Breyer Horse Customizing: Choosing a Customizer

With all of the wonderful artists out there, we all would love to add a custom Breyer Horse to our collection at one point or another. Even if you are an experienced customizer yourself, its important to seek out an artist that will make your dreams come true!

There are many things to consider when choosing an artist. Many artists will take on custom commission orders; this can be a positive because you can pick and choose every little detail. This can also have a few negatives including taking a while in some cases to be completed as well as having to consider prepping. Prepping is the process of sanding, seam removal and divot filling, as well as priming the model. Some artists will do this themselves, and some even include it in their prices of customizing. Others will require you to find a prepper on your own. Purchasing a completed model has quite a few positives and negatives too. On the positive, you’ll receive your model right away, and not have to worry about finding a prepper or shipping the model back and forth.

Whichever you choose, you’ll need to know where to start. Finding an artist can be an easy task, but finding the right one for you can be a bit more difficult. Ethics is important; you’ll want to ask around with friends and other hobbyists that you know and see what artists they may have worked with. You can also do some internet searches to see what artists are available. One of the best way to find them is through live shows. Check out the custom tables for horses that you like. Some shows, including the Golden Oak Stables Shows, have Amateur Owner classes. These are classes specifically for customizers who are up and coming to show themselves. Classes like this can help you see artists that not only are up and coming, but in most cases local!

Lastly, before you send off your horse to someone, do an internet search to check out their name. This hobby is filled with a vast majority of wonderfully ethical people, but there are always a few bad eggs. Model Horse Hobby Reference is a email list that reports only on model horse hobby dealings. This is the best place to look for a reference on your artist. It is updated often and has thousands of testimonials.

However you choose to look for an artist, be sure to do your homework! When you have, you have nothing more to worry about than waiting for the horse of your dreams to show up!

~Stacy

Email Stacy: Stacy@GoldenOakStables.com

Breast Cancer Awareness: Breyer Horses Pink Ribbon Horse

This year, Breyer teams up for a wonderful cause that touches the lives of many people every day: breast cancer. 2010 marks the first year that Breyer is using its presence in the horse hobby to create awareness and raise money to support Breast Cancer research.

Arriving this week at Golden Oak Stables is the fanciful and beautiful Pink Ribbon Horse that commemorates the struggle millions have with this disease. Breast Cancer is the second most common non-skin cancer in women, affecting nearly 11% 0f all cancer cases in women. However, this is not just a female disease; it effects males as well although it is nearly 100 times more common in females. In recent years advances in research has helped this disease have a lower mortality rate, although it still takes nearly half a million people a year accounting for 7% of all cancer deaths and 1% of all deaths total. This difficult disease that effects not only those afflicted but also the families, has made leaps and  bounds in learning and treatment but the need is still there for advancement; that’s where Breyer comes in!

Breyer’s Pink Ribbon Horse is an amazing piece of the artistry that Breyer encompasses. It is the first regular run that is produced in an amazing clear plastic! This amazing piece is done on the feisty and romantic Breyer Andalusian that is full of strength and energy. The clear pink plastic paints the background for the the elegant pink ribbons that dance all over the horse. The flowing mane and tail flow thick and fully that create extensions of the horse’s body.

In the past Breyer has produced clear models. Up until about five years ago these were only test runs, and then a few limited special runs were produced in this elegant manner, but this model marks an amazing bond between a special model and an important cause that deserves far more attention than it receives. It is often difficult to remember how many people are affected by these tragic diseases. Breyer has created a model that encompasses not only the spirit of the horse, but the spirit of the fight against this disease, one that needs to be won, at all costs! What a better reason to add this fantastic horse to your collection?

~Stacy

Email Stacy: Stacy@GoldenOakStables.com

Small Talk: Breyer Horses Stablemate Sets for 2010

I love Stablemates; there are just so many endearing qualities about them. First of all, they’re small, which makes them easy to collect for space reasons. Their size also makes them intriguing with their detail. Being just around 3 inches tall and packed with the same details that many traditional Breyers have makes them just like potato chips for most collectors, you just can’t have one!

2010 brought a huge new line of products from Golden Oak Stables to Breyer collectors, and included in those are more Stablemates! This year brings the new FEI Stablemates which includes six new molds and eight new horses all representing the eight disciplines of the World Equestrian games. This year is also bringing new sets to collectors hands!

New for this year  is an English Riding Set that is full of authentic accessories for either display or play. The set is just full of accessories that are just waiting for you to create your own English performance dream!  The set includes four jumps that can be mixed and matched to create that perfect show jumping or schooling course as well as a horse, rider, saddle and bridle and a blanket for after the show! All of the accessories are accented in a fancy and bright hot pink and lime green!

