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Abdullah was called by many the best Trakehner ever to compete in Show Jumping. Born in 1970, the great grey stallion competed internationally for 14 years, including winning the ATA Open Jumper Championship eight times, bringing home a Silver Medal for the US at the 1984 Olympics as well as contributing to the US Team Gold for that event. He passed away from colic in 2000 at 29 years old. Breyer's portrait model on the Trakehner mold recreates Abdullah's coloring with light dappling on his fore- and hindquarters, shaded legs and face. He also wears Abdullah’s two signature dark dapples on his neck.
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Adios: The handsome dark bay stallion Adios is considered one of the top sires of Standardbred pacers. Born in 1940, he became a multi-time world
champion and set one track record that stood for 43 years. As impressive as his track career was his career as a sire. Retired to stud at age 8, Adios went on to sire 589 offspring, including many champions. Two of his sons won the Triple Crown of Harness Racing. He enjoyed a long, happy retirement, and when he passed away at age 25, he was buried at Meadow Lands Farm under his favorite apple tree. With his name still gracing a large number of Standardbred pedigrees, and Adios will long be remembered as the star he was.
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Afleet Alex is an American-born bay Thoroughbred who won eight of his twelve starts, and only finished out of the money once (he was discovered later to have been suffering from a lung infection during that race). He finished third in the Kentucky Derby, with his jockey taking the blame for not giving him a great ride, then became famous in the Preakness after overcoming what could have been a devastating accident: He was running close to the leader Scrappy T at the top of the stretch when that horse veered to the right and they clipped hooves, causing Afleet Alex to stumble and nearly fall. His jockey was thrown onto his neck and Alex's muzzle came within inches of the ground, but he managed to recover... and then pass Scrappy T to win the race by 4 and 3/4 lengths, in one of the fastest times recorded for the final 3/16s of the Preakness in history! And then he went on to win the Belmont Stakes, turning in the fastest final quarter for that race since 1969. Just as his racing career seemed destined for legend, Afleet Alex was found to have complications from the injury he sustained in the Preakness, and was retired to stud at four years of age. As of 2016, he had already sired seven Grade 1 Stakes winners.
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All Glory, a World Grand Champion Standardbred Roadster horse owned by William and Elizabeth Shatner, was chosen as the Celebration Model for Breyerfest 2010. This handsome bay with the little star is a champion both under saddle and "with bike" (hitched to a two-wheeled cart). The Rejoice mold is a good fit to represent All Glory, as Saddlebreds were bred partially from Standardbred stock, and All Glory displays similarly high motion in the show ring.
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Big Ben was a Belgian Warmblood considered by many to be "too big to jump" when he was young. However, Canadian eventer Ian Millar saw something special when he came across the seven-year-old. Ten months later, they were a team in the Olympics! From then on, it seemed there was nothing that Ben and Ian couldn't conquer. They won pretty much every event they entered, whether it was on sand, grass, or mud, and in just about every weather condition, including hail! Ben met other challenges with the heart of a trooper as well: He survived two colic surgeries and even a severe tractor trailer wreck! His good-natured sense of stardom - He loved to greet fans and even occasionally offered a hoofprint autograph - won people over around the globe, and he drew more spectators than any other jumping horse in his lifetime. Big Ben became the first horse to win two consecutive World Cup Final titles, among his many achievements. When he passed away from colic at age 20, the Canadian government honored him with induction into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, a postage stamp, and a bronze statue in Perth, Ontario. |
Big Chex to Cash, a handsome palomino Overo stallion, has earned over $200,000 and several national reining championships. Foaled in 2002, Big Chex, who is owned by the 23 Partnership of California, seemed destined to become a reining legend. His sire, Nu Chex to Cash, earned more reining points than any other horse in American Quarter Horse Association history, and was the only horse to earn AQHA High Point honors in both reining and working cowhorse in the same year. Today, Big Chex to Cash stands at stud through Fappani Performance Horses in California. Breyer released this portrait of Big Chex in 2008, complete with his bold dapples and hip brand.
