Bijou is available!

 Attention, Stablemates Club members! Bijou, the hotly anticipated gambler's choice for this year, is available for purchase! 

They're so cute! I definitely like the decorator the best, but I'm hoping I can get my hands on all of them. Can't wait to see what colors I get! 

Breyerfest Closeups: Remaining Stablemates Club Models

 Greetings, readers! We're moving right along with the Breyerfest Closeups and covering the remaining Stablemates Club releases today. Presumably Touche, the matte and glossy G4 Driving Horse, will be the next release, so I'll start with those. 

Touche will be available in matte and glossy finish, shipped at random (as usual). I don't want either one of them, so I guess mine will be for sale! 

I guess I only got one picture of the two of them together, but they're visible in some of the other photos. Oops! Guess I'll talk about Bijou, the gambler's choice model, next. 

I think I like the decorator the best - I love that color! 

The gray one is my second favorite. She's like a mini version of Sapporo. 

The palomino (sorrel) is a lot like Hendrik, and the appaloosa is a lot like Nero. Presumably these will be released in October. Next, here's Derecho, the last release! 

The glossy one is the normal release, and the pinto is the run of 75 that will be randomly sent out with the normal ones. 

I do like this guy, so I hope I get both of them! He looks like he's really feeling his oats.

This one should be released in December, along with Astoria, the optional release. Here she is! 

So she was customized to add feather, the braided tail, thick mane with braid and the mane flights. 

Look at the detail on her mane braid! Amazing.

I'm excited for this one! Definitely excited for December, though I probably won't see mine until later. Oh well. 

That's it for today. More Breyerfest Closeups are coming soon! 

More Stablemates Club stuff and another Breyerfest reveal!

 Greetings, readers! The end of the year is coming up fast and the reveals are still coming fast and furious! I’ll start with the latest Breyerfest silhouette:

Ooh, a Django! I wonder what color he’ll be. I’d speculate about us finally getting a solid black one, but that would be kind of a waste on a Breyerfest model, so I guess we’ll see.

In other exciting news, we got to see all four of the Stablemates Club gambler’s choice models today. Behold:

I love that decorator! I hope I get one. So far I have two SMC memberships for next year, but I’m thinking about getting another one. 

And lastly, here’s the full reveal of Derecho! Yesterday’s photo didn’t show his stand.

And we have our final Stablemates club reveal!

 Well, we have our last Stablemates club reveal, and it’s a doozy! Behold, Bijou:

Drat! Of course they picked a mold I collect. The dapple gray looks like Sapporo from a few years back. In years past I’d probably have gotten multiple club memberships, but now that we’re in NZ I’ll probably just buy them secondhand later. 

That’s it for the Stablemates Club reveals, so I suppose I’ll have to get around to joining soon. I wonder if they’ll show an outline of the Premier Club bonus Stablemate?

New TSC blind bags!

 Greetings, readers! I'm super late with posting this, but the Mystery Horse Surprise series 7 blind bags are starting to show up at Tractor Supply stores! I think I mentioned these before, but didn't have a photo I could use. Well, fear not, because now I have my own photos! 

Of the base group shown here, the only one I actually want is the palomino pony, so that was the only one I bought. Pretty sure I felt up a complete set, plus an extra pony. I actually checked four TSC locations around Lexington and only found these at one of them, so I guess that means I'll be checking again this weekend. Anyway, here's the pony! 

I like her face. Sorry for the not-so-great photo; it can be hard to tell if the entire model is in focus or not. 

This photo isn't the greatest either! Oh well. 

So anyway, you might be wondering why I'd bother to keep checking TSC for these things if I found the only one I wanted! Well, that's because both of the chase pieces have been found, and I need both of them this time! One of the chases (probably the less-rare one) is a raspberry-pink-with-spots mini Brishen, and the other (probably the super-rare) is a blue-and-purple clearware Mirado. So I remain on the hunt! These blind bags will eventually become regular runs (I think) so...maybe it won't be too hard to find the chases in the future? I hope so. 

Courchevel! And other things

 Well, readers, I was busy at work last night and didn't have time to get this posted yesterday, but Breyer's winter decorator model has been revealed! Meet Courchevel! 

