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The Manufacturers

The model horse collecting hobby is made up of people who collect many different kinds of model horses. There's no limit (well, other than your pocket book) to the types and manufacturers of horses that you can collect. A listing of the major manufacturers is below. You can find a partial listing of dealers for these manufacturers on my Authorized Model Horse Dealers page.

Breyer    EquinArt Creations    Hagen-Renaker    Hartland    Lakeshore    North Light    Peter Stone    Painted Ponies

  Breyer Animal Creations

At least in the United States, Breyer is the most popular manufacturer of model horses there is. You can find Breyers in many toy stores, through mail order and online dealers, and on online auction sites such as eBay. Prices run from $4.00 US or less for Stablemates to more than a hundred dollars for some of their porcelain Gallery models and the Connoisseur line available through Just About Horses.

Breyer Animal Creations started in 1950, and the first mold created would later become known as the Western Horse. The company was bought by Reeves International, Inc. in 1984. Reeves, located in New Jersey, owns the company today. The models are made of a material called cellulose acetate, which is injected into hand-designed molds and allowed to harden. The models are then hand painted using airbrushes and fine paintbrushes.

Useful sites:

  • Breyer Animal Creations - their web site, with loads of useful information on new releases and upcoming events. Current release models are for sale through their website. Not to be missed.

  • The Breyer Pony Pages - the only fan-created web site I'm aware of that focuses on the Dapples/Ponies line from Breyer.

Books: 

Breyer Animal Collector's Guide : Identification and Values, 5th Edition - by Felicia Browell. A softbound book with color photos of nearly every mold and model released. Includes information on special runs.
Breyer Molds & Models : Horse, Riders, & Animals 1950-1997 - by Nancy Atkinson Young. Hardbound, with many photos and a detailed history of Breyer - almost an encyclopedia. Out of print but worth hunting around for.

EquinArt Creations, Inc.

This is a new manufacturer that I'm not familiar with yet. According to their web site, they produce "unique, realistic, and affordable equestrian art that is equally at home at a model horse show or in the horse lover's home. Each limited edition resin release is 100% made in the USA and is an original work of art." They currently manufacture resin models, and plan to release plastic models as well.

Useful sites:

  • EquinArt Creations Inc. - the manufacturer's web site. Features online shopping, information on the artists, and a collector's club.

(c) Hagen-Renaker Hagen-Renaker, Inc.

Known as HRs or H-Rs, these delicate earthenware (ceramic) figurines are a favorite with many collectors. Most of the figurines produced today are the Miniatures or "Minis," standing some 1/4" to 3" in height. Among the most coveted for model horses collectors is the Designer Workshop molds, which were released off and on from 1945 to 1965. These were beautiful horses (and other animals) that ranged in size from 2" to 12" high. They are highly sought after today, with mint condition models going for hundreds of dollars.

Useful sites:

  • Hagen-Renaker, Inc. - the company's web site. Includes information on current releases and models available only through the web site.

  • Hagen-Renaker On-Line Museum - a very nifty site with more than 1,000 photographs showing more than 3,300 pieces. Features many variations and information on the history of H-R.

  • Hagen-Renaker Collector's Resource Center - just what the title says. Includes information on repairs, identification techniques, sales, and an online gallery.

Books:

Hagen-Renaker: A Charlton Standard Catalogue, Third Edition - by Gayle Roller. There are chapters devoted to Hagen-Renaker history, designers, pottery production, and to Hagen-Renaker production lines: Designers Workshop, miniatures, Little Horribles, Pedigree Dogs, Disney, and others. For each piece, as much information as possible (mold number, dates of production, colors, designer, etc.) and value is listed.
Hagen-Renaker Pottery : Horses and Other Figurines - by Nancy Kelly. Realistic and whimsical clay animal figurines are featured in over 480 beautiful color photos creations from Hagen-Renaker. A price guide, information on other potteries of the time, and a look at some Hagen-Renaker imitations are included.
Hagen-Renaker Through the Years - by Nancy Kelley. A supplement to the above book, with over 450 additional photographs and detailed information on how to date and identify H-Rs and their imitations.
Horse, Bird, And Wildlife Figures of Maureen Love: Hagen-Renaker And Beyond - by Nancy Kelly. This book features hundreds of photographs of the horses and other animals created by Maureen Love, both through her own independent companies and through the Hagen-Renaker Pottery. Many pieces are very difficult to find, so this collection is truly a treasure of visual delights. A detailed personal history, index, and price guide are also included in this wonderful tribute to a multi-talented artist.

