Unpopular Opinions

I suspected the speckly blue thing was the Classic Decorator, and I was not wrong!

He’s neat. I really like the Classic Morgan mold, but I haven’t found one in a color I like yet. All the original Silver Bays I found had significant masking issues, the Red Bay was a little bland, the Decorator Tie Dye model is too goofy for me, and I am reluctant to buy the whole Spanish Mustang(!) Family just to get the Solid Black guy. But Delft… is a maybe. I just wish he were a tiny bit fancier?

Then there’s the Traditional Decorator Nemea:

Nemea is an obvious adaptation of the very well-received Decorator Marwari from the 2018 BreyerFest auction. And proof that some Test Colors from the BreyerFest Benefit Auction are actually Test Colors!

As the Akhal-Teke mold is longer than a football field, he’s also not a priority for me. If I do get another example of the mold in the near future, I’m still hoping that it’s a nicely-shaded Adamek; I still haven’t found “the one” just yet.

I suppose I should address the brouhaha in the comments that broke out while I was busy binge watching art restoration videos and hand quilting. Since my fingertips are now a bit sore from that effort, I’ll try to keep things short and simple here.

Last year’s BreyerFest was Reeves’s first attempt at a true “hybrid” event, and… it showed. As I’ve said many times before, Reeves is not a large company, and the people who work their often have to fill multiple roles. 

Did they stretch themselves out a little too thin last year? Perhaps; on the other hand, since it was their first attempt at a true hybrid event, and they didn’t know what was going to work, and what wouldn’t. Like the online-only events, they will undoubtedly take the lessons that they learned from the first, and apply them to the second.

It’s a pretty safe assumption that there will be some changes, but the scope of the changes – and whether or not they actually “work” – well, we’re not going to know until we’re back in the thick of it again in July, right? 

(All I know for sure is that more volunteers will be needed, in-person and [probably] online. So if you’re interested, please apply!)

2020 and 2021 were events held under unique and extraordinary circumstances, and it is very, very unlikely that any future BreyerFests will be able to offer the full gamut of Special Runs and other items available at an in-person BreyerFest to online attendees.  

And as others have pointed out, what’s the point of having an in-person event if there is no stuff exclusive to the in-person event?

BreyerFest was originally designed and intended as a live, in-person event: an in-person experience cannot be fully or adequately reproduced online. Reeves’s attempts to duplicate the in-person experience in 2020 – for example, the whole timed ticket fiasco – often ended up causing more heartache than happiness. 

Personally, I think the way forward for them is simply have them be complementary events that happen to share some of the same models (the Celebration Horse, most of the Store Specials) and activities. And have models and activities unique to each experience. 

They’re apparently trying that with some of the Ticket Specials, restricting some of them to in-person participants only. My guess is that they’re also doing this with models that they foresee as being especially popular: they would rather make sure that they have enough of those models for people who made the physical and financial effort to go to Kentucky. 

I would hope that they do offer a little bit more in the way of compensation for online-only guests. As I suggested before, giving them a gloss option on the Store Specials would definitely help. 

But whatever they do, please remember that there are limits to what they can do as a relatively small company. Just a few years ago, the Online Option didn’t even exist: it’s going to be a while before they find the right balance of offerings. 

And remember that there are some people in the hobby – and life, in general – who will literally never be happy with anything, no matter what you do for them or what you offer them. There is usually something else going on under the surface there that no amount of pretty horses can fill. 

Actual Uffington

Not everything that needed to be done is done, but I can’t put off reentry into the “real world” any longer, alas. Allegedly my work schedule will be changing again next week too, which is also complicating things a bit. Bleh.

So anyway, if you’re expecting a follow up from me on anything, expect it some time this week.   

Oh, and for what it’s worth, my exhaustion was simply exhaustion, and nothing else. I am old(ish) and have been operating on four to five hours sleep for the past several months to meet various deadlines, and BreyerFest. I took all the reasonable precautions at BreyerFest, including limiting my shopping time at the hotel and maintaining social distancing when it was feasible. 

I am now, at least for the next month or so, deadline free, so my body is taking advantage of that and trying to get me reasonably caught up on sleep. The only things I have actively planned for this week – aside from catching up on old, unfinished business – is gardening, and figuring out what the heck happened to my sales inventory. 

(Somehow I ended up with three different sales lists?)

Speaking of shopping, here was my first “big purchase” of BreyerFest:

Even though I was focused on Vintage stuff, I wasn’t going to pass up a pretty darn nice Cremello Uffington for less than $100, especially since the cheapest ones on the Internet are still hovering in the $150 range!

