Personalised Goody Bags Anyone?

Would it really be a show run by me if I didn't go completely extra on the goody bags? Obviously not! This year even by my own standards I have gone a bit extra, that title is correct, this year I have made personalised goody bags for each entrant!

I've used these adorable small tote bags that are the perfect size for a goody bag. I've then used a very simple iron on vinyl for each bag (I know I know the waste THE WASTE, but it was the easiest option). Each bag has a little horse heart design with the entrant's name underneath.

I was so happy with how they turned out. I picked the colours completely at random so I hope people are happy with their colours! I was going to do glitter vinyl but I didn't have enough left to do all the bags and I didn't want some people to have some and others not. Also I desperately need to restick my Cricut mats, thankfully we didn't have any slippage today!

The bags will all be stuffed full of amazing items. We are still waiting on three items to arrive which is why I can't do a full reveal of the contents yet, but don't worry when they arrive I definitely will! They are going to be A-MA-ZING. Trust me.

And the best part? I have enough items to make two more goody bags which means if you book last minute (like now) I can still put you together a bag! Although please don't leave it super last minute as it does take time to get the Cricut out and make the bags!

If you are tempted to get a last minute ticket you can buy them here: https://chestnutridge.co.uk/collections/show-tickets

Recycled Live is BACK!

Sometimes you just need to do the thing and yesterday I very much just did the thing! I booked the hall and I can officially say that Recycled Live is back for it's sixth show!

If you've never attended a Recycled Live before they are basically your usual model horse show but with a couple of twists. The first twist is that all the certificates, rosettes and other awards are 'recycled'. So you really won't know what you'll get! We have boxes and boxes of these so I very much knew I had to run the show again in order to use them up! This also means we can keep the entry fee really low as basically the only money we spend is the hall hire, BMECS qualification and some tea, coffee, sugar and bin bags (although in keeping with the show maybe we could avoid all plastic waste this year)!

It is also a British breeds only live show. Remember Lah Di Dah Live? Well this is what it is now! It still has the amazing British breeds only schedule with Performance and UK workmanship as well. This is a great show as it allows you to bring out horses you wouldn't normally bring out. No more trying to squish all your ponies into one British Native class, nope, instead you've got separate classes for all the breeds! No more trying to decide which Welsh to bring, nope, one class for each section! With sections for OF, CM, ARC and CTF you can also show all your horses.

If you want to attend spaces are limited, all the information you need is below but if you don't even want to read that and you're thinking YES PLEASE THIS SOUNDS AWESOME! Then click the link and buy your ticket :D

https://chestnutridge.co.uk/products/recycled-live-vi?search=top-products

Recycled Live V Supreme Champion

Basic Info

Date: 30^th November 2025

Location: The Pludds, Ruardean, GL17 9UQ

Doors Open: 8.00am

Start Time: 9.00am

Sections: Original Finish, Custom Finish, Artist Resin/China, CTF, Performance/Fun & UK Workmanship

Contact: competitions@chestnutridge.co.uk

We will be applying for BMECS qualification.

The Cost

Entry Fee: £10.00 + one raffle prize + one item of food/drink

The last two items are mandatory – turn up on the day without them and you will be told where the local shop is and sent on your way to get them!

Please purchase your tickets at: https://chestnutridge.co.uk/products/recycled-live-vi?search=top-products

Entry Terms

(1)   Entry fees are 100% non-refundable under any circumstances – once you have paid you have made a commitment to attend the show

a.      Excess entry fees will be donated to the chosen charity

(2)   Failure to attend (either dropping out last minute, not turning up on the day etc) could result in your place being forfeited at future shows without a refund.

(3)   No deposits or half tables are being offered at this show as the entry fee is quite low!

All entrants will get one full table, please make sure to keep your boxes under your table!

Now onto the more fun bit – please do not let the above put you off, sadly we had a lot of issues last year and we have had to be quite strict, this ensures that the show is full and that everyone who attends wants to be there.

