Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured JAH! This week we're covering July/Aug 2003, so let's get started!
On the front cover we have a still from the Seabiscuit movie starring Tobey Maguire. Breyer went all-in on the Seabiscuit merchandise and produced a lot of tie-in products (though not as many as for Spirit).
I usually skip the inside cover because the contents aren't that important, but I couldn't this time, because we have the debut of the Show Jumping Warmblood! Feast your eyes on the initial chestnut release and the super-detailed base he came on, which went away after only three releases (the original, the JCP liver chestnut and Royal Kaliber).
In the Editor's Desk, Natasha writes about unlikely heroes (including a note about being sad that fans couldn't meet Funny Cide at the KHP during Breyerfest, as he was still racing at the time - fittingly, he went to the KHP in 2008 after his retirement).
On page 3 is Letters to the Editor. Again with the AVIS car rentals stuff - can they bring that back? Not that I rent vehicles very often, but it could come in handy for the occasional rental we do partake in. Also, RIP to ToysRUs.
On page 4 is the first page of the Seabiscuit article and the reveal of the Traditional-size Seabiscuit and War Admiral models.
On page 5 we find the second page of the Seabiscuit article and the Stablemates Three-Piece Gift Set.
On page 6 is the first page of the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls (shouldn't that be Cowgirls?), and the tie-in Trick Riding gift set featuring an adventurous Brenda Breyer and the Traditional Black Beauty.
The Riata Ranch Cowgirls article (they keep calling them Cowboy Girls, but I'm going to keep on saying Cowgirls) concludes on page 7.
On page 8 is the first part of the article about equine photographer Robert Vavra, featuring a photo that I'm pretty sure is still hanging in the KHP visitor center. I desperately wanted to buy some of his photography books when I was younger and getting Back in the Saddle catalogs regularly, but they were just too expensive.
That reminds me of something. Does anyone else remember getting catalogs for Breyer-sized horse barns, fences, accessories, etc? I can't remember if they were from Back in the Saddle or another manufacturer (definitely not Breyer), but they were very detailed, but laughably expensive for the time. They'd probably be stupidly expensive now. They may also have had horse-themed gifts, etc. Anyone else remember that? They probably went out of business pretty quickly but I've been wondering about those for years. Did anyone actually buy any of those?
That reminds me of something. Does anyone else remember getting catalogs for Breyer-sized horse barns, fences, accessories, etc? I can't remember if they were from Back in the Saddle or another manufacturer (definitely not Breyer), but they were very detailed, but laughably expensive for the time. They'd probably be stupidly expensive now. They may also have had horse-themed gifts, etc. Anyone else remember that? They probably went out of business pretty quickly but I've been wondering about those for years. Did anyone actually buy any of those?
The Vavra article starts/continues on page 9. I wanted the Majestad model at one point, but never got one.
After skipping a how-to article (carving out hooves), on page 12 is the debut of Causin' a Commotion, the JAH Collector Club special run! Rumor has it at least part of this run was produced from painted-over RSV Inolvidable Celebration models from Breyerfest 2002, but I don't think it's ever been confirmed. The Peruvian Paso has never been very popular for some reason (I had a small conga of them a few years ago, but had to clear them out for shelf space).
After skipping Breyer jr., on page 18 is another Breyerfest 2003 preview, with an appearance by Little Debbie for some reason! I know, it was because of the tie-in doll and horse set, but I can't help but wonder what the Little Debbie Snack Cake Break was like in the middle of the Kentucky heat.
The Breyerfest preview continues on page 19. We're in the middle of the overuse-of-Silver era, so the live show that year got a Silver model as the grand prize and the reserve prize. Strawberry Fields was also a special run for this Breyerfest, so the mold definitely got plenty of use in 2003. I guess they had to make an obtainable one for the teeming masses howling for more Silver models. Also, I love that blue-with-silver-mapping Lonesome Glory - bring that color back! We need more of it.
After skipping a couple of how-to articles and most of Horse Trader (addresses badly edited out by me), on page 25 is the conclusion to the Vavra article.
On page 26 we have the first part of this week's Vintage Point article featuring the G1 Thoroughbred mare. Take REALLY good note of that model sneak peek in the corner, because it will be quite some time before we get a follow-up to that.
On page 27 is the rest of the Vintage Point article.
On page 28 is the rest of the Seabiscuit article and a blurb about the Little Debbie model, hooray! I got one of those sets in a box lot on eBay once, but that was before my kids came along, so it got sold along with the rest of the extras from that lot.
On the back cover is another view of the Riata Ranch Cowgirls (seriously, why not just call them that?). That brings us to the end of this week's issue. Check back next week for Sept/Oct 2003!
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