Hobbyists are always so concerned that the models they want will get more expensive over time, when that’s generally not the case. Wait long enough, and you’ll eventually find what you want at a price you can afford.

This is also why I’m a little exasperated by people buying Special Runs at a crazy markup right now, when they didn’t even bother selling off the leftovers on Sunday, supposedly because of concerns over the weather. 

There’s still a bunch of stuff to be distributed, people! Let your bank account take a nap too, at least until the leftover sales are officially announced.

(I think I might need a Landler, eventually. Maybe a Rapunzel, too.)

Supposedly some Holographic Uffingtons showed up in few of the Warehouse Finds boxes, so when I managed to snag a box Saturday morning, there was a (very tiny) concern in the back of my head that I’d end up with another. Because that would be just my luck.

Fortunately that was not the case. I would rather take whatever mojo I have left for the year and roll it forward (when is the drawing for the next Exclusive Event, anyway?)

Of Course He Is

To quote myself:

And if I somehow get one of those funky Decos, I’ll also be on the lookout for the “normal” ones. But like I said, I don’t think that’s going to be an issue. (Though it would be pretty hilarious if I got the holographic Uffington, because my luck getting Breyer Double Dilutes is even worse than Glossy Luck. Will they cancel each other out?)

Yes, yes they do:

You should have seen my face when I opened the box and he was literally sitting right on top of the pile, wrapped in a clear plastic bag and very obviously not the Cremello I was expecting. 

Dammit, I got the variation, I muttered to myself. 

Then I started laughing at the ridiculousness of it all. It almost feels intentional, though I know more than likely it isn’t. 

I am grateful that I managed to get the scarcer Uffington right off the bat, but now I’ll have to decide whether to wait until the Leftovers Sale in September and try for another one in actual Cremello or go for something completely different. I’m thinking something different; I’ve never had much luck when it comes to buying duplicates at normal BreyerFests.

I also don’t think these stratospheric prices on everything even the least bit scarce are going to last. I just don’t understand rushing out and buying stuff like this before most people even have their stuff yet. We literally know nothing, except that these variations exist. 

Think about it: out of a run of 1800 pieces, 10 percent would be 180 pieces and 25 percent would be 450 pieces. My guess would be that it is closer to the 25 than the 10, but it’s still early and not everyone has received their shipment yet, obviously.

But numerical quantity is only part of the equation when it comes to calculating value; the bigger determinant is desirability, and Decorators are definitely having their moment right now. 

That, and a sudden influx of people with an unreasonable amount of cash to spend. 

Incidentally, my Ansel is a normal Ansel, and I’m perfectly fine with that. In fact, if he had been a blue one, I’d be posting this from my hospital bed right now: 

He’s a much bigger boy than I thought he’d be, too. I can’t wait to see him in a more standard Morgan color, though (Glossy Dark Bay, anyone?)

My Matte Josie and Best of BreyerFest Stablemates Set also arrived in the same box. All that’s left now are the Stablemate Kaleidoscope and all the miscellaneous swag.  

Decisions, Drawings and Snap Judgments

Money is definitely not the issue: it’s my luck in Breyer drawings – especially the ones involving “exclusive” events – that’s pretty bad, so I’m not getting my hopes up for this BreyerFest VIP Ticket raffle/drawing thing. 

All the VIP package does is guarantee your selections, throws in the Stablemate 4-pack, and adds a swag bag which I am assuming is stuff like a coffee mug and a backpack, anyway. 

And some exclusive online content too, I guess? That part is not a big draw for me, to be honest, because of my experience last year. 

But the “All Access” Ticket that goes on sale after this drawing is basically just the standard BreyerFest ticket with Celebration Horse, the option to buy two Special Runs, and access to all areas/opportunities/sales, save for whatever the “VIP exclusive” content is. 

And you have to buy the Stablemates separately, if you’re lucky enough to snag a set.

Other than the Uffington, (An iridescent Cremello? You know the way to my heart, Reeves!), I’m not going to be upset over not getting anything in particular.

Well, okay, the Best of BreyerFest Stablemates Set, too: my Nottingham needs his Mini Me. But they’ve significantly boosted the piece counts on just about everything, and some smaller piece count items other hobbyists are swooning over (Knossos, the Crystal) aren’t doing diddly for me, I should be good, regardless of my ticket status.

Quick takes on some of the other SR announcements: 

Although I am not likely to buy him, I’m glad the John Henry is getting some BreyerFest love this year. He looks good in Bay Appaloosa!

The new Morgan mold in Blue Roan Frame Overo is intriguing in both concept and execution; I definitely like the mold in that color as opposed to its original Splash Pinto paintjob, which did him no favors.

