The Hobby is BUSY Right Now!

There is a LOT going on in the model horse hobby right now. First, it's time to register for NaMoPaiMo.

Think you can't paint? Have no artistic bent? Those were my own thoughts for years until I took my students' advice and gave it a try.

I painted Sultanna in 2020,

and Hokey in 2021.

I even received a NaMoPaiMo medallion for my efforts!

Don't let doubts about your artistic capabilities keep you from participating. NaMoPaiMo is not about being the best. It's about enjoying the process, learning, making new friends, helping others, and so much more. Give it a try!

BreyerMidwest is taking place this weekend in Topeka, Kansas.

When the dates and location were announced months ago, there were some raised eyebrows and concerns voiced by people about having such an event in the middle of winter in the Midwest.

Those concerns were justified. Fortunately, the heavy snow part of the storm is coming in after people arrived. It will be heading home when the event finishes that will be problematic. (If you're there, have fun and safe travels!)

As always, BreyerMidwest is where two of the three ambassador (formerly volunteer) models are introduced.

Vegvisir on the Georg mold! Palomino and sooty buckskin are being handed out at the event, and the third color will be introduced at BreyerFest. (Photo from Facebook.)

Georg is a very popular mold and so I think prices for him on the secondary market will be very high. 

Breyer has introduced the first Exotic Destinations Series model of 2026.

Lisboa (Portuguese for Lisbon), a Lusitano stallion in glossy dapple bay. 600 pieces are being made and entries close 1/25 at 11:59 PM Eastern.

And, Breyer has a sweepstakes going on, too!

Enter by January 28, 11:59 PM to win Cupid, the 2026 Valentine plushie. Six winners will receive him for free.

I haven't covered any of the releases for BreyerFest yet, but that will have to wait for another blog post. In the meantime, here's a "before the storm" photo from the barn.

Eazy, Penny, and Bogo at the hay racks. Eat up, ponies! The snow is coming!

Stay warm and stay safe, all!

Want a Worth It?

A box from Breyer arrived while I was traveling for the wedding. Inside were two Volunteer models.

This year's model comes in three colors, with 133 of each color being made.

I ended up with the same color on both, but I don't mind.

I love the Bluegrass Bandit mold and while I am not a big pinto lover, I do think she looks lovely in this color.

My plan is to keep one and trade or sell the other.

Both have minor flaws that can be easily touched up.

Although some of those "flaws" actually brushed off after I took these pictures and were simply dust or something that they brought with them from Breyer.

Both pieces have a tiny white spot in about the same place on their backs that is not dust. Again, an easy fix.

I'd really like to get my extra into the hands of someone who hasn't had the opportunity to be a Volunteer or Ambassador for Breyer, someone who loves this mold and plans to keep it in their collection rather than sell it. Maybe even someone who cannot afford to buy a Volunteer/Ambassador model at the prices they generally go for and needs a price break. 

I was able to do that with my other extras from 2022 and 2023, and the folks who got those models were over the moon to have them. I felt really good knowing that my extras were in the hands of people who would not have gotten one otherwise and would be keeping them on their shelves.

So, if that description fits you, shoot me an email and make an offer. PayPal Goods & Services is how you would need to pay. (Sorry, no time payments.) 

My email is horsiemama8@gmail.com if you are interested.

Three Weeks to BreyerFest!

Yesterday my BreyerFest  Ambassador/Volunteer shirt arrived. Even though I am doing virtual BreyerFest, I still received one because I am teaching a virtual seminar.

I was surprised at the color. My others are red which makes sense - red stands out well in crowds making the volunteers easier to be seen. I sent Kat McDermott a thank you note and mentioned how much I liked the color. She replied that they felt that this color complemented the BreyerFest 2024 logo better than red. I agree - it looks terrific.

Breyer Auction News

Last year there were a lot of serious problems with the Saturday night auction. It seems as though there had been some shill bidding going on. Breyer lost $42,500 that was intended for charities as a result. Go here to see the winning bids and then what some raffle models actually ended up being sold for. It's sad, it's aggravating, and it's shameful.

For 2024, Breyer has tightened the rules on bidding. Online bidders can still bid, but everyone, online or in person, must register and include identification, including a photo ID. Here is a cut and paste from the BreyerFest blog of some of the precautions being taken this year to prevent a repeat of last year's issues:

ALL bidders, whether bidding in-person or online, will need to register through BidSpirit. When registering, bidders must fill out all required contact information and include a valid photo ID and credit card number. When you register your card, you will get a text or phone call from Stripe confirming you added your card. You must type in the two-step authentication code to continue. Once registered you will be able to preview the lots online before the auction; however, no pre-bids will be accepted. All bidding must be done live during the Live Auction.

Onsite winners will be required to present payment to the Breyer staff onsite immediately after the lot has been announced “SOLD”. If the winner of a lot is online, the credit card associated with the bidder’s profile will be charged immediately after the lot is announced “SOLD” for the full amount of the lot, including sales tax. Split payments will not be allowed, so please plan accordingly when registering your card. If a card is declined and the bidder cannot be reached within the allotted amount of time to provide an alternate card, the transaction will be voided, and the lot will restart and be resold at the end of the auction - the lot will not automatically go to the next highest bidder. If a card declines that bidder will not be able to continue to bid on future lots.

Some folks are not happy about this and have expressed concerns about the ID process. Others think that online bidders should be excluded. One hobbyist even wrote on social media that if people "couldn't be bothered" to get there in person, then they should not be able to bid.  (I have no words on that comment!) Then again, there are those who are happy that there will be less opportunity for cheating or shill bidding. Count me in as one who is glad that online bidding is allowed and that the rules have been tightened.

Breyer Auction Horses

Breyer also just released the first four auction lots and boy howdy, I sure could go for Lot #1! Gorgeous! (All pictures and texts are screenshots from Breyer's BreyerFest Blog.)

BreyerFest is only three weeks away and still the news and announcements are coming from Breyer. While I won't be bidding in the auction, I do look forward to seeing the offerings and anything else Breyer shares as we approach the biggest weekend of the year in the model horse hobby!

BreyerFest is Coming!

BreyerFest is quickly approaching and the hobby excitement is ratcheting up. The last time an in-person BreyerFest was held was 2019 and folks are anxious to gather together at Kentucky Horse Park once again.

Breyer just released their official program. There is so much packed into three days!

I am teaching a virtual seminar 

where I teach hobbyists how to sew a pony pad. 

As an ambassador for this year's BreyerFest, I have received my Breyer Ambassador shirt and have been wearing it out and about in anticipation. 

I also stewarded the Prost! Adult Novice Show and am looking forward to receiving an ambassador model.

I have heard that I will receive the Ben Nevis ambassador model from BreyerFest 2020 for one of my ambassador jobs and then the 2022 model (which has not yet been announced) for the other.

Sadly, and as much as I would like to, I will not be attending BreyerFest in person this year. Physically, it is simply too much for me. Right now I can't stand for a long time nor can I walk for long distances. (More bone and joint issues.)

I even used a wheelchair during our family reunion - I was grumpy when my kids told me they'd brought one for me, but in the end, I was glad they had because I needed it.

And when I wasn't in it, it kept the grands happy.

Friends have offered to push me around at BreyerFest, and absolutely Craig would, too, but I do not feel good about asking them to do that. Liz is going to pick up my models for me and I am going to stay at home in air conditioned comfort, keep the live feed running, and do some of the virtual seminars and activities.

I can hardly wait!