Breyer releases special run and
one of a kind models at a variety of sponsored events, going back at least
as far as the very first BreyerFest in 1990. BreyerFest continues to be the
source of the largest number of special runs but it's far from the only place to find these highly desirable
models. Below is a list of the special event models that we know of. For a
United Kingdom event sponsored in part by Breyer, please see my
Utterly Horses Hullabaloo page. If you
know of others not included here, please
let me know! A huge thanks to Wendy Hick, Jackie Hamilton and Sande Schneider for providing much of the initial
information shown here and to the hobbyists at
Model Horse
Blab for their suggestions and
contributions.
BreyerFest BreyerWest
Signing Parties Show Specials
Breyer Tour
Listening Tour
Fun Days
Premiere Event
Velvet Rope Event
Lone Star Experience
Sunshine Celebration Event
World Equestrian Games
Passage to the Pacific
BreyerFest
- Tickets
available now!

BreyerFest is the premiere Breyer
special event. Held each July at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington,
Kentucky, it is a weekend of model horse live shows, demonstrations and
how-to clinics, auctions, raffles, and is the source of many special run
models. If you're a Breyer collector and have the time and the money, this
is the one event you can't afford to miss! Official details of the next
BreyerFest can be found on
Breyer's website.
BreyerFest by Year:
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
BreyerFest event models:
-
Celebration Model: Designed and named for the celebrity guest
horse attending the show, this model is available for free at the event
with the purchase of an admission ticket.
-
Contest
Prize: Breyer frequently offers a contest to attendees of the
Saturday night dinner, with a limited edition model as a prize to the
winner.
-
Dinner
Model: The model received by attendees of the BreyerFest Dinner.
The "Dinner Model" was later replaced by the Celebration Model (above)
and has become synonymous with it. For simplicity's sake all Dinner
Models are categorized as Celebration Models on this site.
-
Judges'
Model: In early years models issued to collectors who helped at
BreyerFest were referred to as Judges' Models, as most of the people
receiving them were judges at the live shows. The models are now
referred to as Volunteer Models, which better covers the wide range of
chores volunteers may perform.
-
Live
Auction: Each year Breyer auctions off a selection of one of a
kind (OOAK) models, usually after the dinner event on Saturday night. A
portion of the sales proceeds is donated to one or more horse-related
charities, with the models selling for hundreds and even thousands of
dollars each.
-
Live
Show Prize: Breyer awards models, frequently models made
specifically for the event, to winners at the BreyerFest live shows.
-
Raffle
Model: Breyer sells raffle tickets at each event, with the
proceeds benefitting a horse-related charity. In recent years there have
been separate drawings on Saturday and Sunday. Ticket holders must be
present to win.
-
Silent
Auction: Special Run and customized model horses, along with both
model and live horse memorabilia, is displayed during BreyerFest as part
of the silent auction, where bidders write down their high bid on the
bid sheet in front of each lot. The highest bid at the close of the
silent auction on Sunday wins the item. While customized models are
included on the BreyerFest pages when known they are not added to their
respective mold pages, as this site focuses solely on original finish
models.
-
Special
Run: A model sold only at BreyerFest and in limited quantity. At
present each three day admission ticket to BreyerFest comes with a separate ticket
allowing the bearer to buy two Special Run models at the Breyer store at
a specified day and time. If you want to buy more than two of the
Special Run models you must buy an additional three day admission ticket and stand
in line a second (or third, or fourth...) time.
-
Store
Special: A model horse available for sale only in the Breyer
