The Last of the Closet Horses

 At least, I think it's the last of them all!

I don't collect Classic/Freedom scale models, but I do have a bit of a conga of the Lippizaner.

There are eleven in my collection, including two unicorns (yep, you read that right!) and three Pegasi. I love the artwork on this box.

At one point in time, I was trying to purchase all of Breyer's large porcelains regardless of whether or not I liked them. I don't care for this piece and it has never been displayed. I will probably sell it in the near future.

This is a very sentimental piece for me. My father's name is Jack and because he owned an apple orchard, many people (including his grandchildren and great grandchildren) called him Apple Jack. 

I kept the model in the box because Apple Jack is the name of the model and on the box. (It's also an alcoholic drink made from apple cider as well as a popular breakfast cereal.) I look at this piece, think of my Dad, and smile.

My one and only Christmas Horse. Bought at an after-Christmas sale and left in the box to keep it clean. 

Bought as an investment piece and with plans to sell it in the future, this Esprit is from the 2010 World Equestrian Games. 

This next model always makes me sigh and feel very sad whenever I pull it out. Royal Kaliber competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens where he won two medals. (Gold in Team Show Jumping and Silver in Individual Show Jumping.)

He was ridden by Chris Kappler whose cousin happened to be a student in my classroom during the 2004 Olympics. What a thrill it was to follow Royal Kaliber's career with the family during that time, and how painful when he unexpectedly died of colic. Nearly 20 years after his death, I still cannot bear to put the model out on my shelves.

An investment piece plus it was on sale. This model most likely will be for sale in the near future. I am no longer interested in investing for future profit; now I simply collect what appeals to me.

Another model whose box has terrific artwork. Most of these models were the pretty bay shown on the box, but a few boxes contained a gold decorator.

I was hoping to get the gold one (only 50 were produced), but I knew that my chances were extremely low that that would happen. I got very lucky, and it still makes me happy to look at this piece.

Also in the boxes was this Breyer parade saddle. I have a lot of Breyer blankets, but only this one piece of tack. While not nearly as accurate, in scale, and well made as that which our hobby tack makers produce, it still makes me happy. No regrets on this purchase!

When I bought this, I was setting up seasonal shelf dioramas with Little Lynn and Circus Girl and planned to use this camping set for a summer display. It's never been removed from its box but I still may get around to it some day.

I have two Breyer tack trunks, one out of its box and used in shelf dioramas and then this one which is still in box. Another piece I might sell, but then again I may keep it and use it as a small jewelry box.

We have more family coming into town later today and so blog posts may be erratic for a day or two. My office will be housing pony pals and while I do have a laptop, I still cannot access my blog draft pages on it. I'll try to write while they are here (through Sunday) but no guarantees!

Mares in Black Spooktacular Show

The resurgence of photo showing during the pandemic has been fun and has allowed me to interact with hobby friends without leaving home. I am entering three or four shows a month, and enjoy adding my models to their classes and then waiting for the judges to announce the placings for each class.

The Mares in Black held a photo show with a lot of creative classes - Stock Market, Feathers, Old But Still LIT, Wildin' Out... The possibilities were endless! And needless to say, hobbyists had a fun time creating entries for those classes.

I loved watching the classes load and seeing all the ideas that hobbyists had for these classes. There were so many entries and such creativity that I did not expect to win anything but that was okay - I was having fun.

Yesterday I got a notice that Jacki Rossi had commented on one of my photos. My first thought was that they were stewarding the show and that I needed to move a model into a different class.

I did not expect to see that I'd won the Just Dance - Specialist class with my Flamingo Pond entry with Mr. Nedz and Circus Girl Lynn, the doll Anne Field made me! 

Two more placings rolled in during the afternoon. Apple Jack (my Dad's nickname) placed fourth in the Working class.

And Windsong Sherif won 6th place in Baybees.

The judging continues and is not yet over. Class winners will be announced on a special Mares in Black Halloween Live Stream Party. I've got plans to trick or treat with a couple of Cowpokes and Pony Pals that day, but maybe the Mares will record it and I will still be able to catch it.

Thank you, Mares in Black, for hosting such a fun show. And congratulations to all the other winners and entrants. 

Today is the last day to enter to win an embroidered blanket for your model. Comment to enter!