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Phar Lap (which means Lightning) was the appropriately-named Thoroughbred racehorse that took Australia by storm! Born in 1926 in New Zealand, he went on to win 32 of his 35 starts, coming in second in two of the other three. His sudden death during a US visit at only six years old created controversy that continues to this day. In 2000, equine specialists concluded that he had died of acute bacterial gastroenteritis, while in 2006, Australian scientists determined he had died from a single, massive dose of arsenic, fanning the speculation that he'd been killed by American gangsters who didn't want the Melbourne Cup winner creating havoc with their bookies. In the short span of his life, he became an icon to Australian and New Zealand and is immortalized with a bronze statue near his birthplace. 20th Century Fox made a movie about this much-loved racing icon, and Breyer followed up with this Chris Hess sculpt in 1985. The mold wears a "20th Century Fox" stamp and no other mold marks. |
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Poncho Rex: Chris Hess's iconic Fighting Stallion mold was an apt choice to represent Poncho Rex, favorite mount of famous Western trick roper Montie Montana. Montie rode Poncho Rex to the top of the Empire State Building, and was riding him when he roped President Eisenhower during his inaugural parade. Breyer's tribute model was made for the West Coast Model Horse Collectors Jamboree in 1999 only, and wears Rex's markings plus pinking on his shoulders and a beautiful, glossy finish. |
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Rhapsody In Black is a well-known name in the Arabian world. She is by Thee Desparado (for whom Breyer made a portrait model a few years ago). Born in Texas in 1994, this beautiful lady was shown sparingly but has become one of the leading dams of winners for the breed. She became the first mare in history to have her offspring become champions in the Egyptian Breeders Challenge three consecutive years. |
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Ruffian: The amazing Thoroughbred mare Ruffian was honored with a portrait model in 1977. Ruffian is remembered as one of the top Thoroughbred mares of all time. When she was entered in her first race, people laughed and called her "The Fat Filly." She changed their minds when she won that race by 15 lengths, tying the track record for that distance. She went on to win all ten of her starts. She lived a short but amazing life, ending with a tragic breakdown in a match race against Derby Winner Foolish Pleasure, a race she was winning at the time. Surgeons tried through the night to save her, but upon coming out of surgery, she tried to run and caused further damage to her leg, so she was humanely euthanized. She ended her life undefeated, and is remembered as much for her heart as her speed. This mold is a great tribute to such a mare. |
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Rugged Lark American Quarter Horse stallion Rugged Lark was a two-time AQHA World Show Superhorse and three-time World Champion! He is only one of two stallions to go on to have foals that later became AQHA Superhorses as well. He was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2006. After his death, his owner, Hall of Fame horsewoman Carol Harris donated all of his memorabilia, trophies, and larger-than-life bronze statue to the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park in Ocala, Florida, saying that the horse’s legacy should be in public hands... “I don’t think there is another horse in the country that was as loved. We offered him to everyone. We let everybody touch him. We let kids sit on him. He would stand there for three, four hours at a time. Never once did he not offer to let anyone love on him,” Harris said. She said the gift was a way of giving back to the area that gave her so much. [Source: www.ocala.com] |
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Rugged Painted Lark, son of famous Quarter Horse stallion Rugged Lark, is a handsome bay Paint whose talents match those of his sire. In a horsemanship display at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY, in 2010, Lynn Palm showed off his versatility by performing Western, Dressage, and Jumping on Painted Rugged Lark - all without a bridle! He was an honored guest at BreyerFest 2007, and was this model was created as that year's Celebration Model. Only 5000 were made. It shows off his bold coloring and his cute star and snip. |
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S Justadream is more like a dream come true for Arabian lovers. This beautiful sorrel Arabian mare has become the winningest Arabian mare in Halter history, with no fewer than ten National Halter Championships. She was named unanimous National Champion by all five judges, at her very first national competition! |
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Samsung Woodstock: a warm sorrel Westphalian gelding was made famous not only for his talented jumping ability, but for the fact that he wore a "squaw bridle" or "Indian bridle" in competition. Most people who see the photos can't believe it, and those who saw him in person scarcely could, either! He and his trainer Susie Hutchinson won the Grand Prix of Del Mar three times, competed in the FEI World Cup Finals in 1993, and won numerous awards and accolades. During that FEI World Cup, they finished fourth after coming around a turn only to find two members of the jump crew accidentally standing directly in front of the jump! Woodstock wisely stopped, preventing injuries The men cleared the area, horse and rider circled, and then finished their clear round. The Swedish judges didn't penalize them for the stop because of the interference, but it was a round Susie would never forget. After Woodstock's retirement in 1998, he spent a happy retirement turned out in Hutchinson's backyard in California. |
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Sapphire: This deep sorrel on the Gem Twist mold is a portrait of Sapphire, the Belgian Warmblood mare who was the long-time partner of rider McLain Ward. Together they were part of medal-winning teams at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, and the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Germany. Breyer's tribute to Sapphire shows off her neat, arrow-head blaze and two socks, along with her ermine spots and striped feet. |
