Meet Kiss Me Kate!

Now that all the Limited Edition portrait horses for Midsummer Fair have been released, we wanted to introduce the additional guest horses that fans will be able to meet this summer in Lexington! This year’s lineup of guest horses and demo groups is going to be legendary. Along with our guest horses, there will be plenty of breed and demonstration groups ready to show fans how wonderful their horses are. The live horses are of course the stars of BreyerFest and there will be plenty of exciting demonstrations, photo opportunities – and of course, pony pats – throughout the weekend! We can’t wait to reveal them all to you over the next few weeks.

GG Kiss Me Kate is the winningnest Vanner horse in the history of her breed. Developed by Romani travelers in the British Isles to pull caravans, these small but hardy draft horses are reliable and friendly. Over the last few decades their eye-catching colors and feathering have made them a fast favorite on the worldwide equestrian stage.

Foaled in 2013 and owned by Samantha Crooks, the stunning black mare is a 56-time supreme grand champion, a 34-time national champion, a four-time national supreme grand champion, and a member of her breed’s Hall of Fame. It seems no challenge is too great for "Kate" as she has won in-hand, in harness, and under both English and Western saddles. She has also produced foals that have been national champions in their own right. Kate was bred by Gypsy Gold Horse Farm, the owners of which imported the first Vanners to the United States in 1996. Kate's grandsire, The Gypsy King, had his own Breyer portrait model produced in the year 2000. 

Kate will be at BreyerFest this summer to meet her fans and show off her superb driving skills. She will also be bringing along her barnmate SGV Lou’s Suede Shoes, a 17hh vanner gelding, who has a list of accolades almost as impressive as Kate’s. Catch Kate and Samantha in their demo daily in the Covered Arena, meet her during her Autograph session, or stop by Event Stabling to learn more about the vanner breed!