Breyer produces many plastic model horses each year: stallions, geldings, mares and foals. Don't overlook the foals in the Breyer horses line of toys and collectibles. Foals offer an affordable entry point for young collectors into the show ring. They also encourage research, such as genetics and breed research, which offer yet another way to enjoy model horses for young collectors.
Collecting Breyer Model Horse Foals
Foals were among the earliest introductions into the Breyer line of plastic model horses. The Proud Arabian Foal joined the product line in 1956, and was a combination of the talents of the great sculptor Maureen Love Calvert and Chris Hess. More foals soon joined the growing herd, with the Family Arabian Foal by Chris Hess added in 1961, the Running Foal in 1963, the Lying Down Foal in 1969, and the Scratching Foal in 1970. More foals have been added over time, including those mentioned in famous children's stories such as Misty's foal Stormy, Sea Star, and many others.
You can collect foals on their own or as part of family sets. Common family sets to collect include:
- Traditional Scale: The Family Arabian set, Proud Arabian set, Running set, Stock and Paint horse sets
- Classic Scale: Arabian, Mustang, Quarter Horse, Andalusian, Famous Sires and more
- Stablemate: Many including Thoroughbreds, scratching foals, scrambling foal, and those found in the Fun Foals gift pack
- Mini Whinnies: Paint set, Appaloosa set, Arabian set
Another fun way to collect foals is to pick a mold you like and try to acquire all the colors ever issued in that mold. Because foals are relatively inexpensive, you can quickly amass an interesting collection and create your very own "conga line" of similar molds in different colors.
Showing Model Horse Foals
Model horse foals can be shown in both photo and live shows. Most shows have a separate class for young horses, and foals, weanlings and yearlings are often grouped together in one class.
Foals are show in halter classes only. The exception is a performance classes for sires (stallions) and their offspring or dams (mares) and their offspring. Some shows group such classes in the performance division. These classes are judged on the characteristics of the parent horse and the foal. How realistic is the offspring? The color? The breed characteristics?
Foals are most often shown "at liberty" meaning without a halter. For photo show setups, you can use a plain background or a simple outdoor diorama scene. The snow scene diorama works well or a simple barn setup with low-cut grass, sand or dirt footing that shows off the tiny hooves of the foals.
Remember that when showing foals, horse babies are called either colts (males) or fillies (females) up until they are about 3 years old. At that time, adult females are called mares, and unaltered adult male horses are stallions. Castrated adult male horses are called geldings.
Customizing Model Horse Foals
Another fun aspect of collecting model horse foals is customizing them. Young collectors may want to focus on repainting their foal models. Coat colors of young horses can be very different from mature horses. Many foals are born black but their coat color changes each year until they lighten up into a dappled gray. Researching and painting realistic colors for foals takes a special knack, but such details can be learned at the public library.
Pedigrees for Foal Models
As you research coat colors, consider your foal's pedigree. Record keeping for model horses often includes pedigree details. Consider the colors of the sire and dam; could a foal of this particular color be born to such parents? A chestnut mare may produce a chestnut or palomino colored baby, for example. Lipizzan foals are usually born black and change coat colors over time. See what you can discover about foals during your research and create original pedigrees to go with your model horses.