Breyerfest: Crazy About Horses

A wall of Breyer collectible horses at Breyerfest. (Photos courtesy of Jessie Oswald unless otherwise noted)
Attending the Kentucky Derby is on the bucket list of many horse racing fans. For fans of model horses, it’s Breyerfest, toy maker Breyer Animal Creations’ three-day event held annually at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. The event started 26 years ago to create an international gathering of model horse hobby fans. Popularity of the event has continued to grow, with attendance of over 10,000 this year.
“One of the extraordinary things about Breyerfest is how excited the kids are to see their horse heroes,” said Kathleen Fallon, vice president of communications for Reeves International, Inc., parent company of Breyer. “There’s nothing like this anywhere in the United States.”
My daughter is a collector of the toy horses that run from about $5 to $45, depending on size. We made our third trek to Breyerfest this past weekend. Just as horse racing fans have a unique comradery that can have strangers high-fiving when their horse crosses the wire in front, so too do the model horse collectors. These aren’t just children, but adults and, most often, families.
CAMERYN WITH A HORSE MODEL

For the cost of an $18 admission ticket ($82 for all three days), Breyerfest is a unique experience that includes a souvenir model, meet-and-greets with the horses that inspired the models, horse exhibitions, arts and crafts (including the opportunity to paint your own Breyer model), live auctions benefiting various charities, workshops, pony rides, exclusive Breyer shops and the opportunity to buy special edition models, plus dozens of retailers selling new and vintage models or equipment specifically made for the models. But most importantly, it’s a place where the horse-crazed can come together and share stories about the real and fake horses in their lives.
Dan Jervis of Syracuse, N.Y. first came to Breyerfest 10 years ago with his young horse-riding daughter. Now 21, she rides an off-the-track Thoroughbred retrained in a new career as a hunter-jumper. Jervis, who volunteers at Breyerfest, says the event has become an annual tradition for his family and a great hobby to be involved in.
Rachel Mutzig left her husband and son at home and drove eight hours from Ruston, Va. to bring her 11-year-old daughter to her first Breyerfest. The pair waited in a line that stretched six to seven football fields and snaked around the entrance of the Kentucky Horse Park before 9 a.m. Saturday to embark on their second day of Breyerfest.
BREYERFEST OR BUST

Once inside the gates, people scurry to form new lines for a chance to purchase limited editions and other exclusive models available only at Breyerfest. For some, it’s a prized horse to add to their collection, but for others it’s a way to support their habit.
“I love to collect and I get many models for my own personal collection, but I get some to resell to off-set the cost of collecting so my husband doesn’t kill me,” laughed Elizabeth Pagano, 21.
While sitting in the arena watching a horse exhibition, I witnessed Pagano sell a special run model for $150 that she had bought minutes earlier for $85. When I saw her again later at the nearby Clarion hotel as one of many guests selling models from their hotel rooms, she said she’d sold three similar, but much-desired glossy models, for about $1,000.
Now on her 12th Breyerfest, an 8-year-old Pagano conned her stepfather to drive her from Pittsburgh, Pa. to the Kentucky Horse Park in order to attend a miniature horse show. Coincidentally, it was at the same time Breyerfest was going on next door. They were hooked. Pagano’s parents recognized a business opportunity in the plastic horses and soon became Breyer-authorized dealers.
BREYER FANS AT BREYERFEST

Breyerfest truly is an experience like no other. It may seem very commercial with the mass amount of model horses, miniature tack and various other horse-related items for sale, but there truly is something for every horse fan.
As a Thoroughbred fan, a visit to the Old Friends Farm booth is a must. Rachel Effinger, who manned the Thoroughbred retirement center’s booth, told of three teenage girls from Florida, Delaware, and Germany, that stopped by earlier to donate $160 they’d raised raffling off a Breyer model.
Breyer announced last week that American Pharoah fans will soon be able to get their hands on their own replica of the Triple Crown winner, complete with his signature shortened tail. A Traditional model (1:6 size), Stablemate (1:32 size), holiday ornament, plus other product forms are currently in production. The models will be available online and in stores for the holidays but, if possible, in time for Breeders’ Cup Oct. 31.
AMERICAN PHAROAH MODEL

Photo courtesy of Breyer
For equestrian sport aficionados, horseball had spectators intrigued. Frederico Cannas, President of the International Horseball Federation and Madison Tillman, President of its American counterpart, educated guests about this little-known equestrian team sport that combines elements of polo and basketball as riders on Thoroughbreds and Arabians compete to put a soccer ball with handles through an elevated goal.
HORSEBALL TEAM

“People love the opportunity to be at the Kentucky Horse Park, see the horses, get up close and personal with them, get the replica models, have the owners sign them; it really is meaningful,” said Fallon. “It’s very experiential. I think people today are more interested in having that kind of experience and are willing to spend money to have an experience rather than have a lot of things.”