Breyer® Horses from 2010

Find Retired Breyer® Horses from 2010 at Horse Tack International.

Breyer® collecting is very popular among young and old. Some very rare Breyer® models sell for thousands of dollars. Values are based on age, rarity and condition. Any rubs on the paint will reduce the value greatly. Broken ears and other chips will reduce the value to near Zero except for possible remakes. High gloss models tend to sell for more than matte finishes, yet there are exceptions. Some of the Breyer® models have been reintroduced a number of times since their original introduction and are so common they sell for original purchase price. In the 1950's the toy industry began to grow rapidly, coinciding with the baby boom. Toy horses had always been a favorite so it was natural for Breyer® and other companies to begin their manufacturing with horse toys. Many famous horses have been reproduced in plastic. To begin collecting one needs to be aware of what to look for. Few could afford to collect all the different models available. Here I will present different variations of Breyers® that you may wish to collect. You will want to narrow down your choices. (1.) Regular runs verses Special Runs. Regular runs are simply the annual production manufactured and offered in any number of stores. Some models are made for specific stores or for special events. These are called "Special Runs". These models are sometimes in high demand and need to be reserved in advance. (2.) Model colors. These will vary somewhat and each collector must decide which looks the best in his or her eye. I have seen a collector spend an hour looking over 40 to 50 models in an attempt to decide which one has the best color. You will note that names and printed matter will not always truly represent the color that you are looking at. (3.) Decorator and other Special Colors. Currently there are six different colors. Four of them have been made since the early 1960's. (4.) Recent technology in painting has lead to special run models that have pictures hidden in the markings. You can see these on the Halloween models. This is sometimes called camouflage art. (5.) Markings will vary from what is pictured in catalogs or on the Internet. Examples of this is the star strip and snip. (white markings on the face of an individual horse) or you may see three white socks on one model and four on another model of the same number. This is because these markings are hand painted by a number of different people and skill levels will vary. The important thing is to note the differences on the same models. The white of the eye, and other painted details like the chestnuts and hooves, dappling and roaning. These will all have an effect on Most model collectors use a rating scale to describe their model to buyers. The scale runs from 4+ to 1 or 0, with 4 being absolutely perfect and 1 or 0 suitable only for remaking. As a collector, you must learn to be critical. Look at every detail. Above all be honest and your reputation as a collector will be respected. Models that have been touched up or restored in any way should always be labeled as such. Again your credibility is at stake. Future sales will depend on your accuracy in describing what you intend to sell. There are a number of books and news letters that will help you learn in detail how to value your Breyer horses.