Breyerfest Exclusive Models Update

Breyer has updated their website to include two more special runs!

Jubilee - Special Run

A silver bay on the Andy mold. I like him! He's glossy and I hope he looks better in person than he does in the pics. I think he'll come home with me unless I neeeeeed alll the surprise models haha

Bonne Fete - Special Run

I LOVE HIM! I cannot wait to pick him up! I think he'll be one that's super popular and sell out quickly. I'm excited to add this model to my collection.

Also, the celebration model is going to be GLOSSY!

So, what do you guys think?! I'm excited about all the special runs to come!

Breyerfest 2014 Models as of January

Breyer has released the first models of BF 2k14! What do you guys think? I'd love to hear your opinion!

Celebration Model - Gooitzen fan Teakesyl

I personally think he looks just like Goffert and I'm a little disappointed because I already own him, and now will be getting three more. Hopefully he will be more dynamic in person other than flat black. 

Early Bird Raffle Model - Alegria 

He's GORGEOUS! I just purchased my tickets and would love to take him home, but he;s only limited to 3 pieces.

Special Run - Champagne Toast

He's pretty, I'm not really a fan of the Adios mold and depending on if I like any of the other models he might come home with me, just depends.

Store Special - Athos 

I like him, he's a little too metallic but I don't have any on the mold and if I like the real horse enough he will be a purchase for me.

Store Special - Paddyngton's Mark of Distinction

He's cute but also very metallic and looks very similar to Chubasco. I don't own any on this mold either, so depending on my funds I might purchase him as well.

Diorama Contest Prize - Party Time!

She's cute, but really Breyer? You've reused two names for these models so far, can't you come up with something different? I never do the contests but I'm sure she'll make the winners happy.

Saturday Raffle Model

He's very nice! I don't think I will put in any of my tickets for him because I'm never lucky haha.

So, what do you guys think? I personally can't wait for more models to come out, I'm not really that impressed so far. Breyer has some surprises in store, so I'm looking forward to more.

Breyerfest Tips #4 - Everything about the Clarion

You have probably heard about the Clarion as being the hub of Breyerfest outside of the Kentucky Horse Park. And that is true! If this is your first year, you will be AMAZED at how much goes on in there. There are three main parts- the room sales, swap meet and artisan gallery. Formerly known as the Holiday Inn North, hobbyists have shorthanded the Clarion to the CHIN.

If you haven't seen this video, this is probably the best (funniest) representation of the Clarion I've found to date.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EJAECy4gmM

Artisan Gallery- the artisan gallery is open from Thursday night from about 5-10pm. This is held in one of the ballrooms of the CHIN and is a place where hobby artists- such as finishwork artists, sculptors, tack makers and customizers can display and sell their work without staying at the CHIN. Some pieces will be for sale, but these artists usually are not open to haggling their prices down. Some people make a living sculpting or painting, and it is important to be respectful to those who are selling there. It is neat to see customs and resins in person, especially if you are new to collecting and don't see them that often.

Swap Meet- the swap meet is held right next to the Artisan Gallery and occurs on Friday night from 7:30 to 11pm. The swap meet is full of tables where people can buy and sell models. Usually prices in the swap meet are low, so if you are looking for a bargain it is good to check in here. The tables are opperated by people with a lot of models to sell who do not stay at the CHIN or don't want to open their rooms for selling. There is a variety of things to find in there, so you might have to hunt for something you want! Many sellers are willing to go down on their prices a little bit and some might even trade models with you. HOWEVER, don't offer to trade your Celebration Model for a ultra rare SR from an exclusive event. Be smart and sensible when asking to trade and haggle prices.

