Breyer site syndication, bringing you all of the latest breyer news from the UK. http://breyerhorses.co.uk/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:36:23 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://breyerhorses.co.uk//images/M_images/rss20.gif http://breyerhorses.co.uk/ Breyer site syndication, bringing you all of the latest breyer news from the UK. http://breyerhorses.co.uk//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=198&Itemid=177 Golden Tour Event Paralympian double gold medallist, Sophie Christiansen, provided an extra sparkle for Breyer fans attending the UK's 2008 Tour Event in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 1 November. Sophie - who won Gold medals as a member of the British Para Equestrian Dressage Team, and in the Freestyle event, in Beijing, and also took an individual Silver, was the special guest at the Tour Event held at Salisbury saddlery, Equishop. The event attracted considerable local media interest and was a huge success with hundreds of model horse enthusiasts attending. At the heart of the action were model painting and craft activities with all proceeds from the painting donated to the Wilton branch of the Riding for the Disabled Association. There was also a play area for younger children - and the first ever model horse show to be run by Breyer UK, which attracted an excellent entry. The UK’s various model horse societies were also on hand to help out and to encourage newcomers into the model horse hobby. The Tour Event was also of particular interest to Breyer collectors, with the special 2008 tour model, Caliente, exclusively available for sale at the event. There was also be an opportunity to snap up some Breyer bargains and rarities, along with a wide selection of the 2008 product range. Plenty of Breyer prizes were also won during a memorable day. During her visit Sophie met numerous well-wishers and commented: "It was great to meet people of all ages and with very differing involvements in equestrian events; from pony club youngsters to helpers at the local Wilton Riding for the Disabled Association - it took me right back to my childhood, I loved painting the model ponies!" Enlarge Image http://breyerhorses.co.uk//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=196&Itemid=195 On the road with new Truck and Trailer Model horse fans can look forward to taking their horsy play out on the road, with the arrival of two exciting new products from Breyer. The latest additions to the range were unveiled on 1 July - a new Truck and Trailer for the flagship 1:9 Traditional range, creating all sorts of new play options for Breyer collectors. The new Truck is beautifully crafted and painted a striking red to complement the Horse Trailer. The Truck comes fully-loaded and has room for two Traditional figures inside. It includes rack-and-pinion steering, opening doors, rear-view mirrors, working bonnet and tailgate and a working hitch. The new Breyer Trailer is authentically detailed and perfect for all Traditional horses. It has room for two horses and features a divider, padded rear chains, two back doors, one side door, and is painted red with silver accents and is all set to be hitched up to the new Truck. Both new products have an RRP of £45.00 and are available now. Enlarge Image http://breyerhorses.co.uk//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=195&Itemid=194 Breyer’s 2008 RDA National Championships diary As written by Faye Stenson, Breyer UK’s Operations Manager To download Breyer’s 2008 RDA National Championships diary - Click here! (http://www.breyerhorses.co.uk/pdf/Breyer-2008-RDA-Diary.pdf) Friday 11 July I travelled down to Hartpury College in Gloucestershire on Friday afternoon to help set up the Breyer trade stand before the Championships opened on Saturday morning. I had arranged for the Breyer marquee and all our painting materials to be delivered in the morning. On arrival at the College, I located the Sponsors’ Village and was delighted to see that hard-working RDA staff and volunteers had already put up the marquee! I checked through the rest of the delivery to make sure we had everything we needed to run the pony painting activities – blank horses, paints, brushes, table cloths, wet wipes for sticky fingers and much more! When Kate from Equishop, our partner retailer for the event, arrived with her fiancé Richard, I helped them to unload their van before heading off for a roast dinner at the College refectory. Afterwards my colleague Emma arrived, who had travelled down after work to help out with the pony painting. We found our rooms in one of the College’s student residences, made a brief foray to the campus bar and then settled in for an early night, ready for a hectic weekend! Saturday 12 July Emma and I had everything ready to start pony painting by the time the Championships opened at 9:30am. We got off to a slow start and decided to do some