store at BreyerFest but not requiring a special run ticket (see above)
to purchase. Limited to one per person.
-
Tent
Special: In early years the Breyer store at BreyerFest was in a
tent and special run models were referred as "Tent Specials." The store
is now held inside a building at the park and the models are now
referred to simply as "Special Run" or "Store Special" models.
-
Volunteer Model: Volunteers selected to work at BreyerFest are
awarded a model horse for their time and efforts.
 |
 |
| Dr. Peaches, 1990
Dinner/Celebration Model |
Pecos, 2011
Celebration Model |
BreyerWest is a Breyer-sponsored event
held most years since 2006, first in Sacramento and most recently in South San
Francisco. The show was not held in 2012, and we don't know when or
if the shows will continue in future years. More news as it
develops! BreyerWest featured a live show, a variety of how-to
displays and was tied to a live horse event. While on a much smaller
scale than BreyerFest it was still a very popular event that was more accessible
to west coast hobbyists than the Kentucky-held BreyerFest. The name "BreyerWest" has been around since
1991, when the second
annual BreyerFest was held in four locations, one of which was
Pomona, California.
|
 |
 |
| Del Mar, 2009
Special Run |
Escondido, 2010
Special Run |
Signing Parties were
promotional events held from 1983 to 1990 where Peter Stone met with
collectors at toy and tack stores and autographed their models.
Beginning in 1988 Breyer offered a "Signing Party" model, which was
available only to participants and via mail order from the
participating dealer or store owner.
Show Specials
With the advent of the
Breyer Tours Breyer discontinued the Signing Parties
and replaced them with Show Specials in 1991. These Special Run models
were available to retail stores, mail-order companies and model horse
shows but were not signed by a Breyer representative, nor was a
representative at the event.
In 1990 Peter Stone
introduced a series of breakfast events during which he talked with
collectors, provided news on upcoming Breyer models and events, and
answered their questions. From 1990 until 1993 leftover Special Run
Little Bit (Paddock Pal) were given to attendees of these events. In 1994 Breyer
enlarged this to the Breyer Tour, with around twelve stops
across the country each year, each hosted by a Breyer retailer. At each a Special Run model was
available to attendees.
For a brief period of
time Breyer representatives attended independently-run live shows to
"listen" to hobbyist comments and suggestions. They frequently
brought samples of upcoming releases to display and special run
models to raffle off at the show.
|
Photo |
Year |
Name or Color |
Mold |
Award |
Quantity Made |
Selling Price |
_small.jpg) |
2005 |
Glossy Red Dun Lonesome Glory |
Lonesome Glory |
Raffle Model |
12 |
n/a |
 |
2006 |
Shaded Dapple Grey Fighting Stallion |
Fighting Stallion |
Raffle Model |
5 |
n/a |
Breyer reintroduced the
concept of the promotional event model in 2005 with the release of
the first in a series of Classic-scale special run models available
only through Breyer retailers holding a promotional "Fun Day" event.
While the Fun Days events continue, the last special run model for
this promotion was released in 2010.
Premiere Event -
February 2, 2002 in Wayne, New
Jersey
This special event was open only to current
Just About Horses subscribers and featured a tour of the Breyer
factory, dinner, and seminars. Attendees were selected by random
drawing and limited to 200 people.
|
Photo |
Model Number |
Name or Color |
Mold |
Award |
Quantity Made |
Selling Price |
 |
701202 |
Mauvelous |
Silver |
Event Model |
200 |
n/a |
 |
|
Bourbon Street |
Legionario |
Door Prize |
29 |
n/a |
This special event was open only to current
Just About Horses subscribers and featured a behind-the-scenes tour of
the new Breyer office and factory. Attendees were selected by random
drawing and limited to 200 people. Each attendee was given the
opportunity to purchase two of the special run models available.
Lone Star Experience
- October 30-31, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas