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Black Caviar, Australia's racing sensation has been busy since she officially retired in April 2013! Black Caviar, whose nickname is "Nelly," gave birth to her first foal on September 13, 2014 - a cute bay filly with two white socks and a tiny star - by Australian champion stallion Exceed and Excel! In her unrivaled racing career, the brown mare shattered records and delivered thrilling performances on two continents igniting international excitement about Thoroughbred racing. Excited fans gathered in the thousands to watch the powerful mare with her distinctive salmon-colored silks with black dots fly down the track undefeated in 25 of 25 races. |
Bright Zip was one of those horses that captivates people. Had he lived in the 1950s, he'd have no doubt been a star of the silver screen. He was made famous as the partner of John Lyons, the first of the modern touring trainers, who taught people a gentler way to train their horses. In an interview with the "Appaloosa Journal" in 1996, John said, "Zip is my only horse, and I've learned one horse is a great number to have. My relationship with him is as close to father-son as it can be." |
Brookside Pink Magnum is a champion Section B Welsh Pony stallion. Standing just 12.2 hands, he commands as much attention as "the big guys" anywhere he goes. His standout red roan color and winning personality have made him a star, and in 2012 Breyer honored him with a portrait model.
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Bucephalus is one of the most famous horses in history, and even had a city named for him! He was the beloved mount of Alexander The Great, helping the man conquer land after land and impressing everyone who saw him.
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Buck, one of the equine stars of the Western series "Bonanza," was the mount of Ben Cartwright, the owner of the Ponderosa Ranch. "Bonanza" was NBC's longest-running Western, running for fourteen years. Ben Cartwright was played by Lorne Greene, who, with Buck, taught his sons morality and righted wrongs on the range. Breyer chose the galloping Black Beauty mold to represent Buck, who took part in many "high speed chases" of the day. He wears Buck's pale color and dark muzzle and lower legs.
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Carltonlima Emma, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's favorite Fell Pony, was honored with a Breyer portrait model in 2015. The solid black pony, with her steady stride and gentle temperament takes good care of the Queen, who, in her late 80's, still enjoys riding her through the park. The Breyer mold was sculpted by Kathleen Moody, who is known for her detailed "hair work," perfect for a breed with such a long, flowing mane, tail and feathers.
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CH Imperator. This incredible sorrel gelding was the Five-Gaited World Grand Champion five times, including becoming the oldest horse to win that title, competing at age 12. The gelding was then retired to Kentucky Horse Park, where Perry, as he was known, enjoyed a long, happy retirement, with lots of attention from fans. His portrait model wears a star, a snip, and one hind sock, and was given a glossy finish to match that of his legendary namesake.
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Cherry Creek Fonzie Merit: This handsome Canadian Horse stallion is a gorgeous representative of his breed. Solid black without any white at all, Merit excels in Dressage and is an all-around wonderful horse, according to his owner Yvonne, who has trained and ridden Merit to all of his wins. His kind, willing personality match his beauty. He is now standing at stud, so expect to see his progeny winning in arenas around North America very soon!
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Chocolate Chip Kisses is a colorful pinto pony that has made big dreams come true for his owner/rider 14-year-old Lauren Demchuk. Both his grandsire, Zips Chocolate Chip, and great grandsire Zippo Pine Bar, are Breyer portrait models! "Choco" and Lauren have become an inspiration to people of all ages and backgrounds. Lauren was diagnosed with a rare cancer called epithelioid sarcoma just a few months before the Pinto World Championship Horse Show. After receiving the news, Lauren focused on her goal of attending the World Show and once there, she and Choco excelled in class after class.
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Cigar: contrary to popular belief, the record-breaking Thoroughbred was not named for the tobacco product of that name. Instead, he was named for an intersection on navigational maps used by aircraft. These intersections are often given five-letter names to aid in navigation, and his original owner was the former owner of Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation who frequently used these navigational locations as names for his horses.
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Cincinnati: Civil War General Ulysses Grant's horse. The huge bay Thoroughbred, a gift from an admirer, was General Grant's favorite among his beloved horses. A horseman since childhood, he was an excellent rider and cared deeply for his animals. The photo below shows three of the General's horses: (left to right) Egypt, Cincinatti, and Jeff Davis (taken from Jefferson Davis's farm during the Vicksburg Campaign). Cincinnati stands taller than the rest at 17 hands, and was a son of Lexington, the fastest four-mile Thoroughbred in the world and influential sire, who is mounted and on display at Kentucky Horse Park, where he is still revered. Photography was still fairly expensive and took a long time to produce at that time, so for him to commission a photograph of his horses is impressive. For them to stand still while it was taken says a lot about them, as well!