painting ourselves to demonstrate how much fun it is! Before long, we had a crowd of children (and adults) seated at our blue painting tables engrossed in their artistic masterpieces. Dozens of people also came into the marquee to look at Kate’s product display, many of them walking out with Breyer carrier bags full of goodies. There were lots of giveaways for everyone who painted a pony or bought a Breyer product, with a choice of badges, fridge magnets, rosettes, pens, pencils and posters on offer – all of which proved extremely popular. At 12 o’clock, it was time for the Sponsors’ Reception in the College Arena so Emma and I headed off to grab a sandwich and a glass of wine. The RDA made several speeches during which they thanked their sponsors, one of whom presented a special saddle to one of the RDA’s branches. Breyer was thanked for sponsoring the Horse Care and Arts and Crafts classes as well as taking a stand in the Sponsors’ Village. After a few more sandwiches, Emma and I returned to the Breyer marquee for more painting. As the afternoon wore on, it became obvious that some of the Breyer painting tables were showing signs and wear and tear. After two of them collapsed while painters were sitting at them, Emma and I decided to venture into Gloucester to try and buy some more. Unfortunately we did not find any tables but we did manage to pick up some more raffle tickets for the RDA, who were running low. Upon returning to the show, we managed to borrow some tables from the College to use for painting – a good thing as only three of our original six tables were still fit for use! In the late afternoon, the scattered showers of earlier turned to hot sun and we were all sweltering by the time we packed up for the evening at around 6 o’clock. After a quick freshen-up in our rooms, we went out to a local pub with some new friends from a neighbouring trade stand for dinner and a well-deserved drink or two. Sunday 13 July Sunday dawned hot and dry and it was soon boiling inside the Breyer marquee! The better weather meant that more spectators were watching the events so we had a slow start again in the morning, although some children who had painted ponies the previous day did arrive early, keen to have another go. One child painted a total of 6 ponies over the weekend! By 11am the painting tables were busy again, but it was time for Emma and me to help judge the various Arts and Crafts classes, sponsored by Breyer. There were several different categories to judge, including Montage / Collage, Sculpture and Logo Design. Many of the entries were very impressive and we had a hard time deciding on some of the winners! After we had finished judging, we collected our packed lunches and went back to the marquee for more pony painting. Later on in the afternoon, the main prize-giving event started and there was a lot of excitement as the well-known actor, Anthony Head, was presenting some of the prizes. Afterwards Anthony was shown round the Sponsors’ Village and enjoyed a reiki-style treatment in one of the tents before visiting the Breyer marquee and posing for photos with us all. By 4:15pm it was time to start packing up. With the help of several kind RDA staff and volunteers, we had everything packed away and the marquee taken down by the time our driver arrived to collect it. Kate, Richard, Emma and I said goodbye to everyone and headed off our separate ways. We were all exhausted but had enjoyed a fantastic weekend. Breyer feel privileged to have been involved in such a fabulous (and well-organised) event as the Championships and we hope to return next year! Faye, Emma, Kate and Richard would like to thank all the RDA staff and volunteers at the National Championships who worked tirelessly throughout the event to make sure everything ran smoothly. Breyer UK were delighted to donate £275 to the RDA after the event – this consisted of monies raised from the pony painting and also a proportion of the sales made by Equishop. Breyer UK would also like to thank Equishop for agreeing to partner Breyer at the Championships. To find out more about the RDA and its National Championships visit www.rda.org.uk (http://www.rda.org.uk) http://breyerhorses.co.uk//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=183&Itemid=177 Our Pony Club hero! The announcement at the end of April of the winner of our Pony Club essay competition has certainly captured a few imaginations! Pippin, a 21 year old grey Connemara pony, is racking up an impressive array of press cuttings, with articles about him and his owner, 11 year old Oliver Jones, appearing on the websites for ToyTalk, Horse & Hound and Horse magazine. The forthcoming model features in the June issue of Equestrian Trade News and Pippin has also been featured on Oliver’s school website – plus the pair have even been asked to make a celebrity appearance in their local area! click here (http://www.breyerhorses.