April Fool's giveaway and more blind bags!

 Greetings, readers! Well, yesterday's April Fool's joke has been revealed as a joke (not surprising), but in an unexpected twist, Breyer is giving away three test models based on yesterday's joke model! 

They did clarify on Facebook that the joke model is in fact real (vindication!), so I hope it shows up in the Breyerfest silent auction, because I want to see that thing in person. Anyway, the entry period ends tomorrow night, so get your entries in if you want one! I don't collect Nikolas, but entered anyway for trade fodder. Good luck to everyone entering! 

In other news, we were a bit confused this morning when the Pal test models were revealed, because there was a mystery Stablemate in the background. 

People wondered what it was, and speculated all kinds of things, but we didn't have to wait too long - it turned out to be part of another set of April Fool's blind bags! 

I'm a bit confused that they produced these, considering the ones from last year seem to have gone over like a lead balloon (they're still available on the website). And of course they used the hugely popular mini Georg, so he's the only one anyone is going to want afterwards. At least they used the G1 Arabian Mare this time instead of the G2 Clydesdale or Magnolia? I'm also glad the Georg didn't end up being part of a 75th Anniversary blind bag set. I only ordered one of these - crossing my fingers for the Georg. 

VIP swag bags and April Fool!

 Greetings, readers! Well, I meant to write about the VIP swag bags yesterday, but completely forgot about it, d'oh. So anyway...VIP swag bags were revealed yesterday! 

As usual, most of it is pretty meh. Looks like the trend of only 3 VIP pins instead of 4 is how it's going to be from now on. But wait a second, there's something funny about those pins...

It's hard to see, but the Croi has the same pattern as Get This Party Started, with the light/dark colors reversed. Could this be the micro run we've been waiting to see? But what are the other two pins? Belesema Sapphire and Tight Lines are portrait models - those don't get variations. But...a blue Belesema Sapphire? Sapphires are blue...this can't be a coincidence. These alternate colors have to mean something! Remember last year when the VIP pin of Fight Song had the alternate tail and we all (more or less) wrote it off as nothing? But why is the Cigar red? Normally the portrait models don't get variations, but it's not like it's The Law that it couldn't happen. And we all know Breyer loves to break their own rules, right? 

Well, who knows what's really going on, but those pins mean something. And it's going to be torture waiting until July to find out what it is! 

In other news, it's April Fool's Day today! Check out Breyer's prank:

I laughed as soon as I saw it...I mean, who wouldn't? Those eyelashes! Great idea, whoever thought of it. Breyer's April Fool's jokes are always the best. I do think this is a real, actual model, because of this clip, but who knows if it'll ever see the light of day again. Maybe it'll be in this year's Breyerfest silent auction? Or maybe it's not real and I'm just an idiot, who knows. It could go either way. 

That's it for today - now I have to get back to prepping for River City Classic on Saturday. As always, if you're there, look for Geralt and Roach and say hello! 

Featured JAH - 3/29/2025, Sept/Oct 2007

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured JAH! This week's issue is Sept/Oct 2007, so let's get going! 

On the front cover, a handsome Harmonie model is hitched to a cart. 

In the Editor's Desk, Arlene gives a mini Breyerfest recap. Also, the Classic Warmblood Mare makes her debut! 

On page 3 we have Letters to the Editor.

On page 4 is the first page of the article about Harmonie, the Dutch Harness Horse.

The Harmonie article concludes on page 5 with a reveal of the Harmonie model. I couldn't find a date of death for Harmonie, but with a birth year of sometime prior to 1992, he's probably passed on by now. 

On page 6 we get an article about John Wayne's Duke and a reveal of his model on the Moody ASB. 

After skipping Winners' Circle, an artist profile, Collector's Corner and some other stuff, on page 13 we have the reveal of Reflector and Mirror Image! This JAH special run is still sought-after. I never did own either of these when I had a pretty big Lonesome Glory conga - never could find them for a price I wanted to pay. 

After skipping Mailbag, on the next couple of pages we have a pull-out poster that was never pulled out of the magazine. I took the liberty of rotating the image so it would be easily readable. On this page of the poster we see a number of Breyerfest 2007 special runs, plus Niagara the live show prize and Yankee Doodle Dandy. 

On the other side of the top of the poster, we have photos from Breyerfest 2007. 

On the bottom of the other side of the poster (not sure of a less-clunky way to say that), we have more photos from Breyerfest 2007, plus a reminder of the dates for Breyerfest 2008. 

