The fun of collecting

by GreyStone
(Wisconsin)

Many people collect model horses for different reasons and we each collect a variety of models, whether those models are all of a favorite mold or color, a particular breed or maybe just whatever looks good. No matter what you collect or why you collect, adding to our plastic herds fills us with excitement and joy.

One form of collecting that's often forgotten about is looking for the many variations found within the endless world of Breyer horses, especially the older models.

Various colors, shading, markings, tack, finishes, factory imperfections, factory goof-ups, mold marks, and even different sizes of the same mold, often called "shrinkies", are out there to be found.

Some other variations that aren't quite as easy to spot just by looking at them are the plastic chalky, factory repaint chalky, colored plastic, swirled plastic and the different types of plastic Breyer has used over the years, especially in the 70s. Most of these plastic variations are most noticeable if the model has a rub, but sometimes, especially chalkies with socks, they can be seen simply by taking a close look at the white markings or by looking at the bottoms of the horses' hooves.

Collecting different molds and models is fun, but maybe, just maybe a variation or two of your favorites could add to the interest of your collection.