Room Sales- Yes, the famous room sales. When you walk into the CHIN, it's like you have entered a vortex of model horse goodness. ANY model you could ever dream of - OOAKs, test runs, special runs, regular runs, customs, bodies, all scales, chinas, resins, companion animals, tack and accessories for sale. Most Breyerfest veterans will recognize a first-timer by the glazed look in your eyes. (trust me, it happens! I was called out more than once as a newbie). When you walk into the hotel, you will quickly find out that it is the most illogically laid out hotel EVER. You will probably walk in circles and enter the same room about 20 times. That's okay! Even if you miss out on a model, there will probably be another room with that same model for sale.
 Look around! Try and find the best deals on models. You will probably be able to find current regular runs for cheaper at the CHIN than at the KHP. Many vendors will post signs giving a brief overview of what they have for sale in their rooms, but don't be afraid to just walk into their rooms! You might be a little timid at first, but you will soon see how much fun it is. Most vendors will haggles, especially Saturday night. They often don't want to haul their models back home that they didn't sell, so some will offer good deals. Generally the prices are very reasonable, but if you want a rare model and aren't completely sure yet, ask the seller to hold it for you. Often times they will, just be sure to let them know if you end up finding a cheaper model that you purchased instead so they can put the model back up for sale. Since 2014 is a NAN year, rooms may be open as early as Tuesday, but most people open their rooms by Thursday night.

Room sales are a bunch of fun and you can meet a lot of great people, especially if you belong to an online horse community like Model Horse Blab or Youtube. Don't be afraid to talk to people! You could make lasting friendships.

If you have any other specific questions about the Clarion that were not answered in here, please comment!

Breyerfest Tips #3 - Special Runs

One of the greatest things about Breyerfest is the anticipation of finding out what special runs, or SRs will be offered this year exclusively at the event. For first time Breyerfest goers, the special run lines and tickets can be confusing. Trust me- it is not that bad. You may be really nervous and the first time is always the hardest, but once you go through the line you will see it's not that hard. I will try and explain everything about the ticket and the line to the best of my ability in hopes of helping someone.

Alright. So when you buy a three-day ticket for Breyerfest, you get one Special Run ticket. It will look something like this

This is not my picture, rights go to owner.

You must have these tickets to get into the special run line. It is right near the Breyer store but it is a separate line. Each ticket is issued for a hour time slot. This ticket is for 12:30 to 1:30 pm on Friday July 17th. You cannot show up to any other time slot or they will not let you in. They do check your tickets! 

Show up at least 15 minutes before your time slot is supposed to begin. If this was my ticket, I would show up at around 12:10 or 12:15. There are 350 tickets issued for each time slot and if you are late you must get into the back of the line. 

In order to make it fair, Breyer pulls a number out to be the first ticket in line. So, if this was my ticket, and number 30 was called, I would be number 8 in line. BUT if number 39 was called, I would be last in line. This is important because Breyer only puts out a certain number of special runs per time slot, so they last all weekend. 

Once they get everyone in order, they lead the line into the SR part of the store. When you walk in, a bunch of tables will be set up on your right. One display model will be set up in front of a pile of bubble wrapped horses in the same mold. There will be a Breyer employee standing behind the table to make sure everyone is kept in order and only one model can be picked up by each person. You can only buy one of each kind of horse when you go into the SR line. For example, you can only get one surprise model at this time slot, not two. If you have another time slot, you can get another surprise model if you wish. 

After you pick up your one or two models you are funneled out into the Breyer store where you can shop or just proceed to pay. Plastic SRs run between 55-75$ and there is always a different animal SR that is a little cheaper and usually a  porcelain SR that is a little more. 

When you go into the SR line, there is usually one or two SRs that are super popular and sell out quickly. Especially if you are far back in line, make sure you have some back-ups that you want to purchase as well. If you get bad tickets every time, and your most wanted SR sells out every time, you may get disappointed. Usually they make the most of the ones that they think will be most popular, so just prioritize your purchases and if you get a good spot in line, be sure to grab the one you want who is most popular, instead of one they'll have left over on Sunday.

If they have Special Runs left over on Sunday, you are allowed to go back through the line without a ticket. You are still limited to two model purchases, but you can go through the line multiple times if you wish. If you reallllllly want to get another model, I would suggest getting there as close to the opening of the park as possible. 

Breyerfest Tips #2 - Let's Talk About Money!

