Getting Ready For Breyerfest C/Y Show Pt. 3-Picking Your Breed

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Once you’ve picked out your best halter models, it’s time to look for classes that your models can fit in. Remember though that only one model can be in each class.

Picking Your Breed

To find different breeds I use horse breed books. But there are also numerous websites on breeds that work well too. I think this is a great one–Horse breed website . If you find a breed that is rare or isn’t listed in the breed guide or it’s an unusual color, you’ll have to make a breed card. I’ll discuss on how to make a breed card later in another post.
Breyer models come in many shapes and sizes. For some, numerous breeds can be added to their name. Even though Flash may be pinned by Breyer as a Morgan, you may be able to make him a Quarter Pony. But if you aren’t sure about a breed, you can always be safe and go with what Breyer has made the model.
When deciding on a breed, look at the model and decide what type it is : draft, light, or pony.
Draft horses are the plows of the horse world.

Light horses are the ones that are ridden or used for more ‘light’ work such as riding, light driving, racing or things of that nature.

Ponies are any breed of horse that is shorter than 14.2 hands (a hand is 4 inches).

Once you’ve figured out the conformation type, you’ve narrowed down your list of possible breeds.
Most horse breed sources are categorized into the different breed types.
Light Breeds can be broken down even further. There are: Gaited, Spanish, Stock, and Sport plus light.
Gaited horses are horses that have special gaits other than walk, trot, canter, or gallop. An example would be a Missouri Fox Trotter. Spanish horses are horses than originated in Spanish type countries such as the Andalusian. Stock horses are the Quarter horses/ bulldogs of the world. The other light breeds are breeds like the Arab.

Sport horses can be chopped up into sections of its own. It can be broken down into the Thoroughbred/ Standardbred, Warmbloods, and Carriage breeds (carriage breeds are different from draft). Carriage breeds are the ‘showy’ type of horse bred for harness work, such as the Friesian.
To put that all on one page here it is:

Go through your list and start looking at the pictures of the different horse breeds. Any that your model is close to, make a note. Looks at conformation and color. Both are important.
Out of the all breeds you made a note to, now’s your chance to decide what your model will be. Remember for breed assignments, it comes down to really what your preference. Except for example you can’t have a Clydesdale trying to pass as a Thoroughbred. Breeds that are close in conformation can be interchanged. Really though, pick the one you like best. At the show though, if your model doesn’t place as one breed, you can not enter it into another class as another breed. That’s a no-no.
If a model has the right conformation, but not the right color, you can make the model a mix. Just make sure you also have a breed card to show the two breeds mixing together to make your model.
Model horse breed assignments aren’t a black and white deal. Most models can go for being multiple breeds and do well being so.
Another rule for Breyerfest is that every model that you’re showing must have a identification tag. This identifies your model as yours, plus if you don’t have it your model will be disqualified. Afterwards follow the rules on writing the tag for your model, loop it on securely and you’re done!
If you have any questions comment away!

Getting a New 'Do

Kristian BeverlyLeave a comment

Have you ever had a custom that orignally seemed like a good idea but turns out to be a drag? Well this guy sure enough did. Ugh.


*Cringes*

During the weekend, I traded a gigantic airplane book for a jumbo sized book about the history of Thoroughbred Racing in America. This book is full of wonderful pictures of race horses.

This is such a pretty copy! :)

Which got me thinking about other positions that Satan could be in, which is an attentive standing weanling/yearling going to auction.


The most important part of customizing is research. The more research you do, the better your chance of making a realistic model. I purposely chose a horse where I didn’t have to move every. single. leg. Once I figured it out, I marked where I needed to cut.

Then using my trusty heat gun, I heated up the plastic enough to where I could cut chunks of my plastic off.Once I did that, here came the heating and changing of position.

I also closed gator mouth. Doesn’t he look so much more friendly?

Well, the next part is sculpting!

Getting Ready For The C/Y Show Pt. 2-Picking Showable Models

Kristian BeverlyLeave a comment

Oh Where Oh Where Did Those Perfect Models Go?

Once you’ve submitted your entry form and gotten back that you’re in, it’s time to start thinking about which models to enter. For the Breyerfest C/Y show, the models must be Breyer made. So even though you may bring resins, Peter Stones, or even safari plastics on the long trek to Kentucky, none of them may be shown during Breyerfest.
The models that can be shown at Breyerfest are any Breyer made or Breyer customized by entrant made models.  Here’s a link to the class list—Class list. Notice that there are only 2 classes that say specifically entrant customized. In performance you may also show models that were customized by the entrant. Notice the important part–BY THE ENTRANT. Nope, no going to your parents and asking them to make you a model to show in your name. No going on Youtube and commissioning someone to make your model. Only YOU can make the model. Every year there seems to be an incident where a person showed a model that was not made by them even though it’s spelled out in the rules what you can’t and can do. Be fair and follow the rules, ’cause how is it fun to win, when you didn’t follow the rules? I’ll address more about customs later.
When getting your original finish models together, take a close look at them. Breyerfest is a competitive show, so you’ll want to bring the best models that you have. Unless you’re looking to show a model in the most loved class. It doesn’t matter what the model looks like in that class.