The artistic inspiration for the Rainbow Pintaloosa Valegro is definitely more Lisa Frank than Jackson Pollock. The Rose Gold Filigree paint job on the 2019 Winter Web Special Avoriaz reminds me more of Pollock’s style: all you would have to do is overlay some black and/or metallic silver splatters on that, and call it a day.

I like to imagine that they totally did do the Valegro as an homage to Lisa Frank, freaking nailed it, and then… doing their due diligence realized it was in their best interest to preemptively change the name. (It’s a long story. Google it yourself if you’ve got a couple hours to spare.)

As far as the Surprise goes, the first thought that popped into my head is that it might be Bobby Jo? Or maybe it’s just me looking at the Spectrum that’s sitting in my office and wondering if that’s too obvious a choice. I’ll consider it when the time comes, whether it’s sooner… or later. 

I’m just not a big fan of Buckskin Pintos, so the Store Special Ashquar Rheverence+ is out, as is the Crystal Sherman Morgan Prisma, because I break nonsense like that. I’m on the fence about the Queen of Hearts/Josie: her base color looks amazing, but I’m a little concerned about what her markings will look like in person.  

And that’s… it, except for the rest of the Stablemates (want anyway), the various bits of swag and plushes (depends, probably not), and the various prize and raffle models (which are not up to me to decide). 

Inexplicable Things

FYI: Both Winx and Crystalline are currently out of stock on the Breyer web site; the Winx because of PR like this:

https://www.horseracingnation.com/news/Winx_is_the_newest_addition_to_the_Breyer_stable_123

The second photo of Winx on the Breyer web site looks very similar to the BreyerFest 2018 Celebration Horse Brass Hat, so I’m more than willing to wait for the luxury of handpicking.

They also dumped two more BreyerFest reveals on us this week, both Appaloosas. First it was the Sunday Raffle Model Fields of Heather, a Nez Perce Horse on the Akhal-Teke/Altynai mold because sure whatever:

Yeah, yeah, beautiful. I’m trying not to get too excited about this one either because aside from the fact that it’s a Raffle Model – and by its very nature, virtually impossible to get – it’s also on a mold I have some apprehensions about.

Mostly by virtue of its length: I’ve already given my heart to the Shagya Arabian mold, and I don’t need another three-foot-long beast competing for shelf space here.

And is it just me, or does this model bear some significant similarities to another Appaloosa release on another dimensionally-challenged mold: namely, the Traditional Black Beauty Sir Wrangler? (More of a coincidence than a callback, I think.)

What I am more excited about is this inexplicable creature: a Buckskin Appaloosa Trakehner? Named Thorn? This is also not a release I would have expected from this theme, but in this case I do not care:

While I’m “old school” and I’d prefer the mold the way it used to be – with the textured coat and the original tail – I’ll still take him. In Gloss, in Matte, and any Decorator surprises they might be throwing in the mix, too. All on the easier to find side, I hope.

(I am also assuming that the actual model will be somewhat less yellow in person, just like last year’s Clydesdale Mare Pepper was.)

With this final reveal of the ticket models, it’s very odd that there’s apparently no true “Decorator” in the BreyerFest mix this year. Makes me wonder if that means… something? Most curious.

The Trakehner mold has only had two other spotted releases, neither one of them an Appaloosa: the #732 Spotted Trakehner in Black Pinto, and the #702395 Kaleidoscope in Red Bay Pinto, both in the 1990s. Otherwise it has been all solids, all the way back to 1979.

And Bay. Mostly Bay.

Aside from my fondness for the mold, he shares a name with another character in another on-again, off-again writing project. While Khalid was my interpretation of the “perfect vampire boyfriend,” Thorn is “your best friend who may – or may not – be an actual dog.”

(A fairy curse may be involved.)

So that settles it: my two definites this year are Hamish (the Standing Black Angus Bull) and Thorn. Everyone else I need to see in person before I make a decision.

The Forgotten Generation

Star Wars tickets were successfully purchased, with a minimum of drama. And why yes, I am super-excited about the SPACE HORSES.

The connection between the model horse community and the science-fiction one is long and well-documented, so I will be very disappointed in you guys (waving hand at entirety of the model horse community) if I don’t see any Orback customs by BreyerFest at the latest. Get to it, everybody!

Anyway.

I only just skimmed my issue of Just About Horses (it arrived yesterday) so I’ll leave that for another time, other than to express the sentiment that I am sure is on the lips – or in the thoughts – of many model horse hobbyists: an injection-molded Akhal-Teke, at last!

No, what I want to discuss today is my annoyance at some of the early 70th Anniversary merchandise, like this Journal here:

(There’s also a blanket and a beach towel.)