Recycled Live IV Supreme Champion

The Schedule

Original Finish

1. Anglo-Arab
2. British Sport Horse/Warmblood
3. British Spotted Pony
4. Cleveland Bay
5. Clydesdale
6. Cobs
7. Connemara
8. Dales
9. Dartmoor
10. Eriskay, Kerry Bog & Lundy Pony
11. Exmoor
12. Fell
13. Hackney
14. Highland
15. Hunter/Hack
16. Irish Draught
17. Irish Sport Horse
18. New Forest
19. Riding & Show Pony
20. Shetland
21. Shire
22. Sport Pony & Hunter Pony
23. Suffolk Punch
24. Thoroughbred (Traditional)
25. Thoroughbred (Other Scale)
26. Welsh A
27. Welsh B
28. Welsh C
29. Welsh D
30. UK Donkey
31. Fantasy/Decorator (UK moulds only)
32. Other Partbred Horse
33. Other Partbred Pony
34. Youngstock/Foals

Original Finish Championship

Custom Finish

35. Anglo-Arab

36. British Sport Horse/Warmblood

37. British Spotted Pony

38. Cleveland Bay & Hackney

39. Clydesdale

40. Cobs

41. Connemara & Kerry Bog

42. Dales

43. Dartmoor & Lundy Pony

44. Exmoor

45. Highland & Eriskay

46. Hunter, Hack & Irish Sport Horse

47. Irish Draught

48. New Forest & Fell

49. Riding Pony & Horse

50. Shetland

51. Shire

52. Sport Pony, Show Pony & Hunter Pony

53. Suffolk Punch

54. Thoroughbred

55. Welsh A

56. Welsh B

57. Welsh C

58. Welsh D

59. UK Donkey

60. Fantasy/Decorator (UK moulds only)

61. Other Partbred Horse

62. Other Partbred Pony

63. Youngstock/Foals

Custom Finish Championship

CTF

64. Anglo-Arab

65. British Sport Horse/Warmblood

66. British Spotted Pony

67. Cleveland Bay

68. Clydesdale

69. Connemara

70. Dales

71. Dartmoor

72. Eriskay, Kerry Bog & Lundy Pony

73. Exmoor

74. Feathered Cobs

75. Fell

76. Hackney

77. Highland

78. Hunter/Hack

79. Irish Draught

80. Irish Sport Horse

81. New Forest

82. Non-Feathered Cobs

83. Riding & Show Pony

84. Shetland

85. Shire

86. Sport Pony & Hunter Pony

87. Suffolk Punch

88. Thoroughbred

89. Welsh A

90. Welsh B

91. Welsh C

92. Welsh D

93. UK Donkey

94. Fantasy/Decorator (UK moulds only)

95. Other Partbred Horse

96. Other Partbred Pony

97. Youngstock/Foals

CTF Championship

Artist Resin

To include Animal Artistry models

98. Anglo-Arab & Hackney
99. British Sport Horse & Warmblood
100. British Spotted Ponies
101. Cobs
102. English Ponies
103. Hunter & Hack
104. Irish Draught & Cleveland Bay
105. Irish Ponies
106. Scottish Ponies
107. Thoroughbred
108. UK Heavy Horse
109. Welsh
110. UK Donkey
111. Fantasy/Decorator (UK moulds only)
112. Other Partbred Horse
113. Other Partbred Pony
114. Youngstock/Foals

Artist Resin Championship

Performance & Fun

115. In Hand Showing

116. Ridden Horse & Pony

117. Show Jumping (British/Irish breeds only)

118. Cross Country & Working Hunter (British/Irish breeds only)

119. Racing

120. Hunting

121. Pony Club/Mounted Games/Gymkhana

122. Fancy Dress

123. Other British Performance

124. Scene

125. Recycled Horse

Create a horse out of things you’ve found lying around – maybe something sculpted from wood or a horse out of rubbish! Be creative!