Look closely for rubs,

scratches, 

and other obvious defects. Some rubs and scratches can be fixed but try to look for the best first. 
No Padre doesn’t have any defects (he’s purrfect) but the original model was made off of a cartoon. So therefore Padre has the mold of a cartoon. While he does have a slight chance of placing against other models, the likely hood of him placing over more realistic models isn’t that great. That’s the fun thing about models. You can go as realistic as you’d like!

Once you’re done that, you’ve figured out how to pick out a perfect model horse. A how to on picking breeds will be later.

Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover PT. 3

Kristian BeverlyLeave a comment

Here’s the final installment of the Misty Ponies!

Last I talked about the Misty Ponies, I talked about Sea Star and Misty.

Picture I took in Beebe Barn
Picture of Marguerite Henry and Misty

Now come the descendants.

Misty along with her foals–pic from here

Stormy was Misty’s last foal, and is the one that kept Misty’s line going. Misty’s other foals, Phantom Wings and Wings O’ Mist, died from getting sick off of feed and the foals they had did not reproduce.
So Stormy kept on the line. Marguerite Henry wrote, Stormy, Misty’s Foal, off of her birth.

Misty and Stormy–Photo from Here

Doesn’t the picture look familiar?

The interesting thing about the story? For Stormy’s actual birth, she and Misty lived with relatives of the Beebes. The whole flood and being on the house steps were real though.

Misty and Stormy on the steps-from here

Stormy, once she passed away, was preserved along side her mother.

The Breyer model and the real Stormy’s markings match.

Misty’s other foals never became as famous as Stormy. Breyer did commemorate Phantom Wings with an adorable model of him. He passed away young along with his his sister, Wings O’ Mist , so even though they did have foals, they did not have any descendants to keep the lines going. The Breyer Model and the real pony’s markings match.

Sign that was in the Beebe House

Phantom Wings-Photo from Here, where you can buy the picture

Misty’s Black Mist along with Misty II and Misty’s May Day Twister were made by Breyer to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Misty of Chincoteague. There have been books written about the ponies, but I have not read them.
Misty II’s model has the same exact markings of the pony. Misty II was the last grand foal of Misty alive. She died years ago. She was named Misty II because she carried the same pattern as the original Misty. The mold is a mare so that’s always a plus and the color is pretty close.

Pic from here

Now for May Day Twister and Black Mist, it’s a completely different story. First off Twister’s mold is a colt. The real pony is a mare. The markings are also completely different. In real life, Twister and Black Mist are Misty II’s foals. Twister is also a part of the Chincoteague Drill Team.

Twister and Misty II-Found this pic on Facebook

For Black Mist, the only problem is the mold. The markings are correct. Black Mist once again is a mare. The mold is a stallion/gelding which doesn’t particularly help a mare. Black Mist was a part of the Chincoteague Pony Drill Team.

Black Mist Also has a Facebook Page

Nightmist is a Misty Pony, even though Breyer hasn’t made a Breyer model of him. Jessie-Ann Friend wrote a book about him, which I have and it’s signed! It’s a cute story about Nightmist told similarly in the same way as Marguerite Henry wrote.

 Nightmist was Windy’s last foal. Windy died shortly after he was born due to the fact that she was old when she had Nightmist and his birth put alot of strain on her. I was lucky enough to go to the stallion’s birthday party in 2008 and took some pictures of him. He died a couple years ago from colic.

Nightmist’s birthday party

The last Pony who we will look at is Misty’s Twilight. The model and the real horse have the same markings. Misty’s Twilight in real life is only part pony, hence her larger size. She was the last Misty Pony that Marguerite Henry wrote about, and I haven’t been able to find any info about whether or not she is alive.

Misty’s Twilight–Photo from Here

Well, that’s the last of the Misty ponies. Who knows, maybe I’ll dig up info on other horses that were based on books and look up info on them. :)

Misty and Marguerite Henry–Pic source

Some Misty Articles You may like reading:
End Of An Era-Selling of Beebe Farm
Misty’s Heaven- All Misty descendants
Chincoteague Pony Centre