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=182&Itemid=62) Enlarge Image http://breyerhorses.co.uk//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=173&Itemid=177 Popular games re-launched Ready to hit the shelves of a toy or equestrian shop near you in May, are new versions of Breyer's popular themed games, which are sure to be a hit with young horse fans. The games are all updates of Breyer favourites with a number of improvements and enhancements. The popular Horse Sense game has a fresh look and 200 new trivia cards that test players' horse sense about live horses and horse care. The game includes 200 fun facts about horses, playing figures and game board. It will have a recommended retail price of £11.95. The second edition of Breyer’s Horse Play card game is better than ever! A deck of 48 cards features new Breyer horses and breed facts. Five exciting games are simple to learn and fun for the whole family, and the oversized cards are easy to handle. It will have a price of £6.95. Also joining in the Breyer fun and games is a Horse and Rider Magnet Play Set. This set includes 21 magnets which can be stuck to the large play board, creating scenes and making up stories. the over-sized magnets of popular horses and riding accessories are easy to use on the fridge too. Price is £6.95. click here (http://www.breyeruk.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=42&Itemid=144#fun_game) http://breyerhorses.co.uk//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=170&Itemid=177 Breyer prizes Keep an eye open for magazine competitions with great Breyer products for prizes in the coming months. Over the next six months Breyer competitions will be featured in all of the following magazines... Animals and You All About Animals Animal Action Girl Talk Girl Talk Extra Amy 4-Girlz National Geographic Kids Easy Peazy Pony Horse and Pony ..and on Pop Girl TV! http://breyerhorses.co.uk//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=143&Itemid=177 On tour with Breyer Model horse enthusiasts from all over the country descended on Grantham, Lincolnshire, in October for the very first UK 'Tour Event' by Breyer. Chandlers of Belton, was the destination for an estimated 1,000 visitors who enjoyed a range of free activities, including a mass model painting session, model collecting hints, tips and demonstrations. Breyer's Tour Events, have been part of the model collecting scene in the United States for many years, and with the massive growth in popularity for the brand in this country, the UK became an obvious next stop for the Tour. The Tour stop was supported by Breyer's parent company in the United States, with two members of Tour Management Team visiting the UK especially for the event. Commenting, Breyer UK Managing Director, Tony Mills, said: "This was a fantastic turn-out, especially considering it was the first time we had staged an event like this in the UK. Everyone seemed to have a great time, and hopefully it will have served as an exciting and attractive introduction to the world of model horse collecting for many of those who came along." Following this success four more Tour Events are planned for 2008 in the UK – keep an eye on our Events section for more details coming soon. Enlarge Image http://breyerhorses.co.uk//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=142&Itemid=177 Olympia treat for Breyer guests Two young Breyer fans were treated to a day they will never forget, just before Christmas, when they were guests of honour in the Breyer UK Hospitality Box at the London International Horse Show, held at Olympia. The event - always a highlight of the UK equestrian calendar - was an even more glittering affair this time around as organisers and spectators celebrated the centenary of the spectacular show. Charlotte Cousins (11) was the winner of a Breyer UK competition which was run in conjunction with PONY magazine - the UK's leading publication for young equestrian enthusiasts. Charlotte's star prize was an afternoon at Olympia with Breyer UK, and the best seats in the house. She was also able to take along her friend, Rachel Drysdale, and mum and dad too. The afternoon lived up to all expectations as Charlotte and her party watched a packed programme of world class show jumping, along with a wide variety of other competitions, exhibitions and demonstrations. Charlotte was also treated to a VIP 'backstage' tour where she saw some of Europe's leading riders preparing for the afternoon's main event. To complete a superb afternoon Charlotte and Rachel were presented with a collection of Breyer goodies, including models of Ellen Whitaker's Locarno 62, a Classics Barn with Horse and Rider and a Horse Sense game. Also joining Breyer UK in the Olympia hospitality box were the editor and advertising director of PONY magazine, along with members of the team from Chandlers at Grantham, who recently helped Breyer UK stage its very first Tour