Erin's BCC entry

Since its inception in 2015, the BreyerFest Best Customs Contest has become a showcase for some of the hobby's biggest and most ambitious works. As always, this year's contest has five categories: Excellence in Finish Work, Best Custom for Performance, Most Extreme Custom, Fantasy and Theme. Unlike past years, however, this year's Theme class isn't for customs at all. It's for the tack makers. Here's the specs as posted on Breyer's webpage.

Theme Class: This division features a new theme each year. This year’s theme is Dress To Impress, which is not for customized horses, but to showcase the skill of miniature tack makers!  Show us your best custom tack on any Original Finish Breyer model of any scale.  English, Western, Regalia, Harness – all types of realistic horse tack may enter. The only customizing allowed on the model horse would be sanding down the mane to allow bridle or saddle to fit more easily.  Custom dolls, carts, or other props are accepted only if all work is done by the entrant.  No dolls mounted on horses, as they may hide saddle details, but riders may also be presented as part of the entry on a separate mannequin horse (of the same mold) or on a doll stand next to the tack.  No realistic "scene" bases; this is not a Performance class, it is the judging of miniature tack, as fine art.  Mirrored bases, raised bases, or rotating displays are welcome as these may make it easier to view the entry from all angles, but emphasis should be entirely on tack, as the tack will be the sole component judged.  Tack will be judged on detail, fit, accuracy, creativity and workmanship.

Well, well, well. 

This would have been just the thing to get me out of my semi-retirement if not for that whole pesky residency thing. 

Sigh.

Fortunately, there are a lot of other good tack makers out there who do not live in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota or Vermont. I've seen some of the entries, and all of them are spectacular, including this gorgeous set by another semi-retired tack maker, Erin Corbett.

Erin writes: I don't want to dust off my tack page for this just yet, but yes, I did enter the tack maker section of the best customs contest!

I had the opportunity to do some heavy updating and antiquing of arguably the best thing I've ever made - the longhorn parade set! 

I re-did the bridle to update and fit it perfectly to Brownbadour, updated a bunch of the silver and worked in patina, among other things. 

I am more happy with it now than ever, and good luck to everybody who entered.

Congratulations and good luck to you, Erin. That is an outstanding entry for the best Theme class ever.