Conceptually, these products should appeal to me as both a quilt designer and a Breyer historian. And at first glance, they did.

But then I took a closer look at it, and realized that… this was not terribly well-thought out or well-executed.

I think they started out with the idea of seven different models for each of the seven different decades, but started taking some liberties with it when they realized there weren’t that many horse molds released in the 1950s.

And by the end of it, it looks like they just decided to use whatever silhouettes they had on file.

Not only that, there are a number of historical errors in it. The Family Arabian Stallion probably debuted in 1959; the Family Arabian Mare debuted ca. 1960, not 1958 – that was the Old Mold/Proud Arabian Mare; the Running Mare was probably released in 1962, not 1961; and of course, the Zippo Pine Bar was a 1999 release, not a 2007 one.

(The graphic for Zippo obviously being cribbed from the 30th Anniversary BreyerFest graphic without being properly edited, I presume.)

I am also not thrilled that, like the generation that grew up on them (frantically waves hands) – models from the 1980s were largely ignored. Only four models from that decade were included, but three from the last two years – Bristol, Hamilton and Georg – were?

Not cool, Reeves. 

While it may be true that the 1980s were considered the least artistically successful decade in Breyer History, many of those molds are still in active use today. I’d consider some of them more historically significant – at least, at this moment in time – than newer releases like Latigo or Desatado.

Phar Lap (1985) was used for the first BreyerFest Celebration Horse Dr. Peaches; Buckshot (1985) has appeared as a BreyerFest Raffle Model, Prize Model, and Live Show Benefit Model (Winchester, Pele and Reno, respectively); Roy (1989) was sculpted by the legendary Francis Eustis and recently used as a BreyerFest Celebration Model; and Secretariat (1987) was Chris Hess’s last official sculpt for Breyer and also Secretariat.

So I would have swapped out a few of the 2000/2010 models with a few of those, and maybe included the Fury/Prancer and one of the Nonhorse molds (Boxer or the Brahma Bull) from the 1950s to even things out a bit.

But what do I know, right?

Marwari

I can tell BreyerFest is only days away: the chaos is increasing. I came home from the store yesterday (an emergency craft supply run) and I tripped and fell on the step up the porch. I scraped up my knees pretty bad, but the worse injury was to my dignity: all I’ll say is that I required a change of clothes afterwards.

Before I get to discussing the Marwari, please also allow me to pout a little about this year’s volunteer model. Dang it, she had to go and be all nice and stuff.

I take some small consolation in the fact that the piece count’s now been upped to 150, though I wonder where the extra 15-20 pieces are now going towards. (Hey Reeves, if you have a spare, I certainly won’t turn it down.)

Anyway, the Marwari, who can be seen on the Breyer web site here.

My first reaction - other than, "Ooh, pretty!" - was "Hmm, I see they went with something trendy."

I have nothing against the breed personally; it’s just that I was sort of expecting an Akhal-Teke first, though. (Lonesome Glory makes an okay Akhal-Teke, but the "real thing" has been a long overdue.) But everywhere I look online it feels like everyone seems to be doing Marwaris resins and customs, so I suppose it makes sense.

I have nothing against creating molds of more exotic breeds. Some of my favorite breeds (ahem, Dales Pony) are a bit on the rare side. Creating molds of rare breeds also helps raise awareness of them, and perhaps lead to their preservation and survival.

The only problem with the creation of molds of rarer or more exotic breeds is that it fosters a certain level of unreality in the model horse world.

There’s definitely a strong undercurrent within the hobby that wants to emulate the real horse world as much as possible. However, when you have just as many production molds of a somewhat more common breed - such as a Missouri Fox Trotter - as you do a significantly less common one - like the Marwari - that’s simply not going to be the case.

It’ll be hard to argue that a "model horse" show is just like a "real horse" show, when you will inevitably have an overabundance of Marwaris compared to Missouri Fox Trotters, or even Akhal-Tekes.

A true and accurate representation of the "real horse" world in miniature has never been - and will never become - a reality in this hobby. There will always be more stallions than geldings, and more exotic colors and patterns rather than the more mundane grays, bays and chestnuts. And always more rare and exotic breeds than most normal horse people will ever see in person, or in their lifetimes.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it’d be nice to see a greater acknowledgement of the fact that the hobby is more its own thing than a downsized version of another.

I am curious if there is - or will be - a mold change out for the ears? With the ears that the mold has, it’ll be hard to sell it as anything other than a Marwari, or the closely related Kathiawari. Marwaris come in just about every conceivable color, it’s true, but switching out the ears with something more standard might make the mold a little more versatile in the long run.