From the website:

Nestled in the French Alps, Courchevel is one of the premier ski destinations in Europe. Awash in luxury, Courchevel is no stranger to those seeking a winter paradise, attracting everyone including professional athletes and royalty. This mountain oasis has even hosted the Winter Olympics!

Our breathtaking stallion Courchevel, named for this beautiful resort, has a unique metallic coat, which was inspired by the glow of the resort and mountains when viewed at twilight. Pastel shades of blue, gold, pink, and purple flow over his body, and are accented with flecks of gold. Courchevel’s enchanting look is completed by a high gloss finish, and a "Courchevel 2024" gold stamp on his belly.

I'm not seeing a whole lot of purple in that paint job, but maybe it's more evident in person. I think he's pretty! It's always great to see a new release on the Moody Andalusian. I'm wondering if he's also clearware (although I think they would have mentioned it if he was). There's a matching pin as well! The Collector Club discount can be used on the pin, by the by, but not the model, who ships for free (yay!). Interesting that they're saying up front that the pin is a limited edition of 500, but nothing on the run number for the actual model. 

Apparently Breyer is trying a new method for distributing these, rather than as a random-draw web special. Instead, they're being offered to Collector Club members on a first-come, first-served basis until Tuesday, and then they'll go up for sale to the masses. So does this mean the "Web Special" as we know it (limited to some number between 350-1,000, offered by random draw) is now a thing of the past? I'm not sure how to feel about that. Disappointed, I guess? I mean, it is fun to be able to get something that's relatively rare for your collection. I guess we'll see how this release goes - they haven't sold out yet, nor has Breyer told us exactly how many were made. There's speculation online that there could be as many as 2,500-3,000, but that number seems high to be based on the price of the model. I'm thinking the number is probably closer to 1,000. Hopefully Breyer tells us at some point. 

In other news, there was a new reveal for the 2025 Stablemates Club today! Huzzah! Say hello to Javier:

 

Yes! I've been waiting for them to use the Peruvian Paso in the club! Unfortunately, it's another 50/50 gloss/matte split, so I guess I'm going to have to buy two of them. Oh well. 

In other, other news, the latest Young Rider magazine has a couple of 2025 Breyer reveals! 

Presumably that Lonesome Glory is one of the 75th Anniversary releases hinted at previously. See the little horses in his blanket? Cute design! Nothing I need (anymore, sadly), but hopefully the rest of the 75th Anniversary releases are just as clever! 

Sorry the image is so small, but those models are the G3 Highland Pony and the mini Emma as unicorns! Woohoo! Well, if I get that set, my daughter will probably claim the truck and trailer pretty quickly. 

That's all I have for today! Let's hope we get more exciting reveals next week. And stay tuned for Featured JAH later today! 

Some Tractor Supply new arrivals!

 Greetings, readers! Well, I've managed to lay hands on some of the new TSC releases - not quite all of them as yet, but I'll get there. I ordered the Classics set with American Dream, and also the Classics family set (which hasn't arrived yet) to be shipped to the store in the same town where my husband works, so he was able to pick that up - but I also ordered six of the new blind bags, but the website defaulted to a different nearby store for some reason, so I had to make a drive down there to get the blind bags. Anyway, I'll start with the bay American Dream! 

He looks good in bay, and the white at the bottom of his tail is a nice touch.

So does that make him an extremely minimally-marked sabino? Interesting. 

Anyway, here's the foal, who I haven't removed from the box yet as I don't intend to keep it: 

And here are the results of my six-blind-bag gamble:

I only wanted the Walkaloosa, the pinto Emma, and the black pinto Alborozo, so two out of three ain't bad. It makes me wish I liked the G4 Vaulting Horse, because they keep using that blue pinto on molds I don't like! I don't know what it is about this one, but he's just ugly to me (and normally I like draft models). To each their own, I guess. I do like the mini Emma, too - it's about time she (well, actually he) got a new color. Guess I'll be looking for buyers for the extras. 

Also, it appears that the waitlist emails have gone out for Ponies & Palm Trees, so make sure to check your email! Make sure to check your spam folder, too, as it looks like these emails are coming from a Breyer staffer, not necessarily the website. I wasn't drawn from the waitlist this time, but maybe there'll be a few rounds of waitlists. Crossing my fingers! 

