The reality?
Nothing more than yet another 'British breed' that most people haven't even heard of. They have decided upon a 'drum horse' https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/297230_10150341905725765_58670270764_8435870_1280788432_n.jpg
Now I didn't even realise there was such a thing as a 'drum horse' breed even under the wide scope of random breeds that the American horse world seems to create. But alas apparently this is a 'British breed' but yet again nobody from Britain has even heard of it! Go down a pony club and ask them to list the British breeds or even if 'drum horse' is even a breed and not a single child will think it is (and I should know I'm the one teaching them).
It is so sad that Breyer have missed this opportunity. In the UK we have some beautiful breeds of horses many of which such as the Suffolk Punch, Cleveland Bay and Exmoor Pony are dying out. Breyerfest is a major event so why not use it to support those breeds that actually need support? Breyer does a lot of charity related work and to their credit have done great things for some endangered breeds, it is just sad that they lost this chance to do something good.
So why didn't they choose a proper breed? Well I think it comes down to a few things. The first is of course money, American's like big, fluffy, pinto coloured horses, that much is clear. The Othello mold is also a really popular one. So it makes sense that they would create a big, fluffy, pinto coloured horse on the Othello mold. The second is probably the lack of British breed molds made by Breyer meaning they would have to create an entirely new sculpture. The final reason is probably the American's fascination with the British monarchy. The drum horse is of course one of our great traditions so they have latched onto it and decided that what could be more British than something to do with the Queen? I'm sure there will be a nice decorator model with a tea pot on as well....
It's not that I hate the model or the way Breyer are doing things...it's more that I feel a great love for our native breeds and a great sadness that they are dying out. I am sad that a chance that could have been used to raise awareness was instead used to make things up.
*nods* Ditto all that!
ReplyDeleteIt would have been such a brilliant opportunity to get some nice and accurate sculptures made but nooo, they had to ignore us. :(
I'm still raging about the G3 'Highland' which aside from being dun, shares absolutely no similarities to the breed. :/
As lovely as 'Drum Horses' are, they, like cobs, are a TYPE, not a breed. You can get one by crossing a Shire/Clyde with any coloured cob or pinto thing and besides, they'd only really be allowed to be called 'Drum' horses if they'd actually been in the household cavalry!
'I'm sure there will be a nice decorator model with a tea pot on as well....'
XD XD
I'm 100% behind this. Admittedly, Breyer are restricted to what horses they can use by what's available in the US and whose owners will co-operate, but there is at least one Dales which appears at BF on a regular basis. I personally don't like the Wintersong/Othello model because it is very faulty and lacks any kind of breed type, but then I suppose that makes it eminently suitable for a mongrel - which in fact is all that these so-called "drum horses" are.
ReplyDeleteStill, it could have been worse - my personal nightmare was a 'Suffolk' on the 'bubble-butt' Belgian...
Actually Breyer has already done a Cleveland bay on the Journeyman mould and since Cleveland bays are well bay and have a limited amount of white (pretty sure only a star is allowed)and even with the loose mane version I'm not sure the run of the mill collector (or their parents, because lets face some kid would whine to them) would be very happy with their ticket model looking very similar to a regular run a few years back (I personally love that mould and they could release in any colour and I'd still buy it.)
ReplyDeleteI have no idea about the other two breeds but I do know that in America there are breed societies and groups for the "Drum horse" maybe some non-horsey executives googled them and figured that it also happened in Great Britain? Not saying it's right just saying America in general has some funny ideas about rest of the world.
I actually really really hate the markings on their drum horse, it makes his look huge!
I'm American and I agree with you. I was really hoping for a nice New Forest pony, an Exmoor (which was done on the Misty mold a few years back, not sure how typey it really is)or a Fell! Ah well, they try hard. Don't worry, you aren't the only one sick of the "purebred" Vanner and Drum Horse. Sure, they are pretty, but they are types not breeds.
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