Fun and cute, the Stablemates Horse Play Set has two adorable and spunky horses that look like they could gallop right off the shelf! The first is a palomino frolicking foal that is as adorable as it is playful. Also included in the set is a beautiful rearing Appaloosa in a  fancy bay appaloosa. Included with these two are accessories to make your own paddock and adventures.

The adorable Pony Care Play Set rounds out the three new gift sets for this year. This set includes a cute as can be dapple gray pony as well as a red roan pony just waiting to make their way into your collection. The two ponies are accompanied by care supplies, in scale, to “take care” of your Stablemate herd.

These adorable, authentic and awesome sets are ready to make their way into your homes! Even if you don’t collect Stablemates, you’ll find yourself falling in love with these adorable bits of sculpture! What better time than now?

~Stacy

Email Stacy: Stacy@GoldenOakStables.com

Breyer Horse Showing: What is “Live Show Quality” ?

LSQ, and NANed  may seem like a  foreign and confusing language to many collectors even if you’ve been in the hobby for a long time, because determining the quality of models is subjective. One person’s opinion can vary immensely from another, but there are some things to look for when choosing to describe your own models or when purchasing second hand.

LSQ is short for Live Show Quality; that’s the easy part. The difficult part comes when we begin to decide what that means to each of us. Many beginning collectors feel this term is a fail proof indicator of the quality and show-ability of a model, whether it is a custom or an original finish, when in all reality, the term really doesn’t have much to do with how it will do on any given day.

When we think of the term “Live Show Quality”, in its simplest terms it means that the person selling the model feels that its a nice enough model, whether in condition or quality, to be taken to a live show. This is where the water gets muddied. One person’s “mint” is another person’s customizing quality. Many times, the difference in a class between shows varies hugely, because placing is always dependent on what else is on the table. At the Golden Oak Stables‘ shows, I’ve seen amazing models that have won big at one show and then at the next not done so well, because the competition is different and there were better models than it that particular day. NANed can sometimes be a little bit of a better indicator of the quality of the model. If a model has quite a few NAN cards, you can assume that it is one of the better examples of that model. NAN cards are admission cards for the North American Nationals Show which are awarded to first and second place horses in NAN accredited shows. These are normally held with high esteem.

When purchasing models it’s more important to consider condition, not a term. Ask about specific flaws, ask where rubs are, shiny marks and any mold flaws. Ask about the showing history of a horse; they might be a consistent placer if the seller shows quite a bit. Because judging is very subjective, there are cases where rubs don’t matter as much as the quality of the model. Many judges will look over small flaws in an exceptional horse.

Multi Champion and NANed Stablemate Morgan Stallion. Even with rubs he continues to show well because of his age, rarity and exceptional markings.

Multi NANed Elegance Dressage Horse. Has small factory flaws but still shows exceptionally well.

LSQ is a subjective term and it shouldn’t be taken as the end all-know all of quality. Ask for good, high quality photos and ask questions about the model. Most importantly, buy what you love, and if it doesn’t win a ribbon, who cares? Because you love it!

~Stacy

Email Stacy: Stacy@GoldenOakStables.com

Breyer Horse Treasure Hunt 2010, Now With More Treasure!

We’ve already talked about the amazing Treasure Hunt for 2010, a beautiful set of three draft horses that represent three of the four seasons, and the fourth horse, representing winter, is a gift from Breyer when you purchase the set of three. Well, there’s  been an exciting twist in the hunt this year!

The beginning of the year always marks the birth of new Breyers and 2010’s  have been rolling in steadily and last week welcomed the 2010 Treasure Hunt drafters! The surprise here is that some of the drafters were glossy! Glossy models have gained popularity because of their sometimes porcelain type appearance as well as their durability. Glossy models have an extra layer of protection to keep them from getting damaged whether running around the carpet herd or being shown in performance.

The matte models are just as beautiful as the glossy, but for those who collect drafters it will be a fun hunt to say the least! Golden Oak Stables currently has all of the matte models available as well as the glossy bay, so don’t wait! Grab your’s while you can!

The last, but certainly not least, twist in this hunt is the redemption model, Winter. To receive Winter you have to first find all three of the seasons and send your UPC’s to Breyer along with the redemption form. We have no idea what Winter might look like, but in years past Breyer has done variations on the redemption models. This year there were at least 10 different “Fun Foals” that were available and the year prior there were at least 4 different “Herd Stallions”. There are no promises that they will do the same thing this year, but if the redemption form is any indicator, it may be the case! The terms state that each house hold is limited to four redemption, we can only hope for four different “Winters”!

We will not know *ANYTHING* about Winter until collectors start receiving them from Breyer; you could just sit tight until then, but why not enjoy the Treasure Hunt for yourself? Happy Hunting!

