Chestnut Ridge Blog

Wednesday, 29 July 2026

Belize

Breyer have announced their latest release in the Exotic Destinations series. This model is a Collector's Club Web Special and is available now for Collector's Club members to enter for.

Belize is based on the Belize Barrier Reef which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains the Great Blue Hole which is a large marine sinkhole. The model is a gorgeous turquoise blue with a wave effect pattern across his body. He is on the Traditional scale Sham mould which really suits his gorgeous colour. I absolutely love this one, the colour is stunning, he is a beautiful decorator concept. I also have a massive soft spot for Sham so obviously I'm going to like him!

Belize is limited to 600 pieces and is priced at $185

Collector's Club members can login (or attempt to...but the less said about that the better) to enter for him now. Entries close on 30th July 2026.

Tuesday, 28 July 2026

Colour Me Custom - Stock Horse

During BreyerFest I offered ten 'Colour Me Customs' for sale through Chestnut Ridge. The idea was the buyer would pick from ten different bodies and then select the base colour, pattern and white markings for their model.

The first to sell (and very quickly) was the G3 Stock Horse. The buyer chose for the base coat to be bay, the pattern to be a blanket spotted and the white markings to be 'surprise me'. After some prepping I got to work trying to find a good reference picture for the model.

I came across a lovely bay blanket spotted with really unusual markings on his legs. I thought he would look lovely and fulfil the surprise me option for the markings really well. I also liked the blanket and spots, I always like a bit of less is more for blanket spotted models and thought this would work perfectly.

I started by using masking fluid to mark off the bulk of the blanket and some of the markings. This would save me time in having to do eight million white paint layers over a large patch of the model and also allowed me to add depth to the colour of the spots.

She was painted to a lovely bay using airbrushed acrylics, pigments and pastels. Once I was happy with her base colour I gave her a good seal and got her ready for THE PEEL.

Once all the masking fluid was carefully peeled off I then started to add detail to the markings. Going over each one adding mapping and hairing so they had a more realistic finish.

I then started work on her dark spots, finishing off the spots on the blanket and adding lots more over her body. The reference horse had those shadow style spots that are dark spots not on the blanket so I made sure to add those.

I finished off the details, sealed her, added some gloss to the hooves, eyes and nostrils, signed her under one hoof and then sent her off to her new home.

I was so happy to see that her new owner absolutely adored her, I don't offer many commissions because I worry so much that the buyer won't be happy but this was honestly so much fun to do. I'm thinking about offering this service again before Christmas with some different models (maybe 20 this time?). So if you'd like to have a go at ordering one of these keep an eye out! Hopefully they will be coming back in the autumn.

Sunday, 26 July 2026

Best of BreyerFest Stablemate Sets

BreyerFest is over and we are all receiving our horses, including for many, this year's Best of BreyerFest Stablemate set. So I thought it might be fun whilst I procrastinate from going outside and photographing my BreyerFest models to do a post just about these popular Stablemate sets.

Each of these sets contains five Stablemate models, each model is based on a previous Traditional scale BreyerFest horse from a previous BreyerFest. The sets are all inspired by models from an individual previous BreyerFest. For example, the set from 2022 was inspired by models from the 2016 BreyerFest and the 2021 set is based on BreyerFest 2011. They are one of the most popular BreyerFest items each year, often selling out quickly.

Series 1

The first set was released for BreyerFest 2020 (Celtic Fling). This was the first virtual BreyerFest as it was held during the height of Covid. There were 1500 copies of this set produced and they were sold for $60 each.

The models included in this set were:

Durham - Buckskin pinto G2 Warmblood based on Carlisle
Viaje - Chestnut pinto G4 Rivet based on Viajero
Gale - Silver bay blanket spotted G2 Thoroughbred based on Windswept
Kochab - Dapple grey (glossy) G4 Django based on North Star
Victoire - Bay pinto G3 Arabian based on Que Sera Sera

Shown is Viaje part of the Best of BreyerFest Series 1 set

Series 2

The second set was released for BreyerFest 2021 which was also online. This set was also priced at $60 and there were 3500 produced so a huge increase from the previous year.

