Mould Focus: Alborozo

For today's mould focus we are going to be looking at one of the most infamous moulds, the Alborozo mould. 

About the Mould

The Alborozo mould was first sculpted in 2008 and introduced as the BreyerFest Celebration model in that year. He was sculpted by Brigitte Eberl and was a portrait of the famous Andalusian stallion of the same name. Done in a dynamic pose he was a lovely example of the breed. He is mould number 719.

What made Alborozo unique was that after the initial run of 6,000 models produced for BreyerFest in that year Breyer intentionally broke the mould. This means that the only obtainable release on the mould was the BreyerFest 2008 Celebration Horse. Since then there have been a few auction models but you will not see another obtainable Alborozo again (with the exceptions of the shrinkies).

BreyerFest 2008 Live Auction model

Releases

There have been eight releases on the Traditional scale Alborozo mould. The mould has been shrunk and there are several shrinkie releases (see below) but here we are just going to focus on the Traditional releases.

Alborozo

Release Year: 2008
Model Number: 711108
Colour: Grey

Finish: Matte

Run Number: 6,000
BreyerFest 2008 Celebration Horse

Glossy Alborozo

Release Year: 2008

Model Number: 711108G

Colour: Grey

Finish: Glossy

Run Number: 30

BreyerFest 2008 Costume Contest Prize

Smutty Palomino

Release Year: 2008

Model Number: NA

Colour: Palomino

Finish: Matte

Run Number: 1

BreyerFest 2008 Live Auction model

Glossy Dapple Bay

Release Year: 2012

Model Number: NA

Colour: Bay

Finish: Glossy

Run Number: 1

BreyerFest 2012 Live Auction model

Alegria

Release Year: 2014

Model Number: 711192

Colour: Grulla

Finish: Matte

Run Number: 3

BreyerFest 2014 Early Bird Raffle model

Buckskin Sabino

Release Year: 2019

Model Number: NA

Colour: Buckskin Sabino

Finish: Glossy

Run Number: 1

BreyerFest 2019 Live Auction model

Blue Roan

Release Year: 2024

Model Number: NA

Colour: Blue Roan

Finish: Matte

Run Number: 1

BreyerFest 2024 Live Auction model

Pegasus

Release Year: 2025

Model Number: NA

Colour: Blue Pinto Decorator (added wings)

Finish: Pearl

Run Number: 1

BreyerFest 2025 Live Auction model

Sale price for the BreyerFest 2025 Live Auction model

In The Show Ring

In the show ring the obvious choice for a breed for Alborozo is Andalusian and as he is a good example of this breed. However, I have also seen some lovely custom Lusitanos on the mould which would also be an excellent choice.

If customised to a colour that isn't suitable for the Andalusian or Lusitano breed you may have to be more creative. Breeds such as the Spanish Mustang or Spanish Jennett may be suitable depending on the level of customisation.

But if you have the bog standard 2008 Celebration Model I'd recommend going for the Andalusian.

An Alborozo in the show ring at BMECS 2014

Shrinkie

In 2014 Breyer shrunk the Alborozo mould for the first time. The first shrinkie was around Paddock Pal scale and was released in crystal. Plateado was released for BreyeFest 2014 and was a run of 350.

In 2018 the Stablemate Shrinkie was first released. He was initially released as a unicorn available both in the Horse Crazy Surprise bags as a lilac unicorn and the blue chase piece and as part of the Paint and Play individual sets. In 2019 he was first released without his horn as part of the Mystery Horse Surprise Series 2 (he was both a standard model in dun and also the chase piece in silver) and then as a BreyerFest Store Special 'Sarge'. Since then he has had 34 releases with 21 unicorns and 13 non-unicorns.

The 2021-2022 regular run release, Mulberry Grey Andalusian.

Like his larger cousin he shows well as an Andalusian or Lusitano but can easily be customised to suit other Spanish style breeds. The numerous unicorn releases also mean he is great for decorator collectors as he has had more decorator releases than realistic colours (several of the non-unicorns are also decorators).

The 2021-2024 regular run release, Peridot

This shrinkie has made a hard to obtain mould obtainable and also means you feel less guilt when customising one as you can use the little version instead!

BreyerFest Second Chance Sale

Friday saw the launch of this year's BreyerFest second chance sale. There is a really good selection of models available this year and, although some are sold out, there are still lots of nice models to get hold of.