~Stacy

Email Stacy: Stacy@GoldenOakStables.com

Breyerfest 2010: A Red Carpet Affair!

The new year is a reminder of many things for many people, but one of the things I look forward to each year is the release of Breyerfest information in January! This year marks the 21st anniversary for Breyerfest and Breyer is rolling out the red carpet with the theme “Lights, Camera, Action”. Not surprisingly Breyer has pulled out all the stops to bring a true star to Breyerfest!

This year’s guest horse is the World Grand Champion Standardbred Roadster, Old Glory. Old Glory is the prized champion owned by the famous William and Elizabeth Shatner. He has been the winner of 12 World Championship wins since 2002 and is  a great representation of the Standardbred Roadster type, with his high-stepping knee action, amazing work ethic and a quick speed at the trot. All Glory is unlike many celebrity horses because he is actually shown by his owners! He has won his championships under the saddle when ridden by Elizabeth and “to bike” with William! What’s best of all is that every three day ticket holder will receive a traditional scale model of “Old Glory”!

Each Breyerfest also brings a myriad of workshops, events and shows, and this year is no exception. Dozens of workshops are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, including customizing  classes, drawing, jewelry making and tack making! These events are hands on and tend to fill up quickly. Seminars are free and open to anyone holding a three day ticket. Topics include Showing, Horses in Hollywood, Repairing Models and even a special seminar about a wild horse sanctuary!

Last, but certainly not least are the model horse shows! Not only does this year host the North American Nationals the week prior to Breyerfest, but Breyerfest also hosts a Children’s Show, a Youth Show and an Open Show. The competition is often tough, but the prizes are amazing!

Stay tuned to Stable News for information, Golden Oak Stables will keep you in the know and help you get prepared, and even if you can’t get to Breyerfest, Golden Oak Stables has events planned all year, so you don’t have to miss out!

~Stacy

Email Stacy: Stacy@GoldenOakStables.com

Small Talk: Breyer Horses FEI Stablemate Set

Eight new horses, with six of them being new molds? All of them small enough and affordable enough that just about anyone can fit them into their collection? That is the joy of Stablemates!

Breyer is the “Official Model Horse” of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010. These games bring together the most amazing horses and riders from all around the world, and in most cases, these games are held with more prestige than the Olympics! This year’s games are especially important because they will be held in the States for the first time ever! This marks a huge milestone for United States equestrian sports, proving that we can compete with the best of the best, and even better, host the best of the best!

Breyer’s FEI line includes models of all scales but some of the most interesting and fun are the eight new Stablemates depicting the eight different disciplines of the games. These include Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing, Endurance, Para-Dressage, Reining, Driving and Vaulting.

Dressage, Show Jumping and Eventing make up what most of us are familiar with when it comes to equestrian sports, three day eventing. These events are also what we see in the Olympics every four years. Endurance is a fascinating event pitting man against nature in rides that last anywhere from 50 to 150 miles where the true “endurance” of the horse is tested. You often see Arabians in this discipline because of their long history of living in the deserts. This also gives the Middle Eastern teams an advantage over the competition making them tough to beat!  Para-Dressage is a specialized dressage event for those with disabilities allowing them to compete at the highest level of competition. Reining is the only western event in the games and shows the true abilities of the horse asking the horse to perform in a series of patterns.  Driving in the WEG is combined driving where a team of horses are asked to navigate through a course with elements similar to a cross country course. Truly a difficult thing to ask of not only one horse, but several, while attached to a carriage! Last but not least, Vaulting is simplest put as gymnastics on horse back. Horse breeds that are used for this sport include horses that are largely built such as draft horses and warmbloods.

Any of these events are amazing on their own, but together they are truly a showcase of the amazing power of the horse! Visit Golden Oak Stables today for your FEI Models and add this set to your collection so you too can enjoy all that equines have to offer us, as horse lovers!

~Stacy

Email Stacy: Stacy@GoldenOakStables.com

Real Life Breyer Horses: Peruvian Paso

The beauty and spirit of South America might not be easy for you to experience first hand, but the amazing Peruvian Paso horse will give you a taste of the amazing culture of Peru!

The Peruvian Paso horse is a gaited breed that is known for its fancy gait and its smooth ride. The breed was formed in the 1500’s during the Spanish Conquest finding its roots in horses from Spain, Jamaica and Panama, as well as native horses in South America. The horses were primarily used on plantations in Peru for transportation. During the formation of the breed the most important characteristics for the breed was the gait and strength.

Throughout the years the gait was preserved and the Peruvian Paso has grown to become a loved national past time gaining popularity both in Peru and all over the world. The championship show in Lima, Peru is even a national event! There are currently 25,000 Peruvian Paso’s in the world and have become quite popular for their temperament and their gait all over the world.

