Breyerfest Friday

Friday is BreyerFest Live day. 

Both my roommates were showing, so we got up at the crack of dawn and headed over to the show hall.

I spent a couple hours taking pictures of the Collector's Classes...

 and both...

performance rings. 

Then I drove Tiffany's car back to the hotel, where I showered and updated my blog.

Once that was done, I headed back to the Horse Park. The line to get in was really,

really, 

really, 

really long! 

I made a beeline for the covered arena...

and did a little window shopping.

There were lots of things to see and buy, but I found the noise and the crowds overwhelming.

So I walked to the Claiborne arena, where I watched the jumping phase of a three day event.

From there, I went to the Breed Barn... 

and after that, the Hall of Champions.

I checked in with my old friend, John Henry.

Miss you, big guy!

Then it was back to the Open Show. 

I spent the rest of the day with old...

and new friends...

and...

taking... 

 approximately... 

half...

a...

million... 

photos! 

Kidding/not kidding. 

The show ended with two of my besties winning the Custom Performance Overall Champion and Reserve Champion titles. Woo hoo!

Congratulations, Erin and Tiffany. You are both The Best!

Nine tenths

After her big victory in the Best Customs Contest, Kylee Parks encouraged me to pick up her little Toadstool and pose for pictures.

I tried to behave, but this pony is seriously cute. I was tempted to tuck him under my arm and make a run for it.

Nine tenths, Kylee. Nine tenths!

Best Customs Contest

Introduced in 2015, the Best Customs Contest is a recent addition to the BreyerFest lineup. Hobby artists are invited to enter their best customized model in one of five divisions. Three finalists are selected for each division and displayed in the Artisan's Gallery throughout BreyerFest week. The five divisions were Best Theme, Best Custom for Performance (shown with tack and rider), Fantasy, Excellence in Finish Work and Most Extreme Custom.

This year's theme was "Good Things Come in Small Packages." Not surprisingly, all the finalists were minis. I was especially taken with Christina Riley's teeny tiny Suffolk Punch, who'd started life as a Mini Whinny.

The Performance finalists included Lauren Hoeffer's Pony Express Flash, 

Lauren Wood's cantering Cleveland Bay...

and Leah Korper's awesome Roboclop. 

This versatile model has two separate manes and tails, making him perfect for both English and Western events.

The Fantasy division consisted of a Kirin by Gretchen Glover, Poseidon's Horses by Sovae Art... 

and Tiffany Purdy's stupendous hippocampus.

Although I'm not usually a fan of fantasy models, I absolutely love Troutany. She is just so delightfully fishy!

photo by Tiffany Purdy

Onto Finishwork! The finalists here were Karen Zorn's Valegro,

Jennifer Kroll's Bobby Jo...

and Melanie Miller's Shannondell.

This was another one of my favorites. Just look at all the itty bitty hairs!

Last but certainly not least, the Extreme customs included a lying down pony by D'Arry Jone Frank,

a jumper by Laura Skillern... 

and Kylee Parks' giant Shetland pony, Toadstool.

Can you believe this guy used to be a Wixom? He is amazing.

photo by Kylee Parks

On Saturday night, everyone crowded into the Artisan's Gallery...

to hear Breyer's Stephanie Macejko announce the winners.

The Theme class was won by the Carissa Kirksey's adorable chestnut pony. Lauren Hoeffer's Pony Express entry claimed the Performance title...

and the Gretchen Glover's Kirin won the Fantasy grouping.

Melanie's Clydesdale was victorious in Finishwork...

and Kylee's "little" Toadstool was the big winner in Most Extreme.

Congratulations, everyone!