126. Best Body

Bring along a body. It shall be judged. Maybe this should say worst body instead…

127. Model Horse Transformation

Please include reference of what the horse looked like prior to its transformation. Includes both customisation and repair jobs.

128. Vintage

Original and custom finished pieces produced before the year 2000.

129. Other Animal

Any British non-equine

Performance & Fun Championship

UK Workmanship

Custom painted models (including Artist Resins) by British Artists only – these models can be non-British breeds.

130. Bay
131. Black
132. Chestnut
133. Grey
134. Sabino
135. Bay Pinto
136. Black Pinto
137. Other Pinto
138. Leopard Spotted
139. Blanket Spotted
140. Other Spotted
141. Roan & Rabicano
142. Dun
143. Buckskin & Palomino
144. Non-Equine
145. Fantasy & Decorator
146. Medallion & Bust
147. Other Colour

UK Workmanship Championship

Recycled Live III Supreme Champion

Donations

This is a charity live so all donations will be greatly received. We are looking for:

•       Raffle Prize Donations
•       Rosettes/Trophies
•       Donation Sales Donations
•       Certificates
•       Food
•       Anything else you think you can donate

Raffle and Sales

There will be a raffle at lunch time – tickets will be priced at £1.00 per strip.

There will be space for sales at lunch

Rules and Entry

• 1.      This is an open show and therefore anyone may enter.
• 2.      3 entries per entrant per in hand class
• 3.      2 entries per performance & workmanship class
• 4.      Each horse can only enter one breed class.
• 5.      Halters are allowed in breed classes but please no other tack or handlers
• 6.      Riders/handlers are mandatory in all performance classes with the exception of scene where not appropriate.
• 7.      No running, dogs or smoking is permissible in the hall.
• 8.      Take care when placing or removing horses from the ring.
• 9.      Do not touch or move any other model unless you have express permission to do so.
• 10.  Poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated.  You will be asked to leave with no refunding of entry fee.
• 11.  The judge’s decision is final.
• 12.  Any queries regarding the show or classes should be directed to the show holders.
• 13.  Children under 13 years must be accompanied by an adult.
• 14.  Please sit at your own table throughout the show, do not place models on the floor or move them to another showers table.
• 15.  The organisers, their agents, nor the owner of the hall, will be held responsible for any theft, damage or personal injury.
• 16.  Please bring a packed lunch – snacks and drinks will be provided
• 17.  The show holder reserves the right to ask anyone to leave the show at any time without a refund of their entry fee. We WILL NOT tolerate poor sportsmanship, at all, ever.

Prizes & Sponsorship

      There will be certificates to sixth place

      There will be rosettes or trophies for champions

      Overall champions will get rosettes and possibly something else

      Sponsorship Costs

•       Class - £2.00
•       Section - £5.00
•       Championship - £4.00

      Alternatively if you donate the rosettes/prizes for a section/class/championship I will allow you to place advertising

      Sponsors get advertising in the show pack

Lah Di Dah Live II Supreme Champion (the precursor to Recycled Live)

My Favourite Breyer Thoroughbred Moulds

Today I thought I would share some of my favourite Breyer Thoroughbred moulds. Breyer have produced so many Thoroughbred models over the years it is hard to pick just a few but this is a great chance to look at the variety in the range and also think about which one's work best as a Thoroughbred. I've split it down by scale so that we can look at each size and which one I think is best.

Traditional

I couldn't pick just one Traditional scale Thoroughbred so instead I have chosen two favourites. There are so many gorgeous Thoroughbred Traditionals that this feels very arbitrary but I had to pick some, so I went with two that are very different in type and reflect the real variety you see in the Thoroughbred breed.

Emerson/Standing Thoroughbred

My number one choice is the Emerson/Standing Thoroughbred mould (although often referred to as Winx). This mould was sculpted by Susan Carlton Shifton and was first released as part of the Premier Club in 2018. It comes in two gender variations with a mare version produced as a portrait of the famous racehorse Winx.

