March Collector Club Newsletter

 Well, Hendrik may have made his appearance early, but this month's Collector Club newsletter is right on schedule for the last day of the month. If you're a Collector Club member, check your email to read it (it may be in your junk mail, FYI). There's a fun article about Breyer anniversaries - I hadn't thought about the fact that this year is 10 years since the Weather Girl treasure hunt. Where does the time go? Ugh, and Wixom and Silver are both 20 years old! 

Moving through the article, a tiny part of me is pleased to see them refer to the Black Stallion as "the Black," as it's been a mild source of frustration for me every time I see someone refer to him as The Black. Vindication! And I had not realized the Black Stallion, Smoky and the Stock Horse Stallion were all the same age! Crazy. 

In other news, this month's giveaway is a 70th Anniversary Collection Fighting Stallion from last year! Enter for him here. 

And lastly, here's our sneak peek for next month:

Based on the "slide" clue, astute people on the Internets have figured out that it's Hollywood Dun It, which indicates that he'll be this year's Collector Club special run on a Classics mold, in the same vein as Nayati, Callahan, etc. He's definitely deserving of some love, considering the mold is 22 years old and has had barely more than a handful of releases in that time. I don't think I've ever owned one of them myself - there was a brief period of time where I wanted to collect him, before deciding I didn't need to expand my horizons that far. So I won't be buying one of these (presuming there's more than one color). Oh well - more for everyone else! And my wallet will thank me. 

The early bird gets the Hendrik!

 Good news, everyone! The next Stablemates Club release is here, and - brace yourselves - he's actually early! Huzzah! 

I can't wait to add this beauty to my herd! Check him out here. 

Edit: Apparently I can't read, and his name is actually Hendrick, not Henrik. Carry on...

Featured Model - 3/27/21, Mini Bourbon Street

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured Model, the weekly blog event where I pick a model I don't own but would like to, give some stats on it and provide commentary about it. I haven't covered a Stablemate for a while, so this week's model is...Mini Bourbon Street! 

Mini Bourbon Street doesn't seem to have an item number, but was an edition of 21 on the G4 Andalusian sculpted by Brigitte Eberl. He was a giveaway for the Big Easy Bash collector event back in 2014, but I can't remember the exact circumstances now - I think he was a centerpiece/table model? I don't remember for sure. My husband and I were trying to save for our wedding, so we didn't try to attend the BEB - much to my chagrin when I saw the models afterward. I guess that's how it goes sometimes. 

Anyway, as his name suggests, Mini Bourbon Street is a miniature version of the original Bourbon Street, issued on Legionario, so it's fitting that this model is also doing the Spanish walk. Bourbon Street was a raffle model at the Breyer Premier Event, which was the first Collector Event back in 2002. In those days there weren't any event models or boutique models, or any special run models at all other than the centerpiece giveaway. Both of these events had a Mardi Gras theme, which explains the color scheme on these two models. While I'll admit it isn't my favorite color combination, purple and gold go together reasonably well, and I like this mold anyway, so I wouldn't mind seeing him on my shelves. He'd be pretty expensive, though! Guess I'll have to do what I usually do and admire him from afar. 

As for the G4 Andalusian, he was a pretty hot mold a few years ago, but (as is common) he seems to have cooled down in recent years. He was still being produced with the Groucho Marx eyebrows as of last year, part of the Spirit Riding Free blind bags, but he hasn't had any limited releases for a while. Not that that's a bad thing! I like it when these things are easier to get ahold of. That said, maybe he'll get a Breyerfest release? We still haven't seen the equivalent of this year's pop-up Stablemate, and he's certainly artsy-looking. Maybe he'll show up there? I guess it remains to be seen! 

The next release in the 2021 Vintage Club!

 Attention, Vintage Club members! Nonoma, the next release, is now available to purchase! Here he is! 

From the website:

With his stylish, solid black coat and gentle demeanor, Chris Hess’s Foundation Stallion (mold #64) quickly won the hearts of collectors upon his release in 1977. Over the years, he’s come in a wide variety of colors and, like his 2021 Vintage Club release, Nonoma, he has often been depicted as a Mustang.

Nonoma is dressed in a new modern grullo variation inspired by the brown pinto paint job made famous by the original Breyer Indian Pony.

SURPRISE!! Native American warpaint symbols, if present, will vary in this release! Four different variations.

Oh, I feel sorry for the variation collectors on this one. I'm guessing they won't be terribly expensive to buy secondhand, though, since the Foundation Stallion isn't terribly popular. I wonder if this means we'll see another Foundation Stallion release in the future? The mold hasn't been used since 2017, but maybe they had some bodies left over from that run. I guess we'll find out later on!  

True Blue Breyer collector event!

