Featured Breyerfest - 1993

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured Breyerfest! We're continuing with our retrospective by looking back at Breyerfest 1993 this week, so let's get going! 

Breyerfest 1993
July 30-Aug 1, 1993
Celebration Horse: Grayingham Lucky Lad
Number of Celebration Models produced: 1,500
Attendees: unknown

Here's the Breyerfest 1993 page in the commemorative program:

This Breyerfest holds the distinction of being the first one to feature a volunteer model - the legendary silver filigree PAM. It also may be the first Breyerfest that had a model horse show? This is the first time I've seen the model horse show mentioned in the program. Here's an old picture from how the live show used to take place, on the dirt floor of the covered arena: 

Glad I never had to deal with that - I bet the dust on the models was terrible. 

Anyways, here's (most of) the writeup from Breyerfest 1993 that appeared in the Winter 1993 issue of JAH:

The Old Kentucky Nights dinner was still going at this point, but I don't think it lasted too much longer. Here's one of the models from the live auction:

IDYB describes this as a test color golden dappled bay on the porcelain Shire Mare. I wonder where she is now? She sold for a whopping $100 at the auction, but I bet she'd be worth a lot more nowadays. Here's another auction model:

He looks a bit green in the photo, but I think it's an issue with the camera or something. There are a few other auction models listed on IDYB's page for Breyerfest 1993, but I'll stop with this one:

Look at the details on this one! Wow. The original Ichilay was issued with four different warpaint variations, but this one appears to have all of them at once, plus more! Odd that the mane/tail feathers aren't painted, though. She's the highest-selling model in the auction, at least for the ones that have prices listed, and no surprise! 

Well, that's about it for this week - check back next week for Breyerfest 1994! 

Breyerfest sale and special run splits!

 Exciting news today, readers! The Breyerfest warehouse sale is happening now! 

There's nothing terribly interesting in the sale, and some of it is sold out already, but if you happen to have some money burning a hole in your pocket, knock yourself out. 

In other exciting news, Breyer decided to announce the Breyerfest special run splits ahead of time! Ticket sales must be down. And I'm not sure it's the first time they've done it, because I remember them announcing the splits in 2020 when we were all filling out preference lists for the first time.  Anyways, as many people suspected due to the "glossy" wording (later removed) in his initial announcement, Oseburg will be a matte/glossy split! 

Mmm, he looks great in gloss. Hope I can get one! 

Next, there's a tail variation on Aquavit! This will also be a 50/50 split: 

Many people were expecting a bell tail to eventually show up, so it's not that much of a surprise! Cool-looking, but still nothing I need. 

And lastly, Litha has a rare variation! 

Oooooooh, I really want this one! I love the colors. 30% of the 2200-piece run will be in this color, so that works out to 660 models. Decent odds of getting one, I guess? Maybe I need to buy some more tickets...

Buenos Aires!

 Good news, readers! We have a reveal for the sneak peek from last month's newsletter! Behold, Buenos Aires! 

As many people thought, it's a manchado pattern on the polo pony version of Smarty Jones! From the email:

Polo pony mare Buenos Aires has a unique manchado pinto coat that was designed by equine color expert Lesli Kathman. This rare pattern is unique to Argentinian horses, and Lesli describes it as “primarily a top-down dorsal pattern” which features numerous spots.

The entry deadline is 5/21 at 11:59PM EST, so don't waste time getting your entries in! I don't need this one, but good luck to everyone entering!  

There's a Breyerfest sale coming up!

 Good news, everyone! Well, not-so-good news if you're trying to save for Breyerfest. But Breyer is having a sale of past Breyerfest products next week! From the blog: 

We’ve been poking around in our warehouse and have uncovered some BreyerFest items that date as far back as 2016, so if you missed a year in the last decade, only recently discovered BreyerFest, or you’re on the hunt for that one model or souvenir from a previous year, this is the sale for you!

 This could be interesting. I mean, I doubt there'll be anything particularly special, but if there's any models from 2016 and onward you never got ahold of, it could be worth it. I'll be watching to see what's in the sale! Probably nothing I want, but you never know. 

Featured Breyerfest - 1992

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured Breyerfest! This week we're covering Breyerfest 1992, so get ready for another trip to the distant past (ha, ha...). 

Breyerfest 1992
After the four Breyerfests of 1991, just one event was held in 1992 and every year since. I can't imagine how much work and planning it took to put on four Breyerfests - no wonder they went back to just one. 
Date: July 31-Aug 1, 1992
Celebration Horse: Turbo the Wonder Horse
Number of Celebration Models produced: 1,000
Attendees: I haven't been able to find any information about attendance in 1992. But obviously it was enough to keep holding the event! Here's the 1992 page in the commemorative program: 

According to the Riders in the Sky wiki (who would have thought there would be one), Turbo the Wonder Horse was the mount of Ranger Doug on the Riders in the Sky TV show (and radio show). He was produced on the popular Semi-Rearing Mustang mold. 

Since Breyerfest was back to being just one event, there was only one raffle model - the buckskin Quarter Horse Yearling, which was suggested by Marney Walerius, one of the "founding mothers" of the model horse hobby. 

I also found it interesting that the trade show was held in the Big Barn in the KHP. It looks like some seminars/signings were held in the Covered Arena lounge, but was anything else in the Covered Arena? 

That's about it for this week - information about Breyerfest 1992 seems to be pretty sparse. Check back next week for Breyerfest 1993! 

Be still, my heart

 Greetings, readers! Well, it happened - the Best Customs Contest prizes were officially revealed today! Behold the grand prize, Lingonberry: 

Troubadour looks amazing in chestnut! Ugh, I want him so bad! 

And here's the runner-up prize, Gravlax:

He's also amazing in chestnut appaloosa! I don't even want to think about how high the silent auction lot for these is going to go. Anyways, that knocks Troubadour out of contention for the surprise model. I'm still thinking Vermeer, though I'm hoping for something I don't want so I don't have to figure out how to fit 10 surprise models into my luggage afterward! 

Another sneak peek!

 Well, no resolution to the previous sneak peek yet...but instead, we get another one! Behold: 

Eagle-eyed collectors have already pointed out this is probably a chestnut version of the appaloosa Valerio. Darn it! I was hoping it would be something I don't want. On the other hand, at least it isn't a mini Othello? I've been dreading that since they shrank him down. I wonder if the silent auction will set a record this year?