it's kind of old news by now. While it's sad that we don't get any more Traditional-size Alborozo releases (other than the occasional auction model), at least we do now have the Stablemate-size, mirrored version of Alborozo. 

After skipping yet another ad for the Collector Club, on page 12 we have the beautiful Party Girl, a special run for JAH subscribers.

After skipping Artist's Sketch, Mailbag, Model Horse Show, some Saddle Club stuff, a how-to article and an update on Breyer Canada, on page 23 we come to the first page of this issue's Vintage Point! This issue doesn't just cover one mold, though - it's all of the models Breyer had produced of horses that had competed at the Olympics! 

Vintage Point continues on page 24. 

Vintage Point concludes on page 25. 

After skipping Breyer UK, the Calendar of Events and On the Trail with Breyer, on the inside of the back cover we have Ethereal Wind! Finally, a new release on Ethereal! 

On the back cover of the magazine we have the Elegance Dressage Collection, part of the Elegance series. This is one of the more sought-after Salinero releases because of the detail of his paint job - one of the best dapple grays Breyer has ever done. And with that, we've reached the end of this week's magazine! Check back next week for Nov/Dec 2008! 

Featured JAH - 5/3/2025, July/Aug 2008

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured JAH! This week's issue is July/Aug 2008, so let's get started! 

On the front cover, Alborozo frolics on a beach. 

In the Editor's Desk, Arlene previews the magazine, talks up Breyerfest, and announces the passing of Theodore O'Connor. 

On page 3 we have Letters to the Editor. 

On page 4 is the first page of the article about the extremely handsome DZ Weedo. 

The DZ Weedo article concludes on page 5. I wasn't able to find a date of death for this horse, only a reference to "the late, great DZ Weedo." 

On page 6 we have an article about the equestrian portion of the 2008 Olympics! 

The Olympics article continues on page 7. 

The Olympics article concludes on page 8 - interestingly, with a photo of future Breyerfest Celebration Horse, Ballynoe Castle RM. 

On page 9 we have the debut of the beautiful Giselle! She's one of the very few porcelain Connoisseur models. I had one for a couple of years, but ultimately sold her because I just can't deal with fragile things. 

On page 10 is another Breyerfest 2008 preview, featuring the raffle models - Toulouse and Viajero! Excuse me while I drool over that Viajero...but anyways. 

The Breyerfest preview continues on page 11. Check out those auction models! I love the TB Mare and Nursing Foal. And the Othello, of course. 

On page 12 we have a Breyer Tour update. 

After skipping an ad for the Collector Club, Mailbag, Model Horse Show, some Saddle Club stuff, Winners' Circle, The Artists' Sketch and two how-to articles, on page 24 we have the first page of this week's Vintage Club article featuring Gem Twist! 

Vintage Point wraps up on page 25. 

On page 26 we have a Breyer UK update, including the winner of the Pony Club Hero contest. The winning pony, Pippin, became this Breyer model! He was a UK exclusive and marked the debut of a new mane and tail for the mold. 

After skipping a Breyer Canada update, along with On the Trail with Breyer and the Calendar of Events, on the back cover of the magazine we have some new Breyer puzzles. And with that, we've reached the end of this week's issue! Check back next week for Sept/Oct 2008!