The models included in this set were:

Grimm - Palomino blanket spotted G2 Paso Fino based on Perrault
Locksley - Roan G5 Lipizzaner based on Nottingham
Thumbelina - Buckskin G3 Highland based on Tom Thumb
Pendragon - Bay pinto G3 Stock Horse based on Camelot
Into the Woods - Grey G5 Warmblood Mare based on Happily Ever After

Shown is Thumbelina part of the Best of BreyerFest Series 2 set

Series 3

The third set was produced for BreyerFest 2022. Like the previous year there were 3500 sets produced and they were priced at $60. This was the first BreyerFest to be a hybrid in person and online event.

The models included in this set were:

Schumacher - Chestnut blanket spotted G3 Mustang based on Senna
Radler - Grey sabino G4 Walking Thoroughbred based on Caipirinha
Linzer - Bay pinto G5 Prince Charming based on Brigadeiros
Maifeld - Bay blanket spotted G3 Cantering Warmblood based on Polomar
Muller - Bay M1 Connemara Mare based on Pele

Shown is Muller part of the Best of BreyerFest Series 3 set

Series 4

The fourth set in the series was produced for BreyerFest 2023. The run numbers for this set were reduced down to 2000 and they sold out very quickly online. They were still priced at $60.

The models included in this set were:

Singletree - Bay pinto M1 Fireheart based on Honky Tonk
Liverpool - Grey M1 Magnolia based on Music Row
Whippletree - Palomino M1 Georg based on Opry
Landau - Roan blanket spotted G4 Driving based on Minnie Pearl
Hames - Red roan M1 Missouri Fox Trotter based on Walk of Fame

Series 5

The fifth set in the series was released for BreyerFest 2024 and was again very popular selling out extremely quickly online. There were 2100 sets produced and they were still priced at $60 per set.

The models included in this set were:

Bulletproof - Silver bay pinto M1 Clydesdale (loose mane) based on Woodford
Dance The Night - Grey blanket spotted M1 Fighting Stallion based on Kick Up Your Heels
Flowers - Chestnut G4 Dungaree (glossy) based on Bonheur
New Rules - Bay sabino G5 Irish Draught based on King Arthur
Wannabe - Bay pinto G5 Valegro based on Tacoma

Series 6

The sixth set was less popular than the previous two years remaining available for a longer period online. This set was released for BreyerFest 2025. There were again 2100 of these sets produced but they were sold at the increased price of $65 to reflect the introduction of tariffs (this saw prices on all the BreyerFest items increased in 2025).

The models included in this set were:

Hullabaloo - Palomino sabino G3 Thoroughbred based on C'est Bon
Jubilation - Palomino pinto G5 Fjord Stallion based on Truffles
Red Letter Day - Grey pinto G2 Saddlebred based on Tout Suite
Revelry - Chestnut blanket spotted M1 Smart Chic Olena based on Parfait
Soiree - Grey G5 Stock Horse Mare based on Creme de la Creme

Shown is Revelry part of the Best of BreyerFest - Series 6 set

Series 7

The seventh and most recent in the series this set was released for BreyerFest 2026. There were 2100 sets produced and they maintained the price of $65.

The models included in this set were:

Anderstorp - Buckskin pinto G4 Dressage based on Monaco
Faroe - Palomino G5 Mirado based on Capri
Kattegat - Roan pinto G5 Cantering Morgan based on Calabria
Stjärna - Bay pinto G6 Kit based on Seren
Støvel - Bay pinto M1 Indian Pony based on Totsi

I cannot wait to see what series eight brings when it is announced in 2027. What moulds and models are you hoping to see in the next series?

Wednesday, 22 July 2026

Rainbow Unicorn

Towards the end of my pregnancy I had horrible pregnancy insomnia, often sleeping for only a couple of hours each night and spending the rest of the time desperately trying to get comfortable and living with my own thoughts.

