September Collector Club newsletter!

 Greetings, readers! I bring you good tidings - yon Collector Club newsletter hath been released to the world! Sorry for the old-timey language - a friend and I spent the day at a Renaissance festival and I'm still getting over that. Anyway, back to the newsletter.  I see we're back to releasing it on the last day of the month again. At least they got it published, eh? Anyway, this month's edition of the newsletter features a giveaway of a Rhenish Draft model from this year's Breyerfest to three lucky winners, and is supposed to have a feature story about Carltonlima Emma, the Fell Pony belonging to the recently-deceased Queen Elizabeth II, but there seems to be some type of technical issue with that, because the article won't load for me, nor does it show up on my Collector Club home page. Let's hope they get that fixed soon. Also, the newsletter has this tantalizing sneak peek! 

Looks like a possibly-glossy palomino PAM? Some people have been guessing Esprit, which could be the case, but my first thought was the PAM when I saw the photo (and Esprit has been done in this shade of palomino already, so I don't think they'd do it again). Apparently it's a "web exclusive." Maybe it's the holiday mare and foal set? Ooh, unicorn PAM could be interesting. It could also be some kind of Christmas set like last year's Snickerdoodle. Let's hope we don't have to wait too long to find out! 

It's all there, black and white, clear as crystal!

 Good news, everyone! The last Limited Edition release for Breyerfest has been revealed - the long-awaited crystal model! And it's the PAM! 

Huh, the combination "Crystal PAM" is making me think of Crystal Pepsi for some reason. If I bought one, that's probably what I'd call her, but I'm not a crystal collector, so feel free to borrow away. From the blog:

Lorelei is a 433-foot tall rock on the banks of the Rhine River that was named after the distinct murmuring sound the water flowing through it makes. Inspired by this sound, in 1801, Clemens Brentano crafted the tale of a woman who fell to her death while atop the rock looking for her lost love, and thus a folktale was born. 

This story changed hands and details over the years, including turning the woman Lorelei into a siren who lures sailors to crash into rocks on the banks of the river. Like a good game of “Telephone,” this simple story of lost love evolved into a story of mythological proportions over time, inspiring music, poetry, opera, and art.

Pretty enough, but nothing I need to buy. I just don't collect breakables after the Adriano heartbreak. 

Now that all the Limited Editions and special runs have been revealed, I expect Breyerfest tickets to go on sale soon - maybe tomorrow? I'm not as keen to buy a VIP ticket as I was last year (I just don't think anything from this year will match Pollock's popularity), so I'm not terribly worried about it. Of course, since we've seen all the regular releases so early in the year, I'm sure Breyer will make us wait until the last effing minute to see any of the prizes or raffles, but I can always hope, right? Right? 

The last few auction models!

Less than a week until I leave, and the last group of auction models has been revealed! Lot 23 is another hidden lot, so let's take a look at Lot 24:



It's Valour and Honour, the Sunday Raffle set! I'm not sure why Breyer decided to use the British English spelling for those names, but I'm not going to question it too much.

Next, Lot 25!



It's the SJW from the program! I'm still not really a fan of the Croi tail on him, but that gloss is incredible. I love him!

Next, Lot 26:

Ooh, we hadn't seen this one yet! That's a Dundee! He's supposed to be a "Bay Varnish Blanket Appaloosa," but he looks more like some kind of gray to me. And I'm not really a fan of those little spots around the eyes, even if it is more realistic. The rest of him is great, though!

Lot 27 is next:



Wow, I don't think we'd seen that PAF before, only the PAM in the program! Wow, that set is going to go high! The foal looks like a foal version of Polaris from a few years back.

That's it for auction models, as Lot 28 is another hidden lot. So, I don't think we got a reveal of that Bristol from the program, did we? That's interesting. All in all, though, this is an incredible group of auction models this year! I'm definitely going to have to make the effort to attend the auction this year.

That's all I have for today - only a few days left until we're all in Kentucky again! And Happy 4th of July, everyone!