Event. Breyer UK was also delighted to welcome two long-serving volunteers from the RDA (Riding for Disabled Association). Enlarge Image http://breyerhorses.co.uk//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=141&Itemid=177 Locarno joins Breyer stable Ellen Whitaker fans can now get their hands on a fantastic model of her massively popular horse – Locarno 62. The stunning bay German Holstein, who joins Breyer’s Traditional range, is already in great demand from collectors and Ellen fans alike. Breyer has worked closely with Ellen and her father, Steven Whitaker, to achieve its usual levels of authenticity for the model. Commenting on the release of Breyer's Locarno 62, Ellen said: "It has been great working with Breyer on the Locarno model. Everyone involved has taken great care to make sure we get a really good resemblance to Larry. I was involved throughout the process and now seeing the actual model is very exciting." click here (http://breyerhorses.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=368&category_id=1&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=36) for more on Locarno Enlarge Image http://breyerhorses.co.uk//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=140&Itemid=177 New products unveiled The 2008 Breyer collection has been unveiled and it features 36 new products. Among the many highlights of the new range are no fewer than 12 new horses joining the flagship 1:9 scale Traditional range. Pride of place among the new arrivals goes to Locarno 62 (RRP £26.95) - Ellen Whitaker's popular Holsteiner stallion on which many Olympic hopes will be pinned later in the year. Breyer also introduces Pony Gals (http://breyerhorses.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=14&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=36) (RRP £9.95 each) to its latest collection. This completely new range of 1/12 scale model ponies replicates the actions of real horses at the push of a button. Three different models, each featuring manes and tails you can comb, come with exciting accessories. The Classics range is boosted by six new products, with three horse and foal sets (http://breyerhorses.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=387&category_id=10&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=36) available (RRP £16.95 each) as well as two new barns including the value-for-money Two Horse Barn & Travel Case (http://breyerhorses.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=384&category_id=10&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=36), priced at just £11.95 RRP. A Horse & Tack Activity Kit (http://breyerhorses.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=398&category_id=12&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=36) (RRP £14.95) featuring a Classic-sized horse joins the ever-popular Crafts & Activities range. Other additions are a refreshed Paint your own Horse Kit (http://breyerhorses.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=399&category_id=12&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=36) (RRP £9.95) and a Pour & Mould kit (http://breyerhorses.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=362&category_id=12&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=36) (RRP £9.95) offering budding model-makers the opportunity to mould and paint their very own Breyer model. Six new products also refresh the Stablemates range with three new accessory sets to complement the popular range of stable sets, and Horspital (http://breyerhorses.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=388&category_id=3&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=36), Dude Ranch (http://breyerhorses.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=390&category_id=3&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=36) and Kitten & Foal (http://breyerhorses.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=389&category_id=3&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=36) play sets (RRP £7.95 each) all sure to appeal to younger Breyer collectors. At the smallest end of the Breyer scale, Mini Whinnies (http://breyerhorses.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=8&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=36) have three new 1:64 scale horse collections (http://breyerhorses.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=395&category_id=8&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=36) which have their own travel packs (RRP £4.95 each), and a Bluegrass Stable Play Set (http://breyerhorses.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=397&category_id=8&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=36) (RRP £9.95) including horses, riders, stable, play mat and accessories. Have a browse around our Products section to see all the new additions to the collection One of the exciting new Pony Gals products from Breyer (RRP £9.95) Enlarge Image Enlarge Image