Breyer Collector's Club Appreciate Winx

What I like about this mould is that it is a good fit Thoroughbred. It looks like so many of the Thoroughbreds I've worked with over the years, sleek and fit and ready to race. I also love a good standing model with four legs in each corner. It's just a really nice, solid mould. Nothing flashy or special but just good, and I love that in a model.

Smarty Jones

My second choice is Smarty Jones. Smarty is a very different type of Thoroughbred, he is more of the American style and is far more chunky and muscly than Emerson is with a lot more meat on his bones, but he's still a nice solid Thoroughbred. He also comes in a Polo Pony variation which is one of my favourite model variations Breyer have done (I also love the G2 Thoroughbred Polo Pony variation). Probably because I like a good hogged horse so of course I'm going to love a hogged model horse!

Custom Breyer Smarty Jones by Deborah Brown

The Smarty Jones mould was also sculpted by Susan Carlton Shifton and was first released in 2004 as a regular run portrait of Smarty Jones. He's been available in a huge range of colourways since with lots of famous race horse portraits including the infamous Frankel.

I want to finish by giving a shout out to the Lonesome Glory and Cigar moulds as well. I do love both of these moulds too but I decided I couldn't just make this a list of every Thoroughbred model Breyer have produced (although I suppose I could do that) and should exercise some element of self-restraint!

Classic

Swaps

My Classic choice is of course the wonderful Swaps. There are quite a few Classic scale Thoroughbred moulds but I do think Swaps is the best of the bunch. Swaps was originally sculpted in 1975 by Maureen Love and is also available in Stablemate scale for those would like something a bit smaller. He was last used in 2017 as a web special and frankly I think is definitely due a comeback, we need a new Swaps!

The infamous 'Cloud' on the Breyer Swaps mould

Again what I like about this mould is he is a good, straight standing Thoroughbred. He is a nice mould with some fairly detailed muscling and has huge potential for resculpt glow ups.

Paddock Pal

Thoroughbred Stallion

OK so there is only one Paddock Pal/Littlebit Thoroughbred mould but that does not mean we are going to skip him just because he wins by default! All sizes are represented in this Blog and just because Breyer have decided to only produce the Paddock Pals in the Craft Kits at the moment does not mean we aren't going to cherish this scale and show them all the love they deserve. The Thoroughbred Stallion was sculpted in 1983 by Chris Hess and can still be found in the Paint Your Own Horse kits although has not been released in a colourway since 2015.

Breyer Sport Horse (I don't actually have a Thoroughbred coloured Thoroughbred Stallion)!

I picked this one because by default it was the only Thoroughbred but it's still a sweet little mould. He has performance potential and with a bit of resculpting makes a really lovely custom.

Stablemate

I had quite a long debate with myself about this one but eventually settled on a model. I did think about being annoying and picking Swaps again but decided against it!

G5 Walking Thoroughbred

My choice for Stablemate is the G5 Walking Thoroughbred/Greyson. The Walking Thoroughbred was introduced as part of the Stablemate Club in 2019 and was sculpted by Heather Puleo. Since then he has had quite a few releases and is proving a popular mould in Breyer's line up.

BreyerFest Single Day Stablemate 'Jersey'

This is a bit of an odd mould and is often quite a weird one to look at but I picked him because I've worked with so many Thoroughbreds who look just as ugly as this mould does if you look at it at the wrong angle and yet were amazing little race horses. That's kinda why I like it, it's odd, and weird, and the head is a bit goofy, but that's Thoroughbreds. You look at one and think "that thing shouldn't be able to walk" and yet it goes off like a bullet and wins every race you put it in. They're a strange creature the Thoroughbred, but that's why we love them.

I feel like I need to finish the Stablemate section by giving a huge shout out to everyone's favourite shelf wobbler, the G2 Thoroughbred. If you haven't shouted "I give up" (often with a tonne of expletives) whilst attempting to get a ridiculously long conga of these to stand up, you're not really a Breyer collector.

So there we have it, my favourite Breyer Thoroughbred moulds. Which are your favourite Breyer Thoroughbred moulds? Let me know! Bonus points for sharing cute pictures.