Let's have a look at what is available

Special Runs

The following special runs are available to purchase

Thingvellir - $75

Litha - $75 - SOLD OUT

Birka & Ribe - $90

Aquavit  - $75

Hirtir - $70

Scandi Surprise - $90 - SOLD OUT

The Wanderer - $80 - SOLD OUT

Oseberg - $80 - SOLD OUT

Midnattssol - $80 - SOLD OUT

Limited Editions

Uff Da - $78

Hygge - $16

Best of BreyerFest Series 7 - $65

Ojvind - $75

Pyxis av Drommarna - $85 - SOLD OUT

Vindur from Dalalif - $75

Dalarna - $38

Blom - $20

Skogafoss - $55

Event Models

Corgi Hill Flinka - $60

Event Stablemate (Random) - $25

Event Stablemates (Set of Four) - $100 - SOLD OUT

Merch

Can Koozie - $5

Fluffy T-Shirt - $30

Rather Be At BreyerFest Tank - $20

Skal T-Shirt - $30

Metallic Tumbler with Straw - $22

Rather Be At BreyerFest Hoodie - $60

Horse Girl Summer Water Bottle - $25

Midsummer Night's Breed Tank - $20

Skal Joggers - $45

Logo Water Bottle - $25

Visor - $25

Breyer Life Journal - $20

Enamel Pin - $5 - SOLD OUT

Skal Sticker - $2

Flower Pot - $5 - SOLD OUT

Wildflower Seed Packets - $15

Black Metal T-Shirt - $30 - SOLD OUT

Wine Tumbler - $15

Other

VIP Model Package - $1000 - SOLD OUT

What have you managed to get hold of in the sale? I definitely want to add an Aquavit but I am going to hold off until BF next year as I suspect they will be in one of the bundles as there are clearly quite a few left

Three New Resins

I've been busy painting recently and have started to try and put a dent in all the unpainted micros. Probably pushed on by the fact that I literally do not have any more space for unpainted micros (although it is worth noting that I also don't have any space for painted micros so we are in a little bit of a predicament).

I've got three finished over the last few days, two heavy horses and a Morgan. I prepped these models over a year ago with a plan to take the Shire to Recycled Live. But, like many things, when I fell pregnant again that got pushed to the bottom of the todo list and nothing got painted until I went on maternity leave seven weeks ago!

So let's go through and see what I completed

First up we have CRS White Marble aka Pierre.

Pierre is a Maggie Bennett Donner resin from 2017 (yes that is how long some of these horses stand unpainted on the shelf for, I'm pretty she he is not actually the oldest one). He was sculpted as a Boulonnais and as I don't actually have a Boulonnais in my collection I decided to go for a standard grey and keep him.

He has been painted to a fleabitten grey. His base colour was done with pastels and then he has hand done fleabites with pastel pencils across his whole body. He was finished off in hand painted acrylics. I went with a heavy metallic grey for the base to contrast his light body colour.

Second we have CRS Blakemore

Blakemore is a CF Micro Pewter Shire (Winston). I purchased the full set of CF micros when they were released, this is the third one to get painted and joins my Exmoor and Welsh D. 

He has been painted to a traditional Shire black with four even white socks and a white stripe. I really just wanted your bog standard traditional Shire colour for him. He has plenty of shading and some lovely sunburnt highlights in his mane and tail. Blakemore is also staying with me as I didn't have a single ARC Shire before I completed him.

Finally we have 'On My Own'

As the name suggests this is the only sales piece of the batch. He was painted with the intention to sell but I fell increasingly in love with him the more work I did on him. I very much want to keep him but he was done as a sales piece and I think should probably be sold. I have, however, put him in my micro cabinet and can't say I'll be disappointed if he ends up staying with me for some time!

On My Own is a Maggie Bennett Armstrong micro pewter. He was sculpted as a very angry Morgan Stallion. I love how much character he has and I think the fiery chestnut really suits his personality.

He was painted in airbrushed acrylics with pastels and pigments for shading. He was finished in hand painted acrylic with white flecking across his flanks, four white stocks and a white blaze. I think this dramatic colour works so well for such a dramatic little horse.

He is available now at Chestnut Ridge priced at £100. Click here to give him a new home.

Which is your favourite from this batch? I hope you like the colour choices as much as I do!