Maggie Barkovitz started collecting Breyers around 1977 after being introduced to them by her friend & neighbor.  Her very first Breyer was the Proud Arabian Mare in Bay, followed shortly by the dapple grey and alabaster colors – her first conga. When she was a kid, all she wanted for Christmas and birthdays were Breyers.  She would circle the ones she wanted in the catalog, and hand them to her mom, grandparents, or anyone else who she thought might like to know.

In 1992 she stopped collecting in pursuit of other interests. In 1998, she bought her first computer, got online, and did a search for Breyer.  Lo and behold she discovered a vast hobby she didn’t even know about as a kid.  Through the old Cascade Model Horse board, she connected with collectors just like her, one of whom is one of her dearest friends to this day.   That friend introduced her to china collecting, and she’s been collecting chinas ever since, with a Breyer or two here and there!

In 2002 BreyerFest featured the very first Breakables show with show hostess Karen Gerhardt.  It was an opportunity for collectors to bring out their ceramic horses and be a part of the largest gathering of model horse enthusiasts in the country.  In 2008 Maggie, with Karen’s blessing, approached Breyer about reviving the show since many of the china collectors also collect Breyers and attend BreyerFest.  She hosted the show from 2009-2013, with Heather Malone, Stacy Faraci and Jackie Rossi hosting 2014. She then again hosted Breakables from 2015 to 2016. In 2017 she passed the hosting duties to Diana Dubbeld, who hosted Breakables from 2017 to 2021. For 2022, Maggie is returning to host the show she loves dearly.

Maggie is a Philadelphia native, but now resides in Phoenix, AZ with her husband “DaBar” Dave Barkovitz and their two furkids – Sparkles and Murphy.  She met Dave at BreyerFest 2004 when he was in the Artisan Gallery bringing back to life DaBar Enterprises, and she was just finished working NAN 2004 as the NAN Registrar. She has attended 21 BreyerFests – 19 in person and 2 virtual. She is looking forward to seeing everyone at BreyerFest Prost!