New Second Hand Models

We have a selection of new second hand models available at Chestnut Ridge. We are constantly adding new models to the website so it is always worth checking back if you are looking for something in particular.

All our models, whatever the condition, are shipped wrapped up snug so that you receive your model in the condition you expect. The model you see in the pictures is the exact horse you'll receive so you always know exactly what you are going to get when you buy something special from Chestnut Ridge.

Well that's enough talk, let's have a look at what we've got:

Hoopla - £125.00

https://chestnutridge.co.uk/products/hoopla?search=top-products

Seize The Day Surprise - £150.00

https://chestnutridge.co.uk/products/seize-the-day-surprise-palomino-pinto-matte?search=top-products

Gwen - £4.00

https://chestnutridge.co.uk/products/gwen?search=top-products

Magenta - £4.00

https://chestnutridge.co.uk/products/magenta?search=top-products

Titanium - £4.00

https://chestnutridge.co.uk/products/titanium?search=top-products

Iggy - £3.00

https://chestnutridge.co.uk/products/iggy?search=top-products

Chestnut Appaloosa - £10.00

https://chestnutridge.co.uk/products/chestnut-appaloosa-johar?search=top-products

Joey - £10.00

https://chestnutridge.co.uk/products/joey?search=top-products

Man O' War - £25.00

https://chestnutridge.co.uk/products/man-o-war?search=top-products

Which is your favourite out of this selection?

BreyerFest 2025 Models

My models from BreyerFest 2025 arrived yesterday, just two weeks after I placed my order! That has to be the quickest BreyerFest shipping time ever. I was absolutely shocked to have them arrive so soon. Obviously I made Brendon pick them up from ParcelForce on the way home the moment I knew they had them.

If you don't want to spoil the surprise of who I got and would rather watch the unboxing click on the video below :D

If watching crazy ladies open boxes on the internet isn't really your thing then you can scroll down to see the lowdown on all the models I received this year at BreyerFest.

First up we have CRS The Alchemist of Brushstokes and Brimstone (Tight Lines)

Duplicate Tight Lines - Sold

Duplicate Cava - Sold

Hoopla - Will be for sale

Buckskin Pinto Surprise Horse (Matte) - Will be for sale

CRS Hephaestus - glossy grey Seize the Day Surprise

CRS Too Old To Party (Hats Off To You)

CRS Aurum Ghost (To The Ties That Bind Us)

CRS Draftula (Draftula)

CRS Idomeneus (Game Day Surprise)

CRS Technicolour Turncoat (Shindig)

CRS Mionetto (Prosecco)

CRS Bollinger (Mimosa)

CRS Peach Puree (Bellini)

CRS Penedes (Cava)

CRS Ratsputin (Ratsputin)

CRS Menelaeus (Jubilation)

CRS Nestor (Soiree)

CRS Odysseus (Hullabaloo)

CRS Teucer (Revelry)

CRS Aeneas (Red Letter Day)

CRS Agenor (Agenor)

CRS Antenor (Antenor)

CRS Andromache (Hailstorm)

CRS Deadly Foresight (Gwen)

CRS Glaucus (Florence)

CRS Hector (Peachy Keen)

CRS Laodice (Iggy)

CRS Lycaon (Lilac)

CRS Pandarus (Milo)

CRS Paris' Pride (Billie)

CRS Polydamas (Lydon)

CRS Priam (Ronny)

CRS Sarpedon (Tidal Wave)

CRS Theano (Magenta)

CRS Memnon (Titanium)

Duplicate Gwen - Will be for sale

Duplicate Magenta - Will be for sale

Duplicate Titanium - Will be for sale

Duplicate Iggy - Will be for sale

Have you received your BreyerFest 2025 models yet? I'd love to know which ones you got! Obviously I also got some plushies including the BreyerFest 2025 plushie as well as some swag, including a t-shirt (wearing it right now), water bottle, bag and pyjamas!