It was whilst I was in this state of sleep deprived insanity that I decided I really wanted to paint a rainbow pinto model with gold mapping around the markings. So of course, like any sensible person, I decided to give effect to my sleep deprived desired and create said model. I had a prepped Magnolia unicorn and thought that would be the perfect victim for this particular project.

I started by finding a reference of a real pinto horse whose markings I liked. This actually took longer than you'd think it would as I was very particular about having the right balance of white and colour. I wanted an approximate 50/50 split so you got a really nice hit of colour but it was balanced against the white.

Once I found the reference I then started by blocking out the white with Maskol. Once the Maskol had dried I then measured the horse and used a pencil to mark out approximate divisions so that each block of colour would be around the same width.

I then started on the airbrushing, working from red on the head down to purple on the tail. There was a bit of a delay whilst I had the baby, spent a week in hospital and then managed having a newborn at home but we eventually got there, finishing off the last few airbrushed colours last week. I decided that the mane and tail would be purple but added some pink fading into the purple on the tail to give it a bit more depth.

Once the airbrush rainbow colours were done and a layer of sealant had been applied to protect the paintwork from being scratched I started THE PEEL. I carefully removed all the Maskol to reveal the pinto pattern. This was the moment of truth, would it look as good as I hoped? I was absolutely delighted with how it turned out, it worked so well! The colours had faded into each other perfectly and because they'd been applied over the Maskol rather than each marking being hand painted they all lined up and the model really flowed.

Once all the Maskol was removed I then used a gold acrylic to go around each of the markings, creating mapping. I used the same gold for the horn and hooves as I didn't want to add too many colours to an already colourful horse! I also hand painted the purple mane as for some reason I'd put Maskol on the mane but then decided I actually wanted it purple. I suppose technically it should have only had colour where the markings touched but I mean we are painting a rainbow unicorn we don't have to follow colour pattern rules exactly!

I finished by giving her a gold and purple eye and then adding some glitter to the mane and tail. This was mainly because the purple on the mane had come out incredibly matte which didn't match the rest of the horse so I felt it needed something to create some continuity.

She was signed and gloss added to the hooves, eyes and horn and is now ready to find a new home.

Unfortunately she's not perfect, the primer cracked at some point around the head and I didn't have the mental energy to strip her completely. Thankfully it's on her non-show side so she should be great for photoshowing. I was also not happy with the shade of red, it was a lot more of a deeper blood red than it looked. I'm definitely going to do another one at some point with different markings and will pick a different red. Because of these issues she has a reduced price of just £25 which honestly is a bargain because she's so pretty!

Sale link: https://chestnutridge.co.uk/products/youll-be-in-my-heart

I definitely want to use this technique again to create another rainbow unicorn but I also think it would be fun to create other colour combinations and different markings. Now to prep a few more of the unicorn bodies I have so that I can create a whole army of pinto unicorns in different colours! I think a blue, pink and purple one would look gorgeous <3

Thursday, 2 July 2026

BF Fun Week 2026

It's that time of year again! It's nearly BreyerFest which can only mean one thing, it's time for BreyerFest Fun Week 2026 and we have an amazing selection of things going on next week. So sit back, relax and get ready to take part in an amazing week of activities at Chestnut Ridge.

Facebook Competitions

This year we again have £35.00 worth of Chestnut Ridge vouchers to give away on Facebook every day next week. We have an amazing selection of competitions so make sure to check back every day to take part.

Each competition will open at 9am so make sure to checkout Chestnut Ridge on Facebook at 9am BST each day for a new chance to win.

Facebook page link: https://www.facebook.com/chestnutridgemodels

Day 1 - Guess the surprise model

Guess which mould you think this year's surprise model will be on for your chance to win

Day 2 - Guess my special runs

Do you think you can predict which of my special run choices I will receive? Guess correctly for your chance to win

Day 3 - Treasure Hunt

Waffle Crackers is on the loose and you need to find him, follow the clues to win the prize!