On the bottom of the original poster, we have more Breyerfest 2007 special runs and prize models. 

After skipping various contest winners, on page 16 is the first page of the Breyerfest 2007 recap. 

The Breyerfest recap wraps up on page 17. 

After skipping a brief model horse show article, on page 21 we have a feature on NAN 2007! 

On page 22 we have a Breyer UK update. 

After skipping more model horse show stuff and a how-to article, on page 26 we have this week's Vintage Point article, featuring the G2 Paso Fino! 

The Vintage Point article wraps up on page 27. 

After skipping On the Trail with Breyer and the Calendar of Events, we've arrived at the back cover of the magazine! Twilight Terror, the 2007 Halloween model, graces the back of this week's issue. And with that, we're done with the issue. Check back next week for Nov/Dec 2007! 

Mallorca winners and March CC Newsletter!

 Well, readers, the selections for Mallorca are out - and I’m a winner! Woohoo! Now if I can get my husband to pay for it (it’s my birthday next week!) things will be great!

In other news, the March Collector Club Newsletter was released today! If you’re a club member, check your email to read it. The feature article is a full scan of the Sept/Oct 2003 issue of JAH. Hey, I just covered that one not very long ago! Copycats! (I jest…) I admit I do skip some of each issue to keep the blog posts from being too long. 

Besides the feature article, there’s also a giveaway of the new AQHA anniversary model, and this sneak peek:

Something spotty, obviously, but other than that, no idea. The pattern looks like something you’d see on a Stablemate, so maybe there are new blind bags coming or something. Hope we find out soon!

The new reveals are coming fast and furious!

 Sheesh, it's like Breyer noticed they hadn't released anything new lately and needed to catch up! The next Vintage Club release was announced today! 

Their names are Admiral and Wings. Cute! Nothing I need, but I do like blue. They're a similar color to Josiah from a few years ago. From the Facebook post: 

Sculpted by Chris Hess and Marvin Morin respectively, the models represent two phases of a show horse’s life - that of a mature horse in the prime of its career, and that of a youngster just starting out in the show ring. Wedgewood blue is always a fan-favorite, and we hope you'll adore them!

And that's it for today. Will something else exciting be announced tomorrow? I hope so!  

Definitely not a typo!

 Greetings, readers! Well, my speculation about yesterday didn't take long to be clarified, because today we have a new web special! Say hello to Mallorca! 

Was there a special on Duende bodies? I'm guessing they made the whiteware for this guy plus the Ambassador models at the same time as the TB Trueno run - maybe they were running out of warehouse space and decided to paint up all their Duende bodies to clear some space. Or maybe this was the plan all along - who knows. Anyway, this guy is really pretty! Also, I was right about his color being a reference to sand! Woohoo! I'll take any small victory I can get. See, this is the type of buckskin I like better, with the darker legs. He looks like he has a little bit of "frosting" on his mane and tail, too. The writeup says he'll have a bit of shimmer as well, so I'm excited to (hopefully) see that! Good luck to everyone entering! Don't wait too long to enter, because the deadline is Thursday (eep!). 

Essay contest winners!

Good news, readers! The results of the "Why My Favorite Horse Would Love to be a Breyer Model" essay contest were finally announced! Here are the three winners' models: 

The three winners are: Cash, the Quarter Horse; Thiarnain, the crossbred Vanner; and Skip to My Lulu, the Mini. Congrats to the three winners! Cash will be available as a mid-year release later this year, but Thiarnain and Skip to My Lulu will remain OOAK test models sent to the real horses' owners. Here's another photo of Cash:

I love his color from the shoulders/hindquarters up, but I wish his lower legs were darker. It reminds me of primitive/wild bay, which is one of my least favorite horse colors. It's not a dealbreaker, just a minor quibble. I wonder what this guy would look like in gloss, and what our chances are of seeing said gloss? I probably shouldn't say any more in case he pops up as a glossy prize model in the future. 

Anyways, I'm glad these were finally revealed! People had been wondering about them since the start of the year, and I actually asked Kat about them at BreyerMidwest on Saturday. She thought it would be announced soon (though unsure), so it's great to see them announced so soon afterward! 

Now the only mystery is the sneak peek from last month's Collector Club newsletter. 

The newsletter says it's a Collector Club exclusive release coming next month (so March), but it looks an awful lot like a cropped belly shot of Cash. But Cash is going to be a regular run, coming out in July? So was it a typo in the newsletter, or is something else coming in a similar color? Guess we'll find out soon (or maybe not)...