Michelle's Black Stallion

As I was looking through the pictures from last weekend's Quabbin Valley Performance Open live show, I couldn't help not notice a surprising number of really well presented vintage Breyers on the show table.

There's another one.

And another!

Most of them appeared to be one class wonders, but this little Chris Hess Black Stallion...

Well, he was in just about everything!

Vintage Breyers showing performance isn't unheard of, but it's not especially common either. I got curious and did a little digging. This is what I found out: Alfahl Ah'sawad belongs to Michelle Sepiol.

Michelle describes herself as just a regular hobbyist. She doesn't have a website and rarely sells her own work. However, that doesn't mean she's an amateur. Much the opposite, in fact. She makes most of her tack, dolls and props and all of it is first rate.

Although she does own a few newer molds, Michelle's primary interest is plain colored, vintage Breyers.

A couple months ago, she got the idea to show an Arabian at QVPO. Specifically, her goal was to win the Versatility Award. This prize goes to the horse with the most points in five separate classes: two Western, two English and one Other.

Michelle writes: I wanted a tack friendly Arabian that could be used in multiple performance set ups. I used Identify My Breyer to select a mold and see what colors it's been released in. Then I started hunting. 

I picked up my Black Stallion for $15 the end of October 2023. That included the shipping! I have an excellent Restorer on speed dial, Jennifer Danza. She touched him up and shipped him back lickity split.  

There was a lot of RESEARCH. I love to research because that's how I learn. I found out that Arabians do not trot in Native Costume classes, and eventually through another curious friend found out WHY. You can bet that's in my documentation. 

Speaking of documentation, I created NEW Documentation just for him and his breed, Arabian, for all these classes. I could probably have saved myself some time and used my old documentation, but I like to go the extra mile and use breed specific photos and breed specific rules for my setups. The documentation, just like a doll, can make or break an entry.

He's a fat barreled, short backed mold, so I scrambled and made him his own Ranch tack and Arena Western tack before the show. His forelock is a bit challenging for a brow band but a one-ear makes things easier. 

I had to make new English girths to fit him. He's a porky boy. 

I wanted to show him in harness, so I made a cart using Lisa Sharpe,s Meadowbrook pattern, which I slightly customized. I made it out of hardwood and 3D printed my own wheels. 

Fortunately I already had a harness that fit him.

I had an Arabian costume that I took on trade from someone that wanted one of my dolls and didn't have the funds. I don't know who made the costume, but it wouldn't fit any Arabian in my collection. It didn't fit the Black Stallion either, so I had to take the bridle and halter apart and modify it, while carefully keeping the original artists integrity. Then I created a rider doll to go with the costume. 

There were thirty two Original Finish Performance classes at QVPO, and he showed in seventeen of them.

Throughout the day I kept notes on how each entry placed, what I messed up on and what I need to tweak to improve for the future. 

I am very pleased with how this new little horse did. I have never seen a Black Stallion mold showing Performance before, but he was LOTS of fun. 

Oh, and he won the Champion Versatility Award!!! Yay!!!!

Congratulations, Michelle and Alfahl Ah'sawad, on a job very well done. I can't wait to see what you do next!