Bonus post: I'm in love...

Someone on Blab mentioned there was an article on the Chronicle of the Horse's webpage about Breyer, so being the curious person that I am, I went and had a look.  I was unprepared for what I saw, however.  I'm going to put the brief article here so you can skip to the reveal at the end.

From Untacked:  From Stable to Shelf

Most riders can remember the major firsts in their equestrian life:  first time cantering and jumping, first competition, first blue ribbon.  But before those milestones occur, there's often another important event in the life of a horse-crazy child:  The day a young person gets a first Breyer horse model.  While any horse figurine is a draw to a child, those created to honor equine celbrities are even more special.

Breyer Animal Creations, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, has highlighted famous horses as portrait models since the 1970s, when it released the Misty of Chincoteague model.  But what exactly goes in to making a portrait model?  We spoke with Stephanie Macejko, vice president of marketing and product development at Breyer Animal Creations, to find out.

Macejko estimates that Breyer produces between six and 10 portrait models - those created in honor of rel-life famous horses - a year.  The company's product line spans a variety of disciplines and breeds, so part of the decision-making process is evaluating how a particular horse would fit in with the existing balance.

"We might determine, 'This year we need to make sure we highlight a show jumper.' " she says.  "And if every great horse one year is a bay, we're going to say, 'OK, in this year's selection, we need a pop of color.' We want to highlight the top horses, but we also want to show some diversity within the horse world.  Sometimes kids who don't know all the horse's credentials will look at a pinto or an Appaloosa and thin, 'I'm in love,' and that's their entry into the horse world."

Breyer has immortalized famous race horses like Barbaro, Justify, Secretariat and Cigar, and winning sport horses like Valegro, Sapphire, Verdades and Voyeur, as well as honoring breed repreenstatives like Pura Raza Espanola stallion Dominante XXIX or other popular horses like Elisa Wallace's mustang Whin.  This year the team will debut models of pinto Grand Prix dressage superstar Adiah HP and now-reitured five-star horse Ballynoe Castle RM.

Macejko said staff members are always on the lookout for inspiring horses, and they're open to submissions from the public.  The final decision comes down to a handful of factors, including a horse's story, their impact, and the makeup of the rest of the product line for that year.

"we're trying to look at the horse industry as a whole." she says.  "We do our own research, and then people send in recommendations, whether it's an association that says, 'Hey, there's some really top horses we'd like you to consider,' or individuals and fans who will write in sometimes like, 'Oh my gosh, you really need to do a model of this horse.' "

Once a horse has been approved, it's matched with an existing mold, and then artists go to work perfecting the horse's colors and markings.  Every model is hand painted.  Occasionally Breyer will work with a sculptor to create a new mold, as it did for Valegro's portrait model, which was sculpted by Brigitte Eberl.

"We generally don't do new sculptures simply because of the expense.  It's a significant investment for us." said Macejko.  "But if it's a legendary horse like Valegro, who became so dominant in dressage - we had the opportunity to go take some photo and video and have our sculptor there, so she was really able to capture his personality.  We had a lot of input with Carl Hester and the groom (Alan Davis) in helping to provide the little things.

And then they did this...they tossed ni a photo of a model that hadn't been shown before.  He's either a store special or an SR, I don't know.  They haven't said that part yet, but regardless, I NEEEEEED this guy!

<drool>  Hopefully he won't be too difficult to obtain.  Dagnabbit, I wish I was going!!!!!!!  Oh well.

Speaking of trips...there's talk on Blab about Seattle Soiree and the CoronaVirus.  Seattle seems to currently be an epicenter for it with at least 11 documented cases and the first death in the US from it.  The first US documented case was also in Sesattle.  Will Breyer cancel the event?  "They" (the disease experts) say that the coming warmer weather will help eradicate it, but we're talking Seattle here.  Yes, their temperatures do warm up, but not that much and not enough by Mid-May.  It will be interesting to see what happens.  Will they do the right thing and refund the ticket holders?  But everyone is still going to be out of a lot of money.  Breyer will lose deposits they may have paid.  Attendees will lose money on airfare if it's non-refundable.  Hotel costs.  Even if they only postpone the event, both sides will be out of money.  I don't think I would want to be in Breyer's shoes right now.  The virus will not affect my own trip in May.  I'm driving, not flying, and won't really be going anywhere that would require me to be closed inside with a bunch of people.  I can use mobile check-in for my hotel.

Well, until next time...