 Good news, everyone! There's another Collector Club event coming up! 

It'll be happening May 21-22, 2021 - virtually, of course. Interesting that they're doing another event a year after the last one - there's usually an 18-month-or-so gap between events. Maybe because the last one had to go virtual, and this one is virtual too? Who knows. Will Valegro be the event model this time? The mold is already in production for this year's Breyerfest, so it would be relatively easy to divert 200 models for this little event. And since it's virtual, it's easy to do an Australia theme! I'm excited. The entry period starts on my birthday (April 2-6), so with any luck I'll get drawn for a ticket!

From the website:

Grab your vegemite, put on some Men At Work and get ready for a True Blue Breyer weekend, May 21-22, featuring Australian farms and top-level Aussie artists. Held virtually, the weekend will be a mix of live and on-demand content with a focus on all things Aussie. Collector Club members will be invited to enter for a chance at one of 200 spots - be sure your membership is up to date!

More details will be revealed soon, but highlights will include a Friday evening welcome reception for True Blue guests, behind-the-scenes visit with Australian equestrian megastar, Guy Mclean,  tour of Spendthrift AUS facilities including a Q&A with General Manager, Garry Cuddy, and workshops with Australian sculptors and tack makers - Franceyn Dare, Danielle Seivers, Robyn Mccrae. Guests will also have the opportunity to shop at the Breyer Boutique featuring models created specifically for this event.

Uh...let's maybe try to stay away from the Aussie stereotypes, eh? I'm surprised they didn't tell us to throw some shrimp on the barbie while they were at it. Anyway, it looks like it's going to be a fun event, so I'll be crossing my fingers!  

Goldfinch selections!

 Good news, everyone - Goldfinch selections are out! It doesn't look like any of our accounts were selected, unfortunately, but I'm sure I can get ahold of one eventually. Congratulations to the winners! 

Also, I forgot to make a post about it earlier, but the Vintage Club welcome letters are out, and the rest of this year's releases were revealed (but not shown): the Foundation Stallion in appaloosa, Brighty as the gambler's choice (in the original decorator colors), glossy bay Terrang on a presentation base, and the optional release is charcoal Marabella and Amber, while the Stablemate is a mini Yellow Mount on the mini SCO. Of those releases, the only one I'm remotely interested would be the charcoal Amber - with any luck I can find someone wanting to split up the set. 

Premier Club welcome letters are out there, but there wasn't much new in those. Guess we'll probably be waiting until Breyerfest to see what the next release is. At least it's springtime now - Breyerfest will be here before we know it! 

Featured Model - 3/20/2021, Glossy Fox Valley Oliver

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured Model, the weekly blog event where I pick a model I don't own but would like to, give some stats on it and provide commentary about it. This week's model is...the Glossy Fox Valley Oliver! 

This model was a glossy prize model for Breyerfest 2008. He's item #1314G and was a run of 35 produced on the Othello mold sculpted by Kathleen Moody. 

Othello is, of course, very handsome in black, but becomes stunning in glossy black. Hubba hubba! I'm unlikely to ever own one, sadly, but he's beautiful all the same. The prices for one of these were ridiculous even a few years ago, and Othello is still a really popular mold, so I'm sure they're even more insane now. I do have his matte counterpart, along with almost all his other obtainable releases, so I really can't complain. 

As for Othello, I don't anticipate a new release on him anytime soon, since he was used for Breyerfest last year and a web special in 2017, but I could be wrong. Maybe he'll be used in the Birds of a Feather series as one of those chickens with feathers all the way down their legs? Who knows. If we ever get another collector event I could see him being used for that...gulp. Let's not go there, eh? Maybe he'll be one if this year's Tractor Supply releases - those aren't hard to get ahold of, and draft horses were used on the farm back in the day. Or perhaps a regular run? That would be a lot easier on my pocketbook! 

Goldfinch!

 Good news, everyone! Breyer's next web special has been released, and as many smart people on the Internets guessed, it's a Silver! Meet Goldfinch! 

From the website:

The second release in our Birds of a Feather series features the American Goldfinch, a flamboyant little bird dressed in shades of gold, black, and white. Found across the United States and parts of Canada, they are said to be a symbol of optimism because of their sweet songs and cheerful coloring.  While they always have some golden feathering, the male’s plumage is at its brightest during the summer breeding season, while the female sports more muted tones.

He's definitely a beauty! Once again, collectors only have to enter once for this drawing, rather than multiple days in a row. Definitely more convenient that way! Looks like we have to put in our addresses with our entries as well - presumably Breyer is trying to weed out people entering on multiple accounts, which might negatively impact households with multiple collectors at one address. Maybe they're going the Vintage Club route and only allowing two names with the same address to enter? I hope so, or a lot of people could get left out in the cold. Anyway, good luck to everyone entering for him!  

