Breyer definitely surprised us when not only did they share a reveal on Sunday, the weekend, but by sharing that this release will not only be the classic scale/freedom scale for the year and it will be different than in the past, but this will be the fourth portrait model even though they have only showed two others before this and this is technically the third we have seen in the reveals. Part of the reason for the early reveal was because the horse was at a show where his model to honor him was announced to the public. Let's meet him!!
Game Day Surprise!!
In freestyle reining it combines precision and practicality of reining maneuvers with music and choreography, similarly to dressage but western style. It takes a special connection between horse and rider to harmoniously pull off these aspects. Sharee Schwartzenberger met Game Day Surprise, "Eli" as he is known around the barn, as a 2 year old. Eli is a 2008 gelding. Sharee knew there was something special about him. Eli was athletic and quick to learn, as well as very level headed, which were all the qualities Sharee was looking for in a horse. After some of their early of competitions, the two clicked. Some of Eli's competition lead him to titles such as top freestyle earner in the world, 2020 Ram Invitational Freestyle Champion, champion reserve titles of 2014, 2015, 2018, & 2024! Eli was born to be in the spotlight, his personality sure shows he knows it's game time!!
Eli & Sharee have not have had fun costumes, catchy music, and technical maneuvers for their performances, they've also done almost all of them bridle-less!! Spectators have been so marveled at their performances that they didn't even notice till the end there was no bridle!! Now let's move onto his model!
Game Day Surprise/Eli is done on the Slider/Hollywood Dun It mold. Believe it or not he is a buckskin which the Breyer did say the model sports. He is a dark buckskin, but is the darkest I've ever seen, I originally thought he was dark bay. The model also sports his small star and one of his costume fringe sashes that is blue & gold like Breyer's colors. He also sports the bran don his left side flank which I didn't notice at first but it's cool he has one!! Here's the link to the video at the end of the blog post: https://www.breyerhorses.com/blogs/breyerfest-blog/its-game-time
This guy is so cute! Kinda like the change for a portrait for the classic, also with how many decos they've done this year for other releases I get there may not be more they could do, plus Radiance does look like she could've been a Breyerfest model. I do like seeing more portrait models for Breyerfest too, they used to do only 2 then they upped it to 3 for the Breyerfest store. Having 4 for an anniversary year does help celebrate more horses and disciplines. I am also still surprise this guy is Buckskin, I knew there were sooty/smutty variations like Palominos and they can get dark, but never this dark where they get mistaken for a different coat color. After some googling I did find a couple of horses that were similar looking to him and they had their color genetics panels listed as they were breeding stock. I'd be curious to see if Eli's is similar to theirs as there's only so much you can guess based off their pedigree. Anyway he is another I plan to get, can't wait to see who the 3rd portrait is though they'll be number 4 to be revealed.
Speaking of decos, next is the deco special run!!
Meet "To the Ties That Bind Us"!!
This one is named for the years Breyer has been creating to which in that time many people from all over the world have been collecting. To the Ties That Bind Us is done on the silver mold in a vintage Wedgewood blue snowcap appaloosa coat with the stencil cutout that has been seen on the other anniversary models for the year.
I really like him. It's nice to see a deco on silver again plus he's rarely used these days. Also lately if he is used for Breyerfest, it's mainly just for OOAKs for the live auction. I feel he's slightly over due for a special run/even exclusive model in the lineup. Last time he was used was for Rico in 2019. Also I think he'd look great next to my Liberty model, the blue denim and paisley deco from 2017.
Final portrait model is here!!
Meet Beau N' Arrows!!
Vaulting is described as gymnastics on horse back. Competitors can competes in pairs, teams, or even individually. Judging is based off ability to smoothly perform movements while also demonstrating flexibility, strength, balance, and artistic expression. Horses are an integral part of of the team as their constant gait remains smooth and ignore commotion around them.
Beau N' Arrow is a 17 year old Spotted Draft Horse gelding, who has all these qualities and more! He is an exemplary vaulting horse! Beau had arrived at Muddy Creek Vaulters with limited training, Trisha Bowman started training him as an all around riding horse then later introduced him to vaulting. For Beau, he took to walking and trotting on the lunge lead easily, but the canter proved more difficult for him. After years of getting used to cantering on the line, something finally clicked and he became comfortable. He has been the squad's best cantering horse since!! He's carried the squad to many a performance including the 2022 USEF/American Vaulting Association Nationals, and even claimed the title of USEF National High Point C-Squad Horse of the Year!!
Beau's model is done in his intricate chestnut overo pinto coat and is done in the loose mane & tail version of the Cleveland Bay mold. He is the final store special portrait model reveal, and the third for the traditional scale lineup.
He's very handsome. It's nice to see another intricate design on this mold again, the Rotating Draft surprise was the most intricate he has ever had. I'm definitely thinking of getting all the store special for this year so far. Plus you gotta remember I am a sucker for the flaxen chestnuts.
That's all for this one so It's not too long, planning to try to cover all the rest in the next one or it may have to be split into two more if too long. So with that being sad, see y'all later!!
(all pics and information come from and belong to Breyer)
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