The Odd Dots

As I was examining my four models in the Appaloosa Performance Horse color, I noticed that Breyer had been very faithful in reproducing the original color. But there was one big difference: the placement of the two spots that can be found on the original Appaloosa Performance Horse's back.

Look at how they are located at the base of the tail and on the withers in the original color (far left) but have been placed closer together on the three newer pieces.

I wondered if it was just my piece that had such an unusual placement, or if all the Appaloosa Performance Horsess were painted in such an odd way. A search online turned up a some variations. (All photos from the public domain.)

I found four examples of the spot placement. The first is very similar to the painted spots on mine.

 This second one's tail spot is a little further forward while the withers mark is set back away from the withers and mane somewhat.

 This one clearly has both spots closer together towards the middle of the back.

As does this one. (The yellow spots are caused by mildew, a condition that occasionally happens to some of Breyer's paint jobs.)

Just in this small sampling of photos, I see two variations emerging - a by-the-tail/withers placement and then one with the spots closer together and more toward the middle of the back. It wouldn't surprise me if there were one-spot and no-spot variations, too.

Some of the fun of Breyer collecting is looking for variations like this. I plan to keep my eyes open and take a closer look at any Appaloosa Performance Horses that I run across, just to see how those two big spots are placed.