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Citation was the first racehorse in history to win over a million dollars in his career. Born in 1940, the solid bay was amazing right from the start, winning his first race, breaking the Arlington track record (5 furlongs) in his third race, and winning 8 of his nine starts.
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Conclusion Two Jack/Clue II. Chris Hess's Fighting Stallion mold was chosen to bear the color of the Quarter Horse stallion Conclusion Two Jack. Known by the nickname "Clu" around the barn, no one is sure why Breyer chose to shorten his name differently and call the model Clue II. Not famous like many of Breyer's portrait models, it's believed that he came to Breyer's attention through their 1995 essay contest. Clu was a dark palomino who worked as a trail horse, lesson horse and barrel racer. He was born in 1990 and passed away in 2011.
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Comanche was widely renowned as the only surviving horse from Custer's command at the Battle of Little Bighorn. He was found wounded on the riverbank and nursed back to health by farrier Gustave Korn, who became his caretaker and friend for life. Comanche was considered the beloved mascot of the 7th Cavalry, and official orders were written that he be cared for well at the cavalry base for all his remaining years. He was given free run of the base - literally: He joined the men at the mess hall, visited the officers' quarters for sugar cubes, and trotted over to take his place at the front of the line each time the bugle sounded, calling the men to formation. When he passed away, he was given the honor of a full military funeral, one of only two horses to-date to receive that honor (the other being Blackjack, the famous "riderless horse" at the JFK funeral and over a thousand others).
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Cortes 'C' is a splendid black Belgian Warmblood with one hind sock and a tiny star. The champion Jumper, shown by America's own Beezie Madden, has a unique style over fences: He crosses his front legs in midair! Following a year full of victories both in the US and abroad, Cortes 'C' was named the United States' International Horse of the Year in 2014.
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Custom Made is an Irish Sport Horse gelding standing a full 17.1 hands tall. He earned his glory in Three-Day Eventing, where his talent eventually overcame his early difficulties of being head-strong. He was ridden at the international level by David O'Connor. The pair represented the US twice at the Olympics, but really shone at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, where they brought home the first US Gold Medal in eventing in 25 years. For this feat, Custom Made, called "Tailor" around the barn, earned the title of Horse of the Year. He continued eventing to the age of 17, when O'Connor announced his pending retirement. They won their final outing and Tailor ended his career at the top of his game. His official retirement ceremony took place in 2004 at the Rolex, and in 2009 both he and David were entered into the Eventing Hall of Fame. |
Daisy's Chief Dane "Harley" is an American Sugarbush Harlequin Draft Horse. He has a career as a racetrack "pony," guiding fractious young Thoroughbreds to the starting gate. He has been spotted at many major races (no pun intended!), including the Kentucky Derby. His eye-catching coat. drafter build, and calm demeanor have caught the attention of a lot of horse lovers and earned him a Breyer portrait model!
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Dan Patch: The Pacer was done in dark red bay as a portrait of one of the most famous racehorses of early last century, and one of the most renowned Standardbreds of all time. Dan Patch remained unbeaten throughout his career, holding the Pacing record of 1:55. So amazing was this horse that rarely do you see his name without "The Great" in front of it. The country loved him, and Dan Patch was a rock star: he had toys, household goods, even a washing machine use his name and likeness!
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Flash is a sweet bay Morgan gelding owned by Kathy Aranosian of Double Clear Farm in Warner, NH. Kathy runs the area's Pony Club, and her clubbers nominated Flash to become the Breyer portrait model commemorating the US Pony Club's 50th anniversary in 2004. With everyone working together, Flash got his model! In gratitude, Kathy now sponsors a perpetual trophy for Teamwork with an annual Pony Club essay contest.
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Foiled Again: A solid performer in his younger years, Foiled Again only got better with age. At age 8, he became the oldest pacer on record to have a million dollar year. By age 9 he had three consecutive million dollar-winning seasons under his belt. That same year he won his first Breeders Crown - the Open Pace at Pocono Downs - against a field of younger horses, and became the oldest horse to win a Breeders Crown. In addition to his race records, he also was named Pacer of the Year in 2011, Older Pacer of the Year three times, and Canada's Aged Pacer of the Year twice! He's won major stakes races at tracks around the US and Canada, including: the Quillen Memorial (three times), Canadian Pacing Derby, American National, Levy Memorial (twice), and the TVG Championship.
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