The Peruvian Paso is a small horse ranging from 14.1 hands to 15.2 hands high; they have a deep chest and a large, significant neck and they can come in just about any variety of solid colors making them a rainbow in both the real and model horse world. One of the most significant characteristic of the Peruvian Paso is the outward swinging action of the front leg while gaiting. This is called Termino and is completely normal! It looks a bit odd when you see it for the first time, but it is a natural movement that does not hurt the horse in any way.

The first half of 2010 has brought a new Peruvian Paso into the Breyer line, Manco Capac. Manco Capac is available right now from Golden Oak Stables and is the latest installment in the Collectors Choice model. These limited models are collector chosen, representing some of the most realistic horses in the line, and are limited for only half a year.

Its been nearly 6 years since we’ve gotten a new Peruvian Paso, so this guy is bound to be a fan favorite. Don’t wait to add him to your collection today!

~Stacy

Email Stacy: Stacy@GoldenOakStables.com

Breyer Horses 4 Seasons Treasure Hunt!

Now this is my kind of treasure hunt! Since 2006 Breyer has brought us a fun and challenging series dubbed the “Treasure Hunt”. These events run for one calendar year and the goal is to collect certain horses, but the catch is, there is typically one of the horses that is harder to find! Once you’ve found all of the horses, you have the opportunity to send in your UPCs to Breyer and they’ll send you a special model! But Golden Oak Stables has you covered! You can pre-order your 2010 Treasure Hunt set and not have to worry about finding them!

The 2010 Treasure Hunt is a play on the four seasons, where you collect three of the seasons, Spring, Summer and Fall and you’ll receive Winter in return! This year features the popular Wintersong mold which is a feathery and fanciful draft horse. He was first sculpted and released as a porcelain nearly 10 years ago as Othello, a gypsy horse and Mortiz, a Noriker. In 2007 Breyer decided to create that mold in a plastic version as the 2007 Holiday Horse, and thus the Wintersong mold. Wintersong has been one of the most popular molds that has ever been released gaining fans quickly.

The three colors featured on this mold for 2010 are Bay, Chestnut and Grey Pinto! These are all completely new colors for this mold and all of them look just smashing! The bay is bound to be popular; he could easily take the place of a Clydesdale in your stable, as well as a myriad of other draft breeds. The chestnut could be virtually any mix of breeds you can think of – just remember that he has to carry some Clydesdale or Shire in him for that feathering on his legs! The grey pinto will be a ton of fun to pick a breed for; for me, the most obvious choice would be a North American Spotted Draft, which is a catch-all for all spotted draft horses. You might choose to get more creative though with your mixes. You may even be able to show him as a Gypsy Vanner with the right photograph!

We won’t know what Winter looks like until he arrives at your door! So don’t wait, this is bound to be a Treasure Hunt you won’t want to miss out on!

~Stacy

Email Stacy: Stacy@GoldenOakStables.com

Mark Your Calendars! Golden Oak Stables’ 2010 Breyer Horse Events!

Its here! 2010 is here and I’m proud to announce the 2010 Golden Oak Stables event schedule. If you are in the New England area you’ll want to be at the biggest and best events of the year!

Golden Oak Stables’ Saddle Up For Spring- All Novice: March 27th 2010

Golden Oak Stables’ Summer Break Live- All Novice: June 26th 2010

Golden Oak Stables’ Workshop Day: August 21st 2010

Golden Oak Stables’ New England Fall Live- Open NAN Pending: October 23rd 2010

Our first show of the year is an all Novice/Youth show which welcomes Youths under the age of 18 and Novices of all ages. As in our previous novice shows, its a full class list with tons of divisions and classes; more than you’ll find at any other novice show out there! There’s classes for your Original Finish Breyers, Performance, Custom and Fun classes. There’s even special classes for customs that you do with yourself!

June will welcome another Novice/Youth show of the same format to welcome in summer. In August we’ll hold an event like no other, a workshop day where hobbyists can come to learn about a variety of different techniques to use with their models.

October 23rd 2010 is Golden Oak Stables’ second annual New England Fall Live. This nationals qualifying show is open to all showers and is the finale of the year! The competition is stiff, but the rewards are worth it! Last year we had hundreds of NAN (Nationals) cards and thousands of ribbons all looking for a new home!

No matter what your experience or your involvement in the hobby, there’s an event for you this year. Don’t be shy! Come out, meet some of your fellow hobbyists and have a great time with Golden Oak Stables!

Click Here for Registration Info and More

Happy New Year!

~Stacy

Email Stacy: Stacy@GoldenOakStables.com