Custom Mini Model Horses

New Stablemate molds are popping out of the Breyer factory faster than ever. Darley is an Egyptian Arabian Stallion sculpted by Tabitha Pack that debuted as the sixth 2018 Stablemate Club model. He has a beautiful head. His pose is a little odd with one front leg tucked way up and his tail is a bit wing-like, but he has loads of customizing potential. Breyer Darley by Tabitha Pack 2018 Darwin, or "Mini Dundee" is the new Stablemate mold from the 2018 Priemer Club. Sculpted by Kelly Sealey , he is a chunky boy performing the Pesade, a movement where the horse rears to a 45 degree angle and holds still. He will make a great Lipizzaner, Fjord, or pony. He'll be a 2019 Breyerfest Single-Day ticket horse.

I'm excited to have some handsome sport breed molds in my body box of Breyer Stablemates. My show string is always a little light when it comes to the thoroughbred class—but not when I finish up these new molds! Walking Thoroughbred (L) sculpted by Heather Puleo and Warmblood Stallion (R), a Kristina Francis sculpt with a re-sculpted mane and tail. (info from Identify Your Breyer ) Both models boast gobs of details, beautiful muscles, and long tails. The manes are on the shorter side and easy to remove, but the forelocks wrap over one eye to make room for the horns. (The forelocks are easier to remove than some.) The Thoroughbred tail is super for heating up and bending into a swishing tail. The Warmblood tail gave me a little trouble when I tried to remove it... the tail was sturdier than the leg (oops!) Technically, the thoroughbred is a stallion and the warmblood is a mare, but I feel that the warmblood has a wonderful, cresty neck and a nice...

Most days when I start a new custom mini model, I get out my saw and cut off the tail and Dremel off the mane with the intent of sculpting new hair from scratch—but upon closer inspection, I’ve noticed that it isn’t that the original tails are all terrible, it’s just that I’m tired of seeing them on that particular model. My first tail swaps began with Valegro’s tail. Here it is on a TWH: And again on Mirado, but rotated: I thought I’d share a little bit about my process for those of you who want to experiment. If you are keeping the mane (and it isn’t braided) find a tail that matches in sculpting style. For example, the G3 Peruvian Paso and the G4 Driving Horse (now sometimes called the Walking Warmblood) both have hair with many detailed sections—a perfect Jane Lunger match! Carefully cut the tails off of both models with a small saw, always being mindful of your fingers and using a vice to hold the towel-wrapped model if possible.  When the tails are of...