Featured Model - 3/13/2021, Red Velvet

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured Model, the weekly blog event where I pick a model I don't own but would like to, give some stats on it and provide commentary about it. This week's model is...Red Velvet! 

This handsome guy was the Saturday raffle model at Breyerfest back in 2009. He's item #711409 and was a run of 26 on the Andalusian Stallion mold sculpted by Kathleen Moody. 

This is such a nice color on the Moody Andy! Or maybe it's just how blindingly white his whites look in that photo. To be fair, it's hard to screw up a red dun, but he has a lot of depth to his paint job! I really like him. Maybe someday I'll be able to find one for sale for a nice price, but in the meantime I'll have to admire him from afar.

As for the Moody Andalusian, he was part of last year's 70th Anniversary lineup, and the 2019 Breyerfest surprise model before that. Where will we see him next? He's had a large number of releases since his 2004 debut, but somehow he's never been a web special, so I'm going to make that my guess. If I'm right, I hope I can get my hands on one! 

LAFAYETTE!

Without further ado: 

 EVERYONE GIVE IT UP FOR AMERICA'S FAVORITE FIGHTING FRENCHMAN! 

 

I'M TAKIN' THIS HORSE BY THE REINS MAKIN REDCOATS REDDER WITH  BLOODSTAINS! 

 

AND I'M NEVER GONNA STOP UNTIL I MAKE 'EM DROP AND BURN 'EM UP AND SCATTER THEIR REMAINS, I'M -

 

WATCH ME ENGAGIN' EM, ESCAPIN' EM, ENRAGING 'EM, I'M -

 

Okay, I think you get the idea. Lafayette is here and I love him! I wish he were one of the slightly darker variations, but all in all I'm glad to have gotten him now rather than in September (if you're wondering what all those quotes were from, I direct you to this). 

Quality-wise he's great - I didn't spot anything wrong with him. Beautiful! Thank you, Breyer! 

Lyric is here!

 Greetings, readers! At long last, my Lyric is here! Let's hope next year doesn't have as many shipping delays. Well, better late than never, as I like to say. I've been saying that a lot lately...but anyway. Behold! 

I'm a bit of a sucker for splash white, so I'm really pleased with this guy. Isn't he cute? 

They're still doing the satin bags for these guys, too. I hope the Stablemate Club goes back to those someday...but anyway. 

Quality-wise he's pretty nice - I didn't notice anything too terrible, though his eyewhites make him look a little surprised. I'm excited to see what he looks like in a more Fjord-type color! 

His pattern doesn't quite match Troubadour, but I suppose that would have been hard to pull off on a small scale. Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with this mold in the future! 

Featured Model - 3/7/2021, Glossy Malik

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured Model, the weekly blog event where I pick a model I don't own but would like to, give some stats on it and provide commentary about it. I, uh, may have forgotten to write this yesterday...but better late than never! This week's model is...Glossy Malik! 

I'm not sure how many of these models were produced, but they were intended as door prize giveaways at live shows that were part of the 2020 Live Show Benefit program, which ended prematurely last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He was item #712532 and was produced on the Classic/Freedom Series Malik mold sculpted by Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig. 

He's definitely handsome in that liver chestnut color, but the gloss takes him to the next level. I'm hoping I can get my hands on one of these eventually - I think 10 of them were just given away to people who bought tickets to Breyer Boot Camp, so at least some of them have made it into collectors' hands. 

Despite his crazy hair, I do like this mold. When is he going to get the Lisa Frank treatment like Mason did this year? Maybe next year. I guess he's still in the regular line as High Tide, but maybe he'll get a more realistic color as a mid-year release. Or maybe he'll be this year's Classic-scale Collector Club model? They seem to be alternating between old and new molds for those, which would make 2021 a year for an old mold, but rules are made to be broken, right? Anything could happen, but that '80s-rock-star hair is just begging for an insane decorator color, so I'm hoping we get something like that eventually! 

The first test run of the year!

 Well, folks, it's that time of year again...another test run model, straight from Breyer! Check her out: 

According to the website, she's a test for Twill, a Breyerfest special run from back in 2013. Sheesh, if they'd gone with this color maybe I wouldn't have sold mine! She's pretty. I don't have any Lady Phases in my collection, but I'd be tempted to add this one if my name was drawn. She's pretty spendy, though...the old price for these was $850, but this one's been jacked up to $1100. Maybe because she's newer and in presumably better condition than some of the older ones? 

Interesting that the entry form now has people add their mailing address as well. Weeding out entries from multiple households, maybe? That would be a good way to even the playing field. In any case, good luck to everyone!