Breyerfest 2022 Stablemates!

 More exciting news today, everyone! Well, first off, the Breyerfest ticket structure for next year was announced yesterday, and quickly became a radioactive subject. I'm not thrilled that the VIP tickets are returning despite the debacle of this year's shipping (if I'd been guaranteed a Pollock, only to get shipped a Dani instead and then being told "tough luck, all the Pollocks are gone" when I was GUARANTEED to get one with my ticket, I don't think I'd have stopped calling them until they painted another Pollock specifically for me. Yes, that actually happened to someone, minus the painting an extra Pollock part).   

From the blog:

VIP All-Access (VIP) Tickets - $230

Each VIP ticket will come with, or have access to, the following:

Entry to BreyerFest all three days

One (1) BreyerFest Celebration Horse Model

One (1) complete set of BreyerFest: Prost! Event Stablemates models

Pre-select and pre-purchase two (2) Special Run models

Pre-select and pre-purchase two (2) Limited Edition models

Complimentary, exclusive VIP Swag box

Access to workshops, including exclusive VIP sessions (additional fee applies)

Ability to enter BreyerFest model horse shows (additional fee applies)

Ability to enter BreyerFest contests

Complimentary KHP Parking pass, valid all three days of BreyerFest

Access to BreyerFest virtual content and shopping

Plus more!

I like how you still have to pay extra fees for the workshops and shows, 'cause nothing says VIP like still having to pay money like the rest of the plebes. I'd also expect to have free access to the lounge all weekend, though that may not be feasible if they sell 1,000 VIP tickets like they did last year. 

They also appear to have done away with children's three-day tickets, which is...definitely something. Looks like we'll all be paying through the nose for our special run tickets next year. 

Virtual tickets will not have access to the models from the special run line, but will be able to buy pretty much everything else, so I'm okay with it. 'Nuff said. I'm guessing this also means virtual ticket holders won't have access to the raffles or the live auction - also fine with me. 

In other news, the single-day (or, General Admission) Stablemates were revealed today! Behold! 

 

These are all acceptable choices, but the Alborozo just makes me groan. Give him a rest already! Plus his legs look weird. Maybe it's a sign that the mold needs a rest. I'm not into the G4 Hanoverian or the mini Clydesdale Stallion, especially with that hairdo and color (bay pangare is one of my least favorite colors), but I do like the look of that mini Emma. Must have! I suppose I'll have to grab a set and sell the extras, like usual. Though I'm hoping we get a larger version of the Emma's color. I guess we'll have to wait and see! I hope we get more exciting Breyerfest reveals soon - this is something we usually have to wait until May for, so I'm happy we get to see them now! 

Edit: Oops, I forgot last month's Collector Club newsletter was finally released today also. Sheesh, they must have been really behind for it to be this late. Collector Club members, check your email - there's nothing terribly exciting now that we've seen the silver filigree release, but there's a giveaway for a Lugh and an article about sculptor Rich Rudish, artist behind the Sham and Lady Roxana molds. I had a few Shams in my collection back in the day, though like so many others, I sold them all off for shelf space. I guess I do still have a Lugh from last year kicking around, if anyone would like to buy him. Anyways, happy reading! 

70th Anniversary Stablemates!

Good news, everyone - my 70th Anniversary Stablemates came today! I only bought two of them, secondhand, so there aren't any exciting chase reveals. But I'm still excited to show them - behold!



Starting with the mini Emma - isn't she a cutie? I love how tiny they made her!

She even has tiny eyewhites! I'm excited to see what they do with her next! She's a good match for Black-Eyed Susan, too.

Next and last, the Brishen!

There's been quite a bit of variation with the manes and tails on these, and I was pleased to get one with a darker mane and tail. Although he's not really a 1:1 match with Solar, is he? I forgot Solar has some belly spots and a funky blaze. I guess that's what happens when you convert the paint job to a $4 Stablemate.



Silver bay still looks great in miniature, though! He's a pretty one. Now if I can get my hot little hands on a platinum one...