Elska-Brick and Mortar Store Special

Hello, Everyone!!

I would like to introduce you to my new model, Elska.

Elska was the 2015 Brick and Mortar Store Special, with only 3000 models made, I have had Elska in my "want" list since I saw her, but I decided to wait. 

Two days ago I went to the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo, and I saw one of her available for sale in the early morning. I told myself that if she was still available when I was going to leave the Expo,  I would buy her. I spent the rest of the day watching clinics and Colt Starting and buying lots of food. After spending over 8 hours at the Expo it was time to leave, and so I walked buy the vendor that had her for sale and guess what!? the same model was there. 

You can guess what happened next. ;)

Bad picture but look at the dapples!!

This little mare is beautiful. She really is a small Traditional, being about the same height as the Flash mold. She has huge hooves, and a stunning mane and tail. 

One negative thing I have to say about this mold is that it has a poor, small hip. The neck in proportion to the hip does not quite match, but nonetheless it is still a photogenic model. 

The Elska I bought has two small flaws on it's mane and a little dark streak on it's hip. The dapples on this mare are beautiful, and I am very happy to see that Breyer's quality control has really improved. 

If you are interested in the Elska model, I highly suggest that you buy her. She is a very nice piece to add to the collection!

~CBL

All In A Year (2015 Breyer Collection)

Hello Everyone!!

I didn't half as many models this as I got last year, BUT this year the models I got were ones I really wanted/have wanted for a long time, so I was glad to get them. :D

Secretariat (No name yet!) 

Catty Little Snazz (My holy grail baby)

Harley D Zip 

OT Sara Moniet

Sonsela

Midnight Tango

Camila

Liam-2015 HOTY

Ariel

Buckskin Angel

*No name*

My Factory Flaw Stablemates 

Gentle Giants set, regular Warmblood 2015 mare, and a mini whinny. :D 

I got 20 new models this year...and have a little bit of space left so that I can get more models next year. :D 

Did you get any new models for Christmas? What were they?

~CBL

My Model Horse Hobby Journey

Hello everyone!!

I realized that I have never really given the full story of how I got into the model horse hobby and where it has taken me in my photography skills and in my collection. I thought that it would be fun to share it with you!

It all started December of 2006......when I was 7 years old. 

I got my first Breyer horses. They were named Apple (the appy mare) and Spots (the foal). After the first night I had them, Spots broke his back legs and I used glue to "repair" him, which didn't work very well (I knew nothing about fixing models back then). 

In the summer of 2007 I saved and saved by hard earned money (15 dollars) and I bought the Classic dapple grey draft horse.

He didn't stand very well, so I used Play-doh to stand him up. He was eventually traded to a friend. 

I got my first Traditionals for my birthday in 2007. They were the Chubasco and Caravelle set, and I actually didn't care that much for them at first because they were bigger than my Classics and I couldn't play with them.  Caravelle was eventually broken by one of my sisters, but I still own Chubasco..a.k.a. "Paintball."

 

In October of 2012, I only had around 40 models, and only 5 Traditionals. I found MEPSA and then started showing in the Novice Division. My first photo I entered was this:

I won Reserve Grand Champion with that photo (yes, I was in the NOVICE division and I was only competing with about 4 other people who has also started out). 

I kept on working on my photography, but they were all pretty bad photos. 

But I continued to get better and better, and at the end of the MEPSA show season I had quite a few qualifications with some of my models for the championship show. 

2013

Later that year, I got multiple ribbons and prizes. I continued to collect and tried performance showing. 

We also moved from town into the country, which is mostly how my photography improved. 

Yes, I know she is in the wrong lead here. This was my first performance picture
PICTURE IS FROM 2013

 I decided to stop performance until I had good tack (I still do not....)

In my last year of Novice, I didn't do as well because all of my models were placed in the wrong class by accident (it was my numbering fault, I had no idea how I put nearly ALL of my horses in different numbered classes but oh well!)

2014 winnings

After graduating from Novice and going into Open, I only did one qualifying show. Four of my 13 horses entered places 1st-3rd out of as many as 91 models per class, so I was very pleased. But after that I just got so busy I didn't keep showing. I still have not entered in a class yet. It has been over a year now and I do miss it, but we no longer have a color printer and I just do not have the time to put into so many photos and getting my horses qualified.

Because of that, I have been doing a lot of IMEHA stuff, and my horses are doing great!! My photography has improved very much, and you can see a big difference in the photos. 

Oct. 2012

May 2015

Also, my collection has improved. From only 40 horses in 2012 to over 130 now and 36 Traditionals, I would say that the collection has grown!! :D 

2006-My first Models

November 2015-My favorite models....or as many as I could fit into the picture! 

Who is your favorite model? Do you show? What is your model horse story? If you send your story to cowgirlyssa@gmail.com I will post it on here!


~CBL

More New Models

Hello everyone!

Today is my birthday, but it was celebrated Saturday. I only got three (well, Sonsela would have been the 4th, but I got her on my own) models this birthday because I have a horse now and asked for more stuff for him. :)

First up, and the Mid States Distributing Mustang set.

I am sorry for the bad pictures. I took these in mid day...just because I needed some pictures for this post. I will take more soon so the legs don't disappear into the background!!

These two are absolutely beautiful..and with Gretel being one of my favorite molds of all time, I was so happy to get her. Sadly, during the photo shoot she fell from a fence and now has some rubs, but she is still Photo Show quality. :( 

I happened to get the fall on camera. 

Gretel conga

My 3rd model is a 2015 Warmblood Mare Stablemate. She has a glossy sheen to her (and so does the Gretel) and has a very smooth paint job. I hand picked her and she is just beautiful.

I cannot wait to get into the show ring with these new models. I think they will take MEPSA and the IMEHA by storm. :) 

~CBL

Sonsela-Mid States Distributing Model

Hello everyone!! Sorry (how many times will I say that?) that I haven't posted! I have been on vacation in Florida then I started school again. Yay.

On the other hand, I haven't bought many model horses this year. I don't have much room for them left, so I am only choosing the ones I really like and am quite selective about the model quality now.

Until I saw Sonsela.

Yeah.....she did have some flaws, but she was so pretty....forget about the quality control.

Sonsela is a 2015 Mid-States Distributing model. The swishy tail version of the Lady Phase molds, in a beautiful bay appaloosa blanket. She also has a star, small stripe, and socks on three of her legs. 

Next to my long tail Lady Phase version mare, Sheza Autumn Storm. 

Because this is a intricate appy pattern, I knew she would have flaws (true to Breyer's quality control..though it has gotten better. Kudos to them on that!). Still, a pattern like this is not typical of "normal" runs. 

I will get better pictures when I can...

 My Sonsela has some masking problems, a minor ear rub, and a weird bit of striped shading on her stomach on her left side (picture above). But besides that, she is beautiful, and I am so happy to have her!!

More posts to come soon. 

~CBL

....We All Knew It....

Remember this guy??

Okay then, you may not know who he is as a young colt, but maybe this picture will help your memory..

That is right. American Pharoah is racing and Breyer did what we all expected (or hoped, anyway). 

Yes!! A Traditional American Pharoah in the Ruffian  mold WITH a shortened tail! (We don't want the SBH Phoenix tail mistake on this model, do we?) 

Short Tail

Long Tail

But that isn't the only model that is going to made in honor if American Pharoah's Triple Crown win.

Are y'all excited for the new American Pharoah models?

~CBL 

P.S. Don't forget to look at my new blog, http://olliesbookoflife.blogspot.com/!!