Breyer Model Horses: Traditional Collection
The Traditional Breyer horse collection are the main product line for Breyer and are actually the largest selling line of model horses across the world. As they are typically made to the 1:9 scale in size, they harken back to the very first Breyer model horse that was produced in 1950. The Traditional models measure approximately twelve inches long and nine inches high.
Breyer Horse Traditional models appeal to young and old, horse riders and non riders alike. Breyer models that are rare and in good condition can be quite valuable and actually sell for thousands of dollars.
No other horse models have been more requested in the last almost-60 years. Every one of these Breyer horses is hand-painted and designed to be as realistic and lifelike as possible, the originality going so far as to assure that no two models, even of the same make and model number, are quite exactly same.
The decade of the 1950s saw the toy industry expanding rapidly; after all, this was the time when the first Baby Boomers were children, and toy horses had always been popular. Among the most collectible of all the Traditional horse models from Breyer are the Misty and Stormy horses, which were based upon horse characters in the semi-historical, semi-fictional children’s book ‘Misty of Chincoteague’ published in 1947. Breyer Traditional horses are often made to resemble famous real-world horses such as Newsworthy, the big gray Welsh/Thoroughbred cross pony hunter whom several young riders have ridden to championships in some of the United States’ most prestigious horse shows.
For those who aren’t horse lovers and aren’t already experienced model collectors, Breyer Horses usually appear to them to be nothing special. In fact, they tend to brush them off after a mere glance with thoughts that they are just plastic children’s horse toys. But, even though they are loved by children and do get played with, these are no mere toys, and their creative artistry (given what they are) becomes far more apparent if you take the time to look at them closely.
From the beginning, the Breyer company has limited the number of horses it produces of each model. Retired Breyer horses are a category all their own. Partly this is to keep each individual horse model unique, partly it’s to keep the artisans from the drudgery of making the same thing over and over, and partly it’s to increase the value of each collectible from both the personal perspective and the monetary one (some Breyer Traditionals will sell for a few thousand dollars at auctions).