Breyer Horse Collectibles

by appaIoosa

Breyer Horses are manufactured by Animal Creations which is a division of Reeves International,Inc. In 1950 the first horse was made,and is now more commonly known as the Western Horse. The decision to make this horse was as a result of the Mastercrafters company requesting a model horse to adorn a clock they had created. The scale chosen for this model horse was approximately 1:9 scale. The model was retained as payment for molding the parts.

As a result of this,orders for the horse quickly began to roll in. So the Breyer Animal Creations company was founded. The company specializes in models made from cellulose acetate (a form of plastic),following various wildlife and domestic animal themes,of which their model horses are the best known. It's the realistic and inexpensive model horses that are the most renowned in the industry.

As a result of the popularity,in 1989 the company has held a festival for model horse collectors called Breyerfest at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington,Kentucky. There are also several other events such as special invitation only events,Fun Days,and model horse shows.

The company also publishes four issues per year of its own magazine--Just About Horses or JAH for short.

Scales.

There are five basic scales of models:

Traditional:1:9 scale (each model is around 8" H Ã? 11" L)
Classic:1:12 scale (dollhouse;about 7" H Ã? 5" L)
Ponies/Pony Gals:same as Classics
Paddock Pal 1:24 scale(about 6 inches to 4 inches) - Now retired.
Stablemates:1:32 scale (about 7 cm H Ã? 6 cm L)
Mini Whinnies:1:64 scale (each "adult" horse is only one inch tall)

As of 2008,"Pony Gals" replaced the Ponies line which has a similar line title. In this,the line differs from other models in that they have brush-able manes and tails. Some models may also have jointed heads,necks,and legs. This range is marketed towards younger children.

Painting and Molding The model animals are generally made from cellulose acetate. In recent years the company has started to produce models from porcelain and resin figures. The company's production focus is on model horses,tack and accessories (such as barns,stables and grooming implements) that you would normally associate with horse care.

A two-piece mould is used to cast each horse. After the two halves have been put together,the seams are then sanded and polished. A stencil (known as a mask) is then used to create the markings and colour patterns. Most of the older models were simply airbrushed by hand,with markings such as undefined socks or a bald face simply left unpainted. Some detailing,such as brands,eye-whites,or other individual markings are painstakingly applied by hand-painting.

There are a number of different moulds in use,with most of the moulds having been released in several colour variants. For instance,the Family Arabian Stallion (known as "FAS" to its collectors) is a commonly used mould. Production runs of this mould have been released with a variety of different coat colours with various markings and details such as socks and blazes,appaloosa blankets,since its original production in 1956. Models may also have different finishes,such as matt or glossy. Each version of a particular mould is considered a separate model,and is almost always given a number and name. Sometimes,however,some models do not receive a number--these may be known as "special runs".

The marking and colouring variations are infinite,which include all the variations found in actual horses. Models are also released in more unrealistic colors and known as "decorator models" such as the "Wedgewood blue". Some decorators are painted in the Copenhagen or filigree styles,which is akin to small paint splotches all over the body. These colors are usually gold or light blue. Several of the decorator models have scenes and images painted on them,and even a few have been cast in a translucent form of cellulose acetate to look like blown glass. A more recent introduction is a metallic "two-colour" paint which gives a very flashy effect. Models having this paint finish are typically limited editions.