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Seabiscuit, the little bay Thoroughbred who surprised everyone by becoming a champion, was foaled in 1933. Showing little promise as a youngster, he was eventually sold for $8000 to Charles Howard, who saw the potential in him. With Red Pollard aboard and a new training schedule, Seabiscuit started his rags-to-riches story that has become the subject of several books and movies. He symbolized the struggles of the working man during the Post-Depression years, trying to get ahead in a tough world, and racing fans loved him! By the time he retired in 1940, following a serious injury and impressive comeback, he was the top money-earning Thoroughbred in history. He enjoyed seven years of retirement at stud before he passed away, having sired 108 foals. |
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Secretariat: Ask anyone to name the world's most famous horse and the answer will most likely be Secretariat. His true story is still the stuff of legend. His astonishing 31-length victory in the Belmont Stakes, accomplished after winning the first two racing jewels in the Triple Crown, has yet to be repeated. In the Kentucky Derby, Secretariat set a speed record of 1:59 2/5, and he captured the Preakness Stake with ease, securing the Triple Crown win for 1973. Secretariat was the son of Bold Ruler out of Somethingroyal. Known as "Big Red", the large, beautifully conformed chestnut ran in the blue and white checkered colors of Meadow Stables. He made it on two "Athletes of the Century" lists for his accomplishments. It has recently been discovered that the secret to Big Red's success was his remarkable way of running, which is more like a dog than a typical horse. With his extremely flexible back and hindquarters, he could tuck and spring forward, resulting in two periods each stride where no feet were on the ground, as opposed to one, which is the norm. He was truly a remarkable athlete! |
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Sergeant Reckless - This is a limited re-issue of the popular equine heroine Sergeant Reckless, a little sorrel Mongolian Horse more credited with saving US Marine lives on the front lines during the Korean War. Named Reckless by the troops, she was treated like one of them and received several awards for bravery. When she retired, she was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. A life-sized statue at the National Museum of the Marines in Quantico, VA, now commemorates her achievements... and in may of 2018, a statue of Reckless was dedicated at Kentucky Horse Park. |
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Sherman Morgan: The most famous son of Justin Morgan, Sherman Morgan sired Black Hawk, who became a foundation sire for the Standardbred, Tennessee Walking Horse and American Saddlebred breeds. More than just a fancy saddle horse, Sherman was famous for his trotting speed, holding speed records that went unbroken in his lifetime. The original Sherman Morgan tribute model, sculpted by Jeanne Mellin Herrick, is this red chestnut with one right hind sock and a stripe. He was available only from 1987-1990, when damage to the production mold caused it to be discontinued. (It was later fixed with the addition of a different tail and is now back in use in different colors.) |
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Silky Sullivan: Nicknamed The California Comet, Silky Sullivan was a sorrel Thoroughbred famous for his come-from-behind racing style. He was born on February 28, 1955. Famous jockey Willie Shoemaker said of Silky Sullivan that you couldn't tell the horse how to race. You just sat there and waited for him to make his move, and when he did, "then you hold on for dear life." In one race, he was behind the leaders by 41 lengths, then ran the last quarter in 22 seconds, finishing with a win of three full lengths! He was known to be extraordinarily smart, and a gentleman as well, letting children walk under his belly and sit on him bareback. Silky Sullivan passed away in his sleep at age twenty-two and was buried at Golden Gate Fields (racetrack). |
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Simba du Pont de Tournay: This rugged bay roan on the Roy mold is a portrait of Simba du Pont de Tournay (which translates as Simba from the bridge of Tournay), an Ardennes stallion currently standing stud in the US. The breed is rare even in their native Belgium, but it is believed there are fewer than 30 in the US currently. This handsome fellow is a great example of his breed, rugged and hardy, able to endure cold temperatures and hard work. They are often used for forestry work and other agricultural efforts. Simba is a bay roan with a little star. |
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Smart and Shiney: The Smart Chic mold was the obvious choice to use as a portrait of his son Smart And Shiney. This handsome Palomino Quarter Horse, owned by famous musician Lyle Lovett, was the Celebration Model for BreyerFest 2013. He is done in a slightly metallic Palomino with four socks and a broad blaze. Several muzzle variations have been seen. Only 5,000 were produced and "BreyerFest 2013" is printed on their bellies. |
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Stud Spider was bred and owned by actor James Brolin. He had a successful racing career in California and was honored with a Breyer portrait model on a brand-new mold in 1978. I believe it also marked the first time Breyer used masked Appy spots rather than splatter spots. He is a black blanket Appaloosa with large spots, a right front sock, and an "S" shaped star. |
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Swaps: Ranked 20th in the list of top US Thoroughbreds of the 20th Century (by Blood Horse Magazine) Swaps was a California-bred racehorse nicknamed the California Comet who, despite numerous injuries, became a successful competitor. He won the 1955 Kentucky Derby, beating out the favorite, and then sat out for the Preakness and Belmont with a split in his hoof wall. |