Day 4 - Guess the auction sale amount

Do you think you can accurately predict how much the silver dapple Croi will sell for? Well get guessing!

Day 5 - Photo Contest

A quick snap into the Facebook comments and you are away.

Day 6 - Vote for your favourite limited edition

All you have to do is react to the Facebook post to vote - winner will be chosen at random from all reactions

Day 7 - Wordsearch

Just comment the name of the first model you see to be entered for your chance to win

Win a BF 2026 Limited Edition

Want to win a BreyerFest 2026 Limited Edition model? All you have to do is place an order at Chestnut Ridge between 00:01 BST Monday 6th July 2026 and 23:59 BST Sunday 12th July 2026 for your chance to win.

The exact model will be announced on Friday once I know I have secured them - we all know how unpredictable getting models at BF online can be!

Instagram Photoshow

This year we are running a free and fun photo contest on Instagram. All you have to do is take a picture matching the theme 'Midsummer' and then upload it to Instagram with the hashtag BFFunWeek2026PhotoShow

There will be certificates for 1st - 6th place and a £5.00 voucher for the winner. Open for entries all next week, closing July 12th.

OMHPS Photo Show

We are running a free photo show on OMHPS all next week. This show is for European breeds only and is open to all makes and models.

Link: https://www.omhps.com/Show/Details/0370c4f6-0bdc-4285-afb3-7339a59f5e75

You have no idea how long it took me to set this show up - there are so many breeds on the lists on OMHPS that I was like "is that European? Is that country technically in Europe? Why is this taking so long!"

Colour Me Customs

This is something new this year. I have selected 10 blank Stablemates to offer you guys the chance to get a cute little custom on each one (there is one duplicate mould because the G4 Paradressage I had originally selected had some SERIOUS leg warpage).

All you do is head on over to the product listing for the model you want and then you can select from a variety of different colours and markings. You have some control over what you get but I will make the final decision on shades and levels of markings. Sit back and wait and you will get a gorgeous new custom model horse in around a months time.

Priced at just £25 each!

Available now until July 12th 2026

Link: https://chestnutridge.co.uk/collections/customs-resins-stablemate

So that's it for this year - well it isn't it, we haven't even gotten started yet! I will see you all next week and make sure to keep checking in to take part in all the games and competitions. See you soon :)

Tuesday, 30 June 2026

More Auction Models

Breyer say they are done with auction model announcements so I do a nice blog post listing all the auction models and it's all neat and tidy and what do they do? Go and announce three more (well actually they only announced one and like shadow dropped the other two). So here are three more auction models and actually, probably the best batch we've seen so far.

So number one is incredible, this one is definitely going to go the highest of the auction, it is such an amazingly cool concept. This is a modified Nokota horse based on the eight legged horse of Norse legend Sleipnir (also pro tip if you want to increase your Instagram engagement accidentally write six instead of eight because you are knackered and had just woken up when you did it and you'll get soooo many comments correcting you 😂 )

This is Lot #21

Breyer also shadow dropped two more lots, they didn't announce these but updated a previous blog post with them. So I nearly missed A POLO PONY, can you imagine, me missing a Polo Pony? Unheard of.

First is Lot #2 which is a gorgeous customised Wixom with a new mane and tail done in chestnut

Then we have my absolute favourite which is a Smarty Jones Polo Pony in a gorgeous chestnut leopard spotted colour. This boy is just beautiful.

I think you'll agree that all three of these are absolutely gorgeous. A really nice selection.

Monday, 29 June 2026

My 20 Favourite Traditional Vintage Moulds

This was so hard to do! I think I had to cut down my list like 10 times before I actually got to just 20 moulds. For the purposes of this post I'm treating vintage as before 2000, I know there are varying different opinions on what vintage should be classed as but this works best in my brain and has been the cut off used most at shows (although I still cannot accept the G2 Stablemates as vintage)!

I was originally going to do just general but I had so many Traditional scale ones that I decided we could do Traditional scale on this post and then do another post with the other scales.

In no particular order :)

1. Ashley