THE PROGRAM IS OUT! AHHHHH!

Holy crap, I am SO excited right now! The Breyerfest program is available to view, and I just got the most incredible surprise when I looked through it! They're making a 10-piece Stablemate set of all the Celebration Horses since 2010, to continue on from the 2009 set! I can't believe they're actually doing it! They'll be in the Hero's Salute Shop!

So, I'm pretty sure Breyer's intention was to have this song going through my head while I stared at these models in the program (language warning).



So, let's take a closer look at the photo. Here they are:

1. Pecos (2011) on the Mirado mold
2. Brass Hat (2018) on the new Walking Thoroughbred/Greyson mold
3. Oliver on the G4 Driving Horse mold
4. Simba (2015) on...I can't tell what mold that is
5. Gooitzen fan Teakesyl (2014) on...I think Django? I wonder if he's glossy.
6. Imperador das Aguas (2016) on the G2 Paso Fino mold
7. Smart and Shiney (2013) on the G4 Reiner mold
8. Nazruddin (2017) on the Darley (!) mold
9. All Glory (2010) on the G2 Morgan, I think?
10. Mariah's Boon (2012) on the Tushar mold

I am completely blown away - I don't think I've ever been this excited about a Breyerfest release in my life! Kill me now...or at least let me be first in line to buy one on Friday! Fortunately, it looks like they're making 2000 sets, so I don't have to be desperately clawing my way to the front of the line to get one. Not that I would, or anything...

Ack! Now I'm more excited for Breyerfest than I was before! Friday the 12th can't come soon enough!

There are also several never-before-seen auction models in the program! Behold - there's a rainbow Croi with gold mapping!

And a red bay PAM!



And a star dapple rose gray braided Bristol!

And a silver dapple bay pinto Lonesome Glory!

And a glossy dapple liver chestnut Show Jumping Warmblood with Croi tail!

And lastly, a pearly cremello Totilas!



Wow, that Bristol is to die for! And the Croi - that knocks her out as the surprise or the volunteer model. I'm not sure I like the Croi tail on the SJW, but his color is really nice. Wait, another liver chestnut? That makes three now. Is liver chestnut going to be the color of choice for Breyer's regular run line next year? Sheesh! Well, anyway, I can't wait to see these models in person IN THREE WEEKS! AAHHH!

Our next special run is Sierra Rose!

The PAM special run is revealed - meet Sierra Rose!



From the blog:

Sierra Rose was named for the picturesque Sierra Nevada Mountains, where the Tevis Cup is held annually. The Tevis Cup is a 100-mile long endurance ride that lasts a full 24 hours and has been taking place annually since 1955. The riders in this competition traverse the Sierra Nevada Mountains in their quest to win this legendary endurance competition. Sierra Rose's beautiful rose grey coloring reminded us of the stunning sunsets in Sierra Nevadas.

I thought Breyer would use an older mold in the lineup, but I (and a lot of other people) didn't see the PAM coming. She's beautiful! And she actually has something to do with the theme (Endurance racing tends to favor Arabians)!

Alas, I ran out of shelf space and sold off the few PAMs I had a few years ago. So this pretty girl won't be joining my herd, but she sure looks nice. I wonder if they'll do a matte/glossy split on her?

Before the advent of Farah in 2015's Vintage Club, I would have been skeptical of ever seeing the PAM in anything other than a very limited release, due to the licensing issue with Hagen-Renaker. But as we've seen, Breyer has been using more and more old Love molds over the last few years, so clearly they've managed to get over the licensing hump. Probably just a case of sighing and paying the fee. And we get to see new releases on old molds out of it, so that's a good thing, right?

That's not a clue! That's a full-blown reveal!

Today's Breyerfest blog "hint" is a bit of a rarity...they're showing us the silhouette! It's a PAM!



I wonder what sort of special run she will be? The special run line itself, or perhaps a raffle model? And what color will she be? I hope we don't have to wait until Friday to find out - that's a long time! At least we don't have to spend the whole time hemming and hawing about what mold it might be.