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Templado, who became world-famous as the star of the equine live performance show "Cavalia," started out as anything but a star. The Lusitano stallion was bred on a farm in Spain owned by the Delgado family and sold as a yearling. However, after three years, he was returned to the Delgados, who have a policy that allows buyers to return any horse if they aren't happy with him. Templado was a challenge to train, which is why he was returned, but his proud bearing and intelligence inspired trainer Frederic Pignon to learn new ways of training such horses... Training at liberty, which would become the basis of "Cavalia." Templado's performances in the show took them around the world and brought tears to many eyes, as his relationship with Frederic was evident during their performances. |
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Terrang: One of California's most famous Thoroughbreds in the 1950s, Terrang was often ridden by famous jockey Bill Shoemaker. The pair set a course record for one-and-an-eighth at Santa Anita in 1957. Breyer's tribute model of Terrang shows off his solid bay coat and gorgeous neck. |
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Theodore O'Connor was an amazing fellow. At only 13 -3/4 hands high, he was technically a pony, but this exceptional athlete competed - and won - at the highest levels in the eventing world. The handsome sorrel, whose breeding included Thoroughbred, Arabian, and Shetland Pony, rose in the ranks of the eventing world, beating much larger horses so often he earned the nickname "Super Pony." He came in third at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, which qualified him for the Pan Am Games. Amid a field of more experienced horses, Teddy astounded the world by taking home the Individual Gold Medal (as well as Team Gold)! |
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Topper: A pioneer of tv Westerns, actor Bill Boyd starred first as the character Hopalong Cassidy in feature length films. When "B" Westerns began going out of style, the forward-thinking Boyd realized they might have a future with tv, and bought the rights to the brand, a move that made him a millionaire when Hopalong Cassidy became the very first TV Western series. The character of Hopalong Cassidy was originally the star of books written by Clarence Mulford (who happened to live in Fryeburg, ME, just two towns north of us at Triple Mountain!). Mulvins set aside most of the profits from his books for charities. |
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Touch of Class, known to friends as Miss Kitty, was a 16-hand bay Thoroughbred mare who showed the boys how it's done. Easily recognized by her dainty build, she was anything but dainty on the jumping course! After a brief, unspectacular career in racing, she was bought and trained as a show jumper and found her life's calling. She and her primary rider, Joseph Fargis, were on the Nation's Cup teams that brought home four big international wins around the world. They then qualified for the 1984 Olympics, becoming part of that year's "Dream Team," and making history. During the Olympics, Touch of Class became the first horse in history to jump two clear rounds, and ended with 90 of 91 jumps clear, bringing home two gold medals. Her performance earned her the title of USOC Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year... The first time that award had been bestowed on a non-human! She went on to have a successful breeding career as well, and was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 2000. |
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Tregoyd Journeyman: The Cleveland Bay is a heritage breed that's considered critically endangered by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. The Cleveland Bay is believed to have originated in northern England, where their strength, stamina and kind personalities made them marvelous coach horses that have been enjoyed by the Royal Family for over 200 years. Despite their attributes, the breed's numbers are dwindling. In 2005, when Journeyman attended BreyerFest, only 46 foals were born worldwide! Journeyman, known as "Joe," is a great representative of his breed, and was brought to the US to help increase awareness of this gorgeous breed. The dark bay stallion has won multiple championships, both in the US and UK. |
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Tri Mi Boot Scootin' Boogie was a handsome black Missouri Fox Trotter, born in 1993. His stockings and blaze with its delightful kissing spots made him a stand-out everywhere he went. Breyer honored the stallion with this portrait mold on Justin Morgan, which is similarly built. |
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Trigger: One of the most famous and recognizable horses in history, Trigger was known as "the smartest horse in the movies." He was Roy Rogers' constant companion in life as well as in movies, for as long as he was able to safely travel and perform. Trigger not only starred in movies and the Roy Rogers Show on TV, he even had his own comic book series. He sired some beautiful horses, including Trigger Jr., who played Trigger in later movies after his dad had retired. When he passed away, Roy had him respectfully mounted so he could still visit with fans, and Roy himself mentioned more than once that he wished he could be mounted when he died, so he could join Trigger at their museum. Little known bit of trivia from Eleda: When I was in 6th Grade, we had to do one of those "Who's your hero" essays. I believe I was the only one in the school's history to make an animal the subject of that essay... Of course, my project was on Trigger! |
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Wap Spotted: One of the founding sires of the Appaloosa Sport Horse Association, Wap Spotted changed what everyone thought they new about Warmbloods. Also registered with the American Warmblood Society and Appaloosa Horse Club, this stunning stallion turned heads everywhere he went. He is now a legend in the sport horse world, with his name found in many champion pedigrees. |
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Yellow Mount is easily the most famous American Paint Horse in history. Foaled in 1964, he became APHA's first Champion just two years later. This red dun pinto stallion excelled in everything! He was a 2-time APHA National Champ in Halter, Reserve National Champ in Western Pleasure, and held ROMs in Barrel Racing, Calf Roping, Racing, and Reining, along with points in Trail... Not to mention being named APHA Supreme Champion in 1970. He also won APHA National Champion Get of Sire a whopping 5 times and got the Reserve another 3 times! APHA made him their "poster boy," using prints of a painting of him by Orren Mixer in promotional material for the breed. |
