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FREE DOMESTIC GROUND SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $49 | *See Terms Here
FREE DOMESTIC GROUND SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $49 | *See Terms Here
FREE DOMESTIC GROUND SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $49 | *See Terms Here
Last week, we introduced you to our amazing Equine Managers, Carolyn and Debbie, and shared one of their fond memories with you. Well, we were so inspired by their heartwarming story about the incredible bond between humans and horses that we asked for another one. We hope you enjoy this walk down memory lane as much as we did.
“Back in 2017, before BreyerFest got started for the weekend, I was running around taking care of pre-event business and saw a car in the parking lot of the Kentucky Horse Park with “BreyerFest of Bust” and other decorations on the windows and a family standing at the open trunk. I puttered my golf cart over to welcome them and say hello and engaged briefly in some small talk. With the two adults was a teenaged girl, and being where we were, I asked her who her favorite horse was.
She quickly retrieved a model from the car to show me and I knew instantly who the horse was – Paint Me a Pepto, one of that year’s portrait horse models. I smiled. “Did you know that horse is here?” I asked her. I could barely finish my sentence before she burst into tears of joy. In addition to that mare being on-site, I informed her, she had recently had a foal, named Linus, who was also with her. More tears of joy.
During BreyerFest weekend, I relayed this experience to the horse’s owners who were so excited to share their excitement with this young girl over their horse that we arranged a special meet and greet. Despite announcing throughout the weekend that the owners were expecting this girl and her family at the stalls, I learned that they thought the announcements were some sort of PR stunt! I finally caught up with them on the Sunday of BreyerFest (which was no easy feat!), explained the situation to them, and brought them up to the barn to meet Paint me a Pepto, Linus, and their owners.”
This story brought a tear to our eyes! We can absolutely relate to the feelings of awe and excitement over getting to meet the real horse that inspired one of our models. (You might think that working at HQ has jaded us to the experience, but we assure you, we are not!) Do you have a favorite memory of meeting your favorite horse at BreyerFest? Share in the comments below!
November 11, 2020
I have a wonderful time at every Breyerfest and have tons of favorite moments but for now, getting to see the Royal Canadian Mounted Police perform was AWESOME!!!
November 11, 2020
so sweet!
November 10, 2020
My favorite real horse memory of BreyerFest is when my husband and kids came with me in 2006 to our first BreyerFest in Kentucky (I had been to my first BreyerFest in 1991 in Pomona, CA when Mustang Lady was there). We were watching the live performances in the arena when about 25 or 30 kids brought in their miniature horses. They paraded them around the arena, and then to our delight and laughter, they let them all off their leadlines. I have never seen something so exciting, beautiful and funny as all those minis running around the arena in a big herd, and then each kid had to catch their horse again. I will never forget that show! I love the big horses, but that was a once in a lifetime experience!
November 09, 2020
I breed Friesians. I had 3 mares bred to Goffert via AI and had never actually seen him in person. When he was at Breyerfest I was SO excited to finally meet him!! Even those of us in our 40’s still get excited over the portrait horses!
November 09, 2020
2012 was my first ever BreyerFest and it was also the year that Taskin was there. I was so excited to finally meet him and when I did, I just stood there and cried. My model did not get signed by his owner because all I did was cry happy tears. I do not regret that at all because I got to see Taskin! But one of the other memories that really sticks with me is 2013, when I rode my horse. I was and still am a nobody that only specializes in one class. However, there was an incident that will stick with me and it still makes me happy, even tear up now that my horse passed on. An older gentleman was sitting near the exit gate and after my demonstration, he approached me and told me that he remembered me. I thought that he was mistaking me for someone else, but no, he told me my horse’s barn name (which was not advertised anywhere during the event) and talked about how he would watch me at the shows in California and cheer for me. He talked to me for over an hour and I allowed him to groom my horse and give him treats. I still to this day do not know who he was, but that is one of the happy memories that I remember from BreyerFest and the days of when I still actively competed in horse shows.
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Kay Koeller
January 05, 2021
The year Michele Macfarlane brought her stunning world champion Pinto American Saddlebreds to Breyerfest is the year I will never forget! And yes, those horses moved me to tears, as they always do!