The most anticipated model horse event of the season, BreyerFest 2002, has started releasing teaser tidbits on the Breyer website ... this year's model is a new mold sculpted by one of the hobby's most talented artists, Linda York.  It is a Peruvian Paso modeled after the real RSV Inolvidable who is a beautiful dark bay stallion.  Who else will you see?  Another SR set after real horses "Cupid and Arrow" (from the Breyer site:  "The amazing story of Cupid, a special horse with a perfect white heart on her forehead, purchased at auction on Valentine's Day 1999. Three weeks before Valentine's Day 2000, Cupid delivered a magical colt with a perfect white arrow on his back").  And remeber Sam I Am?  The legendary Breyer SR who sold with a 1 millionth of a share to the real horse will also be on hand at BreyerFest 2002!  Other noted SRs (from the Breyer Store tent) that have been announced included "Choc" a richly shaded buffalo designed by Tom Bainbridge and limited to 850 pieces, "High Sierra" a chestnut pinto Indian Pony limited to 1,600 pieces, "Ahote!" rearing silver mold in black and white pinto with extensive war paint limited to 1,600 pieces and "Kahana and Bandit" a grulla-colored cougar from the Wal-Mart SR Mustang series and a black howling wolf from the Indian set.  The Breyer Store will be open Friday & Saturday, July 26 & 27, 9:30AM-5PM and Sunday, July 28, 9:30AM-3PM - remember you get a ticket to shop at a specific time with your purchase of a dinner ticket/model.

This Spring, Wal-Mart added a few more SR Mustang sets to their offerings ... included are "Alano and Mateo" (Palomino Mesteno & black grazing Sombra), and "Paloma and Naldo" the dapple grey mare with blood bay foal set.

Recently on Ebay, some bisque copies of Breyer models appeared and sold for $13.50 - $17.00.  Information immediately surfaced on the Haynet to claim these molds were released by the Trenton Mold Company to Ceramic dealers to purchase and make greenware casts from. They are identical to several Breyer models with some large and rediculously unrealistic foiliage about their legs to make for more stable pieces to fire and/or stand.  They included the Black Stallion, the Stock Horse Stallion,  Justin Morgan, the Clydesdale stallion, and Misty and Stormy(as separate molds, and smooth coated).
The molds are reported to be discontinued and can no longer be ordered, but check with local ceramic companies who purchased the molds before they were discontinued and are still able to make casts from them.
 

The Jamboree SRs have been announced!  The theme for this year's gathering is "A Night at the Races" and will include "Debonair," the Lonesome Glory mold in dapple grey ($42 includes dinner ticket), as well as "Enduring Freedom," the new Stone Horses stock foal in Palomino Over ($36), and a Hartland SR as well which is "Jammer Time," the polo pony mold in buckskin pinto ($36).  If you are unable to attend the event and want to beat the secondary market, there are several hobbyists who annually offer pick-up services for a small fee (usually $10 - $15 which includes shipping).  Keep your eyes peeled on the haynet and model-exchange or check your latest hobby magazine for hobbyists who offer this service (for BreyerFest too!).
 

STONE NEWS
It's a good idea to visit the Stone site regularly as their web master updates the site with the latest info at least once a month.  You never know what you're going to see there!  There are a few 108 SRs left over from Winter that you can buy online direct from the factory.  They include:  My Sacred Stetson (b&w pinto long/long ISH - from Blue Ridge Live?),

The April 2002 issue of Horse Illustrated featured a Stone special run model called "Little Miss Triger" done on the western pony mold (Page 153) - limited to 500 pieces and sponsored by Century Trails.  For more info call (320) 766-4256 or email:   cen@rea-alp.com 

The Hobby Horse News has a new SR for subscriber only - "Keepsake," which is on the new Stone stock horse foal and will be painted a companion color to their previous SR "Legacy" (a blanket appy ISH). Orders are currently being taken.  Only 125 glossed models, 125 matte models and 125 sets will be available. The first half the run scheduled for shipping mid June. Second half the run is scheduled for mid July.  Cost of the model will be $45 plus $6.50 shipping or $95 ppd. for one each (glossy and matte).
 

RESIN NEWS

One of the hobby's newest resin artist's is making a big splash with several "exotic" offerings ... I mentioned her soon-to-cast Poitou donkey jennet "Isabeau" in the last issue.  She has 3 more long ear and exotic models in progress as well which include a Quagga and lying and rolling mule foals.  For pics of the sculptures in progress, head here ...

Horsin' Around also has a new donkey resin offering, a Jenny to be specific sculpted by Jamie Coughlin from the Breyer Classic Mustang stallion.   She is available unpainted in white resin as a limited edition of 50 pieces.  Go here for more info:   http://www.horsingaround.com/acatalog/Catalog_Classic_10.html

Sissie Merrill of Happy Trails Collectables has announced another long ear resin on the hobby scene - "Jake" is a traditional size (stock-type) riding Mule.  This is a new
soon-to-be-released resin by Terry Newberry of Diamond T Tack. Check out his pics and ordering info at their website:  http://www.happytrails.bizland.com/  He will be priced at $160 for an unpainted body and will be cast by Resins by Randy.  For more information:  HAPPY TRAILS COLLECTABLES, Gary and Sissie Merrill, 2640 Dunmore Circle, O'Fallon, MO 63366 ... (636) 441-8102
 

OTHER NEWS
 Don't forget to head back to Spirit Wood Studios:  http://www.spiritwoodsstudios.com ... you can visit the site for weekly updates which already include a plethera of reference photos (under "About Me", "Trip to California" and click on the various San Diego zoo and Wild Animal Park pages for now - and check out a decent Przewalski article with photos under photography - then equines - then Przewalski).  Some other rare equines including Poitou Donkeys, Kiang's and the world's rarest equine, the Somali Wild Ass will be added soon!  In the coming weeks, I will be adding more reference links, essays and even more reference pics including LIVE albino-colored zebras! Lots and lots of zebra photos!!

Micro Mini Fans, check out the latest offerings from hobby artist Mandi Hinkman who has 3 micro-scale resins currently available painted and unpainted.  They feature a jumping warmblood, cantering warmblood and a drafter.  For more info: http://www.anomalis.com/mandi/mhaviator.html

In case you hadn't heard, this is the Chinese Year of the Horse (chinese zodiacs are annual and feature animals - but you knew that!), and Canada has a stamp to commemorate:
http://www.canadapost.ca/personal/collecting/bin/images/horse_main.jpg

Ever wonder what scale your Breyer model is?

Traditional 1:10 (Small Trad are 1:11 ex. Sham, and Stones are closer to 1:9)
Classic     1:12
Little Bit  1:20
Stablemates 1:30

June 15, 2002 is the deadline for advertising submissions for the 2002 Special Edition of the Hobby Horse News.  Tina Ferro announced approximately 3000 - 3500 will be given away at BreyerFest and other like model events around the country and throughout the year.  This year Business Card ad space will be available for the first time for only $15.  For more information, visit the Hobby Horse News Website at: www.hobbyhorsenews.com  or check the April/May issue of THHN!

Are you into online showing?  If you are, IMEHA has certainly got a show for you!  IMEHA has recently added a number of specialty shows to their online circuit including Longear and Exotics only, Fantasty/Mascot, Cattle, Dogs, Cats, Farm Animals and Wild Animals - and of course 8 other equine divisions!  Visit here for more info:  http://www.imeha.org and if you need help, e-mail Cynthia Jameson who will walk you through the process - she even scans photos for free and helps you upload and enter!