We travelled down to my parents (two spaniels, a lot of model horses and a porg in tow) on Friday night, that meant that on Saturday morning we would only have an hour and a half drive which was rather nice!
Saturday started in the cold and dark (not fun) but we were soon off and after a quick stop for Starbucks (and me hatching a shiny Wurmple in a hat)! We arrived in Essex and at the show hall.
Now I'm not usually one to express hatred towards buildings but this is my single least favourite show hall. Normally we go there in the Summer and it is like a literal sauna, turns out it is like that in winter too. Freezing and windy outside, boiling inside! What a strange building, but at least it wasn't ice cold which is what I was expecting!
I promptly unpacked and took some time to chat, see people's new horses and show off my rather awesome new green zebra! It was then time for performance, I had decided that even I am not enough of a masochist to do performance in January so sat back and watched others suffer instead.
The show had some gorgeous prizes on offer, including stunning rosettes and custom wine glasses!
Performance
Performance didn't have a huge number of entrants but all of those that did enter were of a really high standard. The first entry I saw that really stood out to me was this gorgeous in hand Thoroughbred set using Emerson:
He looks like a proper Thoroughbred as part of this set! I want him as a real horse.
One of the things I'm passionate about is showing you don't need expensive horses to do well at live shows. So check out the performance entry below with a simple Schleich:
This was another of my favourite entries of the day, the detail on the cart is just gorgeous and I love the custom CollectA, it suits it so well!
Another really lovely performance entry, who doesn't love a beautifully made Arabian costume? Also there is a mohair model in it so I am bound to be in love.
Performance Championship
Performance Champion
Performance Reserve Champion
Performance Reserve to Reserve Champion
Original Finish
Original finish ran from the start of the day, lots of people had new models to show off but there were also some old favourites. I shall now spam you with lots of really pretty ponies.
Glossy Chip Arabian with flash? What's not to like! This model has such a beautiful colour.
Hal is one of my favourite models, can't believe I still don't have a model on this mould! Think I'll add that to my BreyerFest shopping list...
Below is a shot of one of the classes, it was a mix of Paint and Appaloosa, as you can see there was real variety at the show which was so nice to see.
Another really nice model and a good example of how lazy I am, didn't even move the post it notes. Can you spot it in the picture above? It should be there, it was the same class!
Mmmm glossy palomino Peter Stone? Look at that dappling! Such a lovely horse.
One of the newer Breyer moulds, the Classic Mustang that was released as a mid-year release in 2019. He is one of the first I've actually seen in the show ring so I thought I would grab a pic.
Another shot of the OF ring, can you figure out what class this was?
(it was OF Other Purebred Pony)
This is my Iris decorator. I was really impressed that she managed to get 2nd in OF Fantasy/Decorator!
A really lovely Breyer Shire. I love the shading on the face of this one.
One of my favourite models on the show circuit. A gorgeous dapple bay blanket spotted Stone ISH.
Original Finish Championship
OF Champion - BFA Donkey
OF Reserve Champion - Glossy variation Zenyatta's first colt
Custom Finish
Custom Finish also ran from the start of the day, some really stunning pieces on show as always. I have selected a few favourites to share.
Apologies for the poor quality picture but isn't this girl stunning? I just love that mohair tail!
If you will indulge me for a second I couldn't resist getting a show of Icicle's stunning head. I love this horse so much. Best £20 I ever spent!
More indulgence on my part. The stunning and beloved CRS God's Nectar.
I love the paint job on this CollectA Shire. Really beautiful piece.
This is Casper strutting his stuff in the CM Partbred Heavy class. Can you spot what is special about him?
This guy was possibly a little too arrogant for my liking. Yes we know you are beautiful you don't need to rub it in our faces!
Another stunning resculpt, this one an Arabian mare.
I rather like the paint work on this little guy as well. There is something almost artistic about it, like it's a flat painting not a 3D model.
Another of my favourite models on the show circuit, no surprises that she won PBA!
Looks like somebody is expecting baby zebras in the near future! Zebets I shall decide they shall be called.
Custom Championship
Custom champion
Artist Resin
Artist Resin ran after Performance, it excluded Animal Artistry models but included Artist Chinas. As with before I have picked out some of my favourites to share with you.
This is a lovely little Marwari resin, just look at those subtle dapples.
This shot is absolutely awful but I do love this little resin. I still haven't quite forgiven Brandy for breaking mine!
And whilst we are on the subject of awful pictures. Check this out! This little micro resin Vanner has been resculpted to a drum horse with rider, drums and tack! Absolutely incredible.
This is probably one of the more unusual ways that I've seen someone display a model at a live show, on a glove!
Artist Resin Championship
AR Champion
AR Reserve Champion (we you couldn't have a show without an Indy)
CTF
After OF had finished we moved onto a mixed CTF section. Equorums, RubberNedz and Rydals had been moved to their own section but everything else went into this brilliantly mixed section. Lots of nice and varied models on show.
I really liked this one, nice straight legs! And the colour is just gorgeous.
This is one of the nicer Schleich moulds, it's a little Icelandic from a gift set many moons ago.
CTF Championship
Absolutely no prizes for guessing who took CTF champion!
CTF Champion - WIA Gustav (bay variation)
CTF Reserve Champion - CollectA Lipizzaner
Workmanship
With AR and CM out of the way we started on the workmanship section. I had successfully managed to only pack one model before I realised, which I think is quite an achievement.
This was one of my favourite horses of the entire show. I had the privilege of judging him in AR and he is just lush.
RN, EQ & Rydal
The RubberNedz & Equorum (inc. Rydal) section followed the main CTF section. Of course I had brought the children out to play.
Louis the German hanging out with Wilhelm II in the Thoroughbred class. Wilhelm is slightly jealous of Louis' hair.
RN & EQ Championship
Champion - RN Hackney
Reserve Champion - RN Hackney
Animal Artistry
Animal Artistry followed Artist Resin and was the last section of the day. It was at this point that I started to run around a bit, which isn't great when you are carrying chinas.
I really love this model but have definitely not taken a good picture of him!
Animal Artistry Championship
AA Champion
AA Reserve Champion
Supreme Championship
I had the pleasure of helping to judge this and although it took us a long time to decide on number 3 we were all in agreement about one and two!
Supreme Champion
Custom Alborozo by Rayvin Maddock and Nikki O'Neil
Reserve Supreme Champion
RubberNedz Hackney
Reserve to Reserve Supreme Champion
Union Jack foal with wings
I final massive thank you to Theresa and Holly for such a great day, you both did an exceptional job considering it was the first show you have ever run! It was so great to see everything and now I'm itching to get out again!