Now that you've got your hotel booked, you must take in account all the other expenses you will need to get to Breyerfest. Tickets to get into the park, food, gas money or plane tickets, and of course spending money for models. I will give advice, and then tell you guys what I am doing this year for Breyerfest 2014

As for food, I would recommend NOT eating at the Horse Park. Their lines are long, and the food is very expensive and not that great. It would be a good idea to check in to your hotel to see if they offer a free breakfast in the morning. When I went in 2010, we stopped at McDonalds every morning and ordered something there. Even that line was long, and we would leave early in the morning! A free breakfast at your hotel is a good way to save a little bit of money and get a god start to you day.
Instead of buying food out for lunch, I would pack snacks to get you through the day. PB&J sandwiches, fruit cups, granola bars, trail mix, and light snacks are good and healthy ways to keep your energy up. YOU NEED TO EAT! Coming from a health occupations background, even though you may be drinking a lot of water, you need to eat so your body can use the fluids. If you skip meals, you will be more likely to pass out and no one wants that.
Speaking of water, you need to also drink a lot of water and sports drinks such a Gatorade or Poweraid. It gets HOT in Kentucky, and especially if your not used to it your body might take it rough. Staying hydrated will make your body happy, leading to a more enjoyable experience for everyone.
After a fun day at the Park and before a long night of shopping in the Clarion, treat yourself and your family to a nice sit-down dinner. There are plenty of restaurants in and around Lexington that you can visit. My family ate religiously at the Cracker Barrel right down the street from the Marriott hotel. If you're craving a certain type of food, you will probably be able to find it within a fifteen minute drive of where you're staying.

What I am Doing- Eating a free breakfast at my hotel, buying snacks for during the day at the KHP, bringing a large cooler full of frozen waters to my hotel and packing at least 3 per person each day, eating out for dinner.

Okay, enough about food. Now to tickets. The earlier you buy tickets the better. Breyer often offers earlybird special prices if you buy your tickets early. I would recommend as soon as you know that you're going, buy the tickets. Even if something comes up and you cannot go, it will not be hard to sell the tickets at cost closer to BF. When you buy tickets at the earlybird price, you are also entered into a raffle for a rare earlybird model .

Now- for what is included in the tickets. A lot of first-timers to Breyerfest are confused about what exactly you get for your money. This is what is included in a THREE DAY TICKET. For you 70$ you get---

A Breyerfest Pin/Button- this pin allows you access into the KHP for all three days. It is usually a pin of the logo for that year and adult pins are one color while youth pins are a different color.
A Special Run Ticket- this ticket is for a certain time slot on Friday or Saturday. I will explain everything about the SR ticket in another blog.
A Celebration Model Ticket- you must show this ticket at the window in order to recieve your celebration model, which is no cost to three-day ticket holders.

If you know that you are not going to be there for all three days, you can buy a ONE-DAY ticket. This allows you access into the KHP for one day- the day that you purchase them. You DO NOT get a celebration model ticket OR a special run ticket. You cannot get these models without a three day ticket. You do, however, get a one-day stablemate for purchasing a one-day ticket.

What I Am Doing- I am buying 3 three-day tickets as soon as they go on sale. That gives me 3 celebration models, the chance to buy 6 Special Runs and 3 people access into the KHP all weekend.

Gas Money- Since I am driving, I need to take into account how many MPG my vehicle gets, and how many tanks it will take to get to BF. Gas Prices are unpredictable, so I am setting aside about 180$ for Gas for the weekend.

Money For Models- Now, what you all have been waiting for! Depending on what type of models you want to buy and how many you want to take home with you will determine how much money you need to bring. When I went in 2010, I spent $315 on 5 SRs alone. If you wish to purchase expensive customs, artist resins, or a ton of models, I would say to bring 1,000$+. I spent around 800$ on about 20 traditional Breyers. You should know when to buy and when to try and find a better deal. Don't buy RR at the KHP! You'll just probably end up spending a lot more money on a model you can find at the Clarion for cheaper.
If you're able to bring a lot of money- that's great. But if you don't have as much that is okay too, you'll just have to hunt for better deals.

