Inspiration

~CBL

Demeter: The Next (And Last) Greek Goddess!

I didn't want this to be the last one. I really liked posting about these beauties!
However, all good things come to an end. Demeter is the last of the Greek Goddess series. :(

I have noticed a lot of people liking the Demeter model. However, I am just not feeling it. Demeter....Harvest  Goddess. I don't see the "harvest" look....a dun or palomino paint would have fit nicely in the Marabella mold. Demeter's paint reminds me of rain and storm clouds.I must say, however...you just can't go wrong with her beautiful face!

Note: Breyer had a little typo. Demeter is the goddess of harvest, but Gaea is the goddess of earth. Another reason Demeter should have been painted a color resembling her nature!

I express all good luck to those who are wishing to complete the Greek Goddess collection!







Just for laughs.....


I think Demeter should have looked like this.....

Morgan Family mare-produced 2006

Breyerfest Live Auction model 2012

What do you think?

~CBL

Riding Rusty Part 2

Even though I have ridden Rusty more than twice, I have only posted about him two times.  I am sorry about that.

Yesterday I went over to Mrs. June's to ride Rusty. I worked on my posture, and did very well! I have bad muscle memory, and so I am fixing it. I also got to do all of the trot variations he knows. My favorite is the collected and extended trot. So fun!

Ah, isn't he just beautiful?

 I started off with some ground work. He had just been taken off of the pasture, and he thought it was feeding time. So he was (at first) acting like well..a sassy little fella (remember, he is only four years old).
But he calmed down a lot after we had done some groundwork.

Then I got on......

Ignore my facial expression. :)

...and did some exercises on the lunge line to loosen my body up. It worked, because I rode the best yet!

I also trotted. While the canter is my favorite gait, the trot also makes me very happy. It makes me really love riding.

See!? I smile the whole time I ride. 

Turning in a teardrop circle.  

 Mrs. June showed me how to do a collected trot.....

...and I tried it. Your movement has to be more exaggerated because he is young and still learning, as you can see in the pictures below.

It was a lot of fun. I can't wait to ride him again! Thanks, Mrs. June! 

~CBL

Half Pint Jumps

Half Pint is  20 years old. She is also one of the most athletic older mares I have ever seen. For ten years she showed in all miniature horse classes with her former owner. She excelled at driving, but also did well in the jumping classes. Today I took her out for a round of "freestyle" (no halter or lead rope) jumping.

Pretty Girl

She trotted....

...and cantered....

...to get to the jumps. 

UP and OVER!

She has still got it at 20. :)

Arg. I show you the most unflattering photos of me. My hair was drying from a shower, and I don't have all my makeup on. Oh well. 

Half Pint will be forever loved until it is her time to cross the rainbow bridge. I love you, sweetie. 

~CBL

Story Of The Horse: Dakota and Flint

I know that I usually only talk about my Traditional's....but I have other sizes too! So, today I decided to write about my newest Classic sized foal, Dakota and his old friend, Flint. I got Dakota on December 26th,  last year. He came in a set with my rearing Classic mustang, Alamo. He is not LSQ, due to some minor masking issues, over-spray, and dark scratches. I was a little disappointed  about that...but he is a great addition to the herd anyway.

I also bought him for another reason. The first Classic foal I ever owned was a grey foal in Dakota's mold. You might recognize his name....Flint. 

Yes, that is right. Flint is part of the Cloud's Legacy set made in 2005. I got him at Christmas when I was eight years old. At that age I bought Breyer horses for play......not for showing. I have never seen more rubs on any other horse.  Flint stays on my shelf as a memento from my 'early years' of model horse collecting.   

~CBL

Cross-Cantering Models

I know of some people who don't know what a cross canter, a left lead, or a right lead is. I have had a hard time noticing different leads on real and model horses myself. One time I photo showed my Classic sized Quarter Horse mare, Bleau Angel and the judge sent me a note saying that while I had a pretty good setup, my horse was facing the wrong direction for the lead she was in, so she didn't/couldn't place. After I realized how important it was to have the horse facing the right direction to the lead it is going in, and  how penalized your setup can be with a cross-cantering model, I have decided to write a blog post showing you all of the cross-cantering Breyer models, so that you can avoid them if you are planning to show, or photo show your model.

Arabian mare cross-cantering

 Cross-cantering Breyer Models. 

Note:  Real horses generally cross-canter when playing, in pain, incorrect training, inexperience, or weakness of the back. A cross cantering horse is considered a fault when showing. It is also uncomfortable for the rider and typically, the horse. 

Breyer Black Beauty -Right lead in front legs, Left lead in back legs

Running Stallion-Right lead in front, Left lead in back

Ginger-Left lead in front, Right lead in rear

Cantering Stock Horse-Left Lead in front, Right lead in back.

Cantering Foal-Right lead in front, left lead in rear.

I hope this is helpful in identifying your cross-cantering models. 

Note: Pictures are from Identify Your Breyer. 

~CBL

Updated (Once Again)

I have just updated "My Show String" page. It now has more horses, pictures and information. I will add show results and the MEPSA Champ Show results as soon as I get them. I hope to do a long blog post soon. Stay tuned!

Kripton Kismet

 ~CBL

http://bitsnspurs.blogspot.com/p/my-model-horses.html