(c) Hartland Collectibles Hartland Collectibles

Hartland has been making plastic model horses off and on since the 1950's. The company has had a rocky time of it, but returned to the model horse collecting world in 2001.

Useful sites:

  • Hartland Collectibles - Hartland's web site offers a history of the company, help with model identification, and a selection of Hartland model horses that can be bought online.
    Hartland Horsemen - Hartland expert Gail Fitch's website, with information on Gail's books, models for sale, collecting news and much more.
  • Hartland Horses - A collector's site designed to identify your Hartland horses.

Books: 

Hartland Horses and Dogs - by Gail Fitch. A full-sized paperback, 188 pages, neatly arrayed with 739 color photos and information on identification, values, care of models, company history, model descriptions, artist interviews, and a chapter on the model horse hobby, model shows, resources, and more.
Hartland Horsemen - by Gail Fitch. The author has done a superb job of putting together extremely detailed and accurate information about all of Hartland's horse and rider figures, with lots of pictures showing details that complement the text.

(c) Lakeshore Ltd. Lakeshore Collection, Ltd.

Lakeshore is a new company offering limited edition porcelain model horses. The line features some of the hobby's most popular sculptors, and is drawing strong positive attention for the beauty of its models. Models sell for around $100 US, and are available through the company's web site and through dealers.

Useful sites:

  • The Lakeshore, Ltd. - the company's web site. Learn more about these models and the people behind the company. You can also buy models direct from the company via the site.

(c) Wade Ceramics Ltd. North Light @ Wade

North Light, recently acquired by Wade Ceramics, makes some truly lovely model horses and other animals. The company is located in the United Kingdom and sells models through their website and through retail locations. Models sell for anywhere from £30-100.

Useful sites:

  • North Light @ Wade - The company's web site. Includes background information, a Collector's Club and models available for sale directly from the manufacturer.

(c) Stone Horses, Inc.Stone Horses

Peter Stone began his professional career with Breyer, where he worked for nearly thirty years before leaving in 1996 to form his own company. Stone horses are approximately Breyer Traditional size, and are made in the United States of the same cellulose acetate that Breyer uses. Many people like the models for their conformation and the attention to detail found in individual models.

Useful sites:

  • Peter Stone Horses - the company's web site. You can find out about the latest releases here, and purchase current models direct from the company.
  • Stone Horse Reference Site - the official reference site for Peter Stone Horses. You can look up new and discontinued models online by mold, color, year made, etc.

Books:

Stone Base Illustrated Value Guide to Peter Stone Horses 2003 Edition - by Carrie Olguin. A model horse collector (mostly Breyers) for over 30 years, the author created a Stone Horses CD-ROM. Collectors then asked about a book version. The author knew she had all the information needed to create a printed version, and per collector request, published the First Edition (limited) in 2003.

(c) The Trail of Painted Ponies, Inc. Trail of Painted Ponies

These collectible horses began in Santa Fe as a popular Public Art Exhibition that invited artists to transform life-size horse statues into works of art. The model horses offered for sale are replicas of these works of art.

Useful sites:

Books:

The Trail of Painted Ponies, Collector's Edition - by Rod Barker. The book features 124 pages (28 more pages than the original book) with larger, sharper Painted Pony images, many published for the first time, seventeen dramatically different Painted Pony chapters, including Native American Ponies, Horses Throughout History, Dream Horses, Patriotic Ponies, and Artists at Work, and a special 7 page catalog featuring photos and "story tags" from all The Trail of Painted Pony figurines created to date.
The Trail of Painted Ponies - by Rob Barker. A collection of vibrant photos of more than one hundred and forty Painted Ponies.
 

This site is run for and by model horse collectors. It is not sponsored in any way by Breyer Animal Creations or any other model horse manufacturer.

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