What I'm Doing- I am trying to save as much money as possible to go! I would like to get around 1k$ to bring. As of January I have 800$, but I also have to pay for part of the trip and senior week between now and BF.

 Thanks for reading!

Breyerfest Tips #1 - Where To Stay & How To Get There

Lexington Kentucky is the horse capital of the world, so no wonder Breyer chooses it to hold Breyerfest year after year. The Kentucky horse park is a prime location for all things horses, both real and model. You have decided to embark on an fun-filled journey to Breyerfest. So, where do you stay? Lexington and neighboring Georgetown offers many options in different price ranges and locations, whether you want to be in the middle of the action, or a stone throw away from it in a more peaceful location.

Farther Away From The Action-

Neighboring Georgetown is a great alternative for those who want to relax a bit and not pay as much money.


Comfort Suites- Georgetown
9 minutes from the Kentucky Horse Park | 6.78 mi
Generally good reviews and ranked #8 out of 14 hotels in Georgetown. Rates for Breyerfest time average around 110$ a night.

Country Inn and Suites - Georgetown
9 minutes from the Kentucky Horse Park | 6.88 mi
Great reviews and ranked #2 out of 14 hotels in Georgetown. Rates for Breyerfest time average around 84$ a night.

Hampton Inn Lexington/Georgetown
9 minutes from the Kentucky Horse Park | 6.83 mi
Some rave reviews and others were not so satisfied. Ranked #1 out of 14 hotels in Georgetown. Rates for Breyerfest time average around 93$ a night

Smack Dab In The Middle Of The Action-

If you want to stay close to the room sales and swap meet, here are some hotels that are closer to these activities.

Griffin Gate Marriott Resort and Spa- Lexington
7 minutes from the Kentucky Horse Park | 5.06 mi
I have stayed here and it is a nice hotel. If you are looking for just a place to sleep and do not need amenities such as a spa or golf course it may not be the best option. You are able to walk to the Clarion from the Marriott..Used to be the home of the Peter Stone horse Event Equilocity Ranked #15 out of 65 hotels in Lexington. Rates for Breyerfest time average around 179$ a night.

Embassy Suites Hotel - Lexington 
8 minutes from the Kentucky Horse Park | 5.20 mi
Good reviews for this hotel. Located across Newtown Pike from the Marriot and Clarion, the Embassy is a little more pricey than the others. This hotel offers windows outside of each room to create a window display, fun for younger collectors and those looking to sell a few models.  Ranked #8 out of 65 hotels in Lexington. Rates for Breyerfest time average around 200$ a night.

Clarion Hotel - Lexington
7 minutes from the Kentucky Horse Park | 4.86 mi
This is the center for Breyerfest Action outside of the horse park. Room sales, swap meet and artisan gallery occur here. Many enjoy staying here to sell, but if you are looking for a relaxing stay I would not recommend the Clarion. The hotel is currently under some renovations to improve rooms, but all rooms sell out within a few hours after opening reservations for the year.  Ranked #28 out of 65 hotels in Lexington. Rates for Breyerfest time average around 120$ a night.

Alright, so now you have your reservations, how do you get there? If it is possible, I would recommend driving there. It is a 9 hour drive from where I live, but it is worth it in my opinion. You are able to bring home more models than if you fly, and you won't have to worry about models breaking in your suitcase or having to ship them back home. If you are not able to drive, flying is the next best option. Flights into the Lexington Airport may be expensive, so you might be able to save some money flying into the neighboring Louisville Airport and renting a car to drive an hour to Lexington. Model purchases may be more limited if you fly, and you may have to buy a box to ship your models home with you. If you are driving, I would pack a tote in your car so you know you'll have enough room to bring models back. Throw in some towels, t-shirts, foam, bubble wrap or foam to secure your OOB models that you purchase and keep others safe.

Thank you for reading my first blog about Breyerfest tips, stay tuned for more!