Featured JAH - 10/13/2024, Sept/Oct 2003

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured JAH! This week's issue is Sept/Oct 2003. Let's get started! 

On the front cover, Like a Diamond shows off his athleticism. His mane even looks pearly! 

On page 2, Natasha writes about Breyerfest and Galway Warrior is his handsome self. 

On page 3 is a small news roundup and Letters to the Editor, featuring some fun mail artwork. The first letter to the editor may be the first time Breyer has acknowledged using test models in promo photos to tease us. Although I'm not sure they really do that anymore? I think a new release of Gilen showed up in promo photos a while before it was released, but otherwise I can't think of any recent examples. 

Having already showed off his moves on the front cover, on page 4 Like a Diamond gets to show off his handsomeness. I wonder how much Show Sheen it took to get him to look like that? Not that he isn't beautiful on his own, of course. 

On page 5 is the article about Like a Diamond, along with the reveal of his Breyer model. I had this model back when I had an extensive Adios conga. Still a little sad about selling them, but the shelves needed the space. Anyway, Like a Diamond was one of my favorite Adios releases. A quick Google showed that the real Like a Diamond died in 2017 (RIP). 

On page 6 is the first page of an article about Maynards Miss Sheba, America's Winningest Mule! She sure is/was pretty! 

On page 7 we find the rest of the Maynards Miss Sheba article. I haven't been able to find any recent information about Maynards Miss Sheba, but she was 15 years old in 2003, so presumably she's passed on by now. 

On page 8 is the first page of the Breyerfest 2003 recap, including another photo of Galway Warrior looking handsome, along with Gladwin Lucky Grey Lady (Celebration Horse and daughter of another Celebration Horse, Laddie II). 

The Breyerfest recap continues on page 9, with photos of many happy collectors fulfilling their Breyerfest dreams. 

The Breyerfest recap wraps up on page 10 with some raffle winners (that Gunsmoke...I want one!). 

After skipping the Breyerfest Live show results and Breyer jr., on page 18 is the JAH special run Double Exposure! I always thought this was a really nice color on Big Ben, but if I remember correctly this special run took multiple years to sell out. Too bad - I had one, but sold it off later for shelf space. I still have the G2 Warmblood ornament, though. 

After skipping a couple of how-to articles, on page 22 we have an article about storing your Breyer models - always a timely subject. 

On page 23 is the rest of the model storage article, including a photo of a really unfortunate woodgrain Fighting Stallion who suffered a bad bloating incident. 

After skipping Horse Trader and a poem, on page 26 is the first part of this week's Vintage Point featuring the Appaloosa Performance Horse.

On page 27 is the rest of Vintage Point. 

After skipping Collector's Corner and the events calendar, on the back cover we see the reveal of Merry Widow, the Halloween model for 2003. And that brings us to the end of this week's issue! Check back next week for Nov/Dec 2003! 

Tigerlily and Firestorm and Hot Cocoa and Freya and Annika!

That's a long title. Good news, everyone! I had three new models arrive today. I'll start with the second Premier Club release, Tigerlily and Firestorm - behold! 

Yay! I really like them. Tigerlily really is basically an updated Running Mare. Firestorm is his own feisty self, though. 

They're both pretty much flawless, except for...

...this groanworthy arrangement of reverse dapples. Do they all look like this? It's pretty minor in the grand scheme of things, but still irritating. They look like a grid, or a honeycomb or something. It's probably something to do with how they're painted, but like...try to make them a little more random or something, you know? 

Otherwise I have no complaints with the quality. I'll probably take them both to my next show. 

Next, here's Hot Cocoa! 

I love her pearly tail! 

I just love her tail in general. And the rest of her. It's a really attractive color! 

She has some minor flaws, but nothing major. If I can figure out a breed for her, I'll take her to my next show too! 

Also, the holiday mare and foal set was revealed today, along with a bunch of other stuff! Say hello to Freya and Annika! 

They're currently on backorder and expected to ship the week of 10/28. They're cute, and I like Freya's color, but neither one is anything I need. They even come with an ornament and a satin bag! 

Along with them, we have this year’s holiday Classic! Meet Nor’easter!

He’s also nothing I need - I wish they’d used a different mold. 

Lastly, the Kid’s Club has been updated with a new Classics model!

Also nothing I need, but that’s a handsome color. 

That’s it for today - whew, that was kind of a lot. I wonder if anything will be revealed tomorrow?

Featured JAH - 10/5/2024, July/Aug 2003

 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? 

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! 

Why so smol?

 Good news, readers! My Horatio has arrived - behold! 

He has a satin bag, yay! Too bad they used the wrong Othello image for it - it's the original tail, not the flippy tail. I guess we should count ourselves lucky they at least got the year right. Horatio also came with the Deluxe Collector Club pin, as you can see, so I stuck that on my pin board. Interestingly, the Heath head on the pin is pretty much the exact same size as Horatio’s head.

Here's a closeup. He's such a pretty color! 

I'm curious about how they did his tail - is it resculpted, or just repositioned? From the show side it just looks repositioned, but from the off side it looks like a whole new shape. Did they get Kathleen (or someone) to sculpt a new tail? 

The only nitpick I have with this release is his splotchy black eyes, but mine are at least mostly neatly-painted, so I'm not going to dwell on it. Also, he's been made into a gelding for some reason - didn't that happen with another shrinky Stablemate? Brishen maybe? 

Although I didn't take a comparison photo, the mini Othello is also noticeably smaller than the Stablemate Brishen and Giorgio, which is a bit confusing, considering his size as a Traditional. Why did they make him so small? It's not that big a deal, just weird. 

That's it for today, but I'm hoping to get out to the KHP tomorrow and see if they have Calista in stock yet, so stay tuned! 

Ha, I was right!

 Wow, I was actually right about something for once! The newsletter sneak peek was for a hot cocoa-themed pony!

I love her color! I had to order one as soon as I saw her. I may have also caved and ordered a Love and Hope throw blanket with her. What can I say? I love throw blankets, especially soft and fuzzy ones…but anyway. Can’t wait to see this one in person! See the rest of the Breyer holiday items here, including the new rearing unicorn Auryn on the Rearing Stalion mild. 

Y'all ready for this?

 Get ready to dance, people (or cringe, if your bank account is running low) - Breyer has some new releases in stock! Huzzah! Let's start with Tigerlily and Firestorm! 

I'm excited to see this pair in person. I wonder how many of them will turn up at my next live show? Hahaha...anyway. The order deadline is 10/16, so we have plenty of time to order. But let's not let the Stablemates Club feel left out of this - their next release is available too! 

That's right - it's the gambler's choice, Miguel! The order deadline is also 10/16. I'm hoping to sell mine, but good luck to everyone wanting all four colors!