This special event was open only to current
Just About Horses subscribers and and was limited to 200 attendees,
chosen by raffle drawing. The event included a private showing and
reception at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, a
behind-the-scenes tour of Carol Rose Ranch and McQuay Stables, a "Denim
N' Diamonds" dinner, and the LSE event model "Shining N Sassy."
Attendees were also able to buy special run models at the event.
.jpg)
Items given away to attendees at the
Lone Star Experience
Sunshine Celebration Event
- April 1-3, 2011 in Orlando and Ocala, Florida

This special event was open only to current
Just About Horses subscribers and and was limited to 200 attendees,
chosen by raffle drawing. The event included a guided tour of Disney's
Tri Circle D Ranch, private tours of Live Oak Plantation, an evening at
"Arabian Nights," Florida's award winning dinner show, and the Sunshine
Celebration Event Model.
World Equestrian Games
- September 25 to October 10, 2010 at the Kentucky Horse Park in
Lexington, Kentucky

The
2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) were the first time
that this event was held outside of Europe. The Games showcase world
eventing, combined driving, vaulting, endurance, reining, and Paralympic
Dressage and are the largest and most prestigious equine competition in
the world, rivaled only by the Olympics in importance to the equestrian
world. Breyer was the Official Model Horse Maker for the 2010 games and
released a series of special run models that were available for purchase
only at the event. Other commemorative models were available to
collectors at the usual retail locations in addition to being sold at
the WEG.
WEG Event Models:
-
Commemorative Edition: The
"Esprit" mold, created by Kathleen Moody specifically for the event,
was released in several different mediums. Each was available after
the games through Breyer retailers.
-
Limited Edition: Available at the event and through retail
outlets only during 2010. The Cedric and Headley Britannia models
were limited to 500 pieces and came with hang tags, but were then
reissued as regular run models. Other than the presence or absence
of a hang tag these limited edition and regular run models are
identical.
-
Reissue: In honor of the event Breyer re-released some of
their models that had been named after real horses but were now
discontinued. Most have distinctive hang tags and are thought to be
darker and have crisper mapping than the originals.
-
Special Run: Available for sale only at the event.
|
Photo |
Model Number |
Name or Color |
Mold |
Award |
Quantity Made |
Selling Price |
 |
9101 |
Esprit
With "World Equestrian Games Kentucky 2010" on belly |
Esprit |
Commemorative Edition
Official Model Horse of the 2010 Games |
|
|
 |
|
Chestnut Esprit |
Esprit |
Volunteer/Media Giveaway |
250 |
n/a |
 |
|
Silver Bay Esprit |
Esprit |
WEG Diorama Award |
25 |
n/a |
 |
9108 |
Jamaica
Chester Weber's Driving Champion |
Trakehner |
Special Run |
500 |
|
 |
9109 |
Mandiba
Karen O'Connor's Eventing Partner |
Secretariat |
Special Run |
500 |
|
 |
9110 |
Woodburn
Phillip Dutton's Eventing Champion |
Cigar |
Special Run |
500 |
|
 |
9112 |
Gold Raven
Valerie Kanavy's Endurance Champion |
Oasis |
Special Run |
500 |
|
 |
9114 |
2010 Games Autograph Horse |
Cleveland Bay |
Special Run |
? |
$20 |
 |
9124 |
2010 Games Commemorative Horse |
American Quarter Horse Stallion |
Special Run |
500 |
|
 |
9146 |
Wimpy's Little Chic |
palomino |
Special Run |
500 |
|
 |
140 |
American Saddlebred |
Five Gaiter |
Reissue |
18 |
|
 |
476 |
Cigar |
Cigar |
Reissue |
48 |
|
 |
478 |
Hollywood Dun It |
Hollywood Dun It |
Reissue |
48 |
|
 |
483 |
Big Ben |
Big Ben |
Reissue |
48 |
|
 |
704 |
Keltic Salinero |
Salinero |
Reissue |
96 |
|
 |
711079 |
Lizzy Traband's Toby |
grey blanket
short tail version |
Reissue |
~24 |
|
 |
711079 |
Lizzy Traband's Toby |
grey blanket
long tail version |
Reissue |
~24 |
|
 |
9111 |
Cedric
Laura Kraut's US Show Jumping Gold Medalist
|
Show Jumping Warmblood |
Limited Edition |
500 |
|
 |
9113 |
Headley Britannia
Lucinda Frederick's British Eventing Star
|
Strapless |
Limited Edition |
500 |
|
 |
9102 |
Fine Porcelain Commemorative Edition Esprit |
Esprit |
Limited Edition |
|
|
 |
9103 |
Classics 2010 World Equestrian
Games
Three-Horse Set |
Show Thoroughbred, Warmblood Mare,
Warmblood Stallion |
Limited Edition |
|
|
 |
9105 |
2010 Games Collector's Edition
Ceramic "Big Ben" depicting the official 2010 Games artwork
of famed sporting artist LeRoy Neiman. |
Big Ben |
Limited Edition |
|
|
 |
9106 |
Esprit
Fine Crystal Commemorative |
Esprit
(3.5" tall) |
Limited Edition |
2,010 |
|
 |
9115 |
World Equestrian Games: Jumping |
Warmblood Jumper |
Limited Edition |
|
|
 |
9116 |
World Equestrian Games: Eventing |
Thoroughbred |
Limited Edition |
|
|
 |
9117 |
World Equestrian Games: Dressage |
Dressage |
Limited Edition |
|
|
 |
9118 |
World Equestrian Games: Reining |
Reining |
Limited Edition |
|
|
 |
9119 |
World Equestrian Games: Endurance |
Endurance |
Limited Edition |
|
|
 |
9120 |
World Equestrian Games: Driving |
Driving |
Limited Edition |
|
|
 |
9121 |
World Equestrian Games: Vaulting |
Vaulting |
Limited Edition |
|
|
 |
9122 |
World Equestrian Games: Para Dressage |
Para Dressage |
Limited Edition |
|
|
 |
9125 |
WEG Micro-Mini Games
Collection |
Cantering TWH Gelding,
Galloping Mustang
Stallion, Jumping TB
Stallion, Loping
Stock Stallion,
Running TB Stallion,
Show Pose Draft Horse,
Sliding Stop QH
Stallion, Walking
Arabian |
Limited Edition |
. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
9128 |
World Equestrian
Games Stablemates Shadowbox |
Cantering Warmblood,
Dressage,
Driving,
Endurance,
Para Dressage,
Reining,
Standing
Thoroughbred,
Vaulting,
Warmblood Jumper |
Limited Edition |
|
|
|
|
9130 |
Plush Trailer Set |
Plush |
Special Run (?) |
|
|
|
|
9131 |
Plush Beanie Pony |
Plush |
Special Run (?) |
2,010 |
|
 |
9139 |
Rocky Mountain Horse |
El Pastor |
Special Run |
18 |
|
Passage to the Pacific
- October 19-21, 2012 - San Diego,
California

|