Show Report: NAN 2026

🟪🏆 NAN 2026 🏆🟪

Monday NAN

Hello from the other side of HorseFest week! This is going to be a Thursday post instead of my usual Wednesday because I think I've spent the majority of the past three days when I'm not at work sleeping. A week of model horse festivities really takes it out of you! Over the next month, my Wednesday posts are pretty much going to be BreyerFest content, and we're starting that off with show reports today and next week. I did two multi-day shows during HorseFest this year - NAN and the BreyerFest Open Show, for a total of five days showing in a row. Reader, I was not built for waking up at 5am for five days straight. 

Today we'll start by talking about NAN, or North American Nationals. NAN occurs in even-numbered years in Kentucky, and I've volunteered or shown at it since I first started live showing in 2022. I have a post planned to talk about my volunteering experience, so we'll reflect on my 2024 NAN experience here for a minute. I always tend to go into shows with zero expectations, the mindset of "if one horse places I'll be happy," and that's doubly true when I show at NAN and the Open Show. I think in NAN 2024 I can home with one gold cookie, two silver cookies, and twenty top tens and I was thrilled. I had an idle goal that I'd like to do better this year, but I in no way expected to do so. 

...and Wednesday NAN

And then I nearly accomplished that goal on Monday, with two gold cookies, one silver cookie, and seventeen top tens. Wednesday was collectability day, and while I've been concentrating more on expanding my mini collectability string, I still did not expect anything. Cue four gold cookies, two silver cookies and twenty top tens. My total across two days of NAN was six gold cookies, three silver cookies, and 37 top tens, from 131 horses entered. I did not imagine I'd do this well, and I'm so happy that my work curating my collection and show string has paid off. 

I'd like to shout out a few of my cookie winners in particular. DWS Mister Waternoose, my loose mane Shannondell I bought from my friend Kelly M. came home with not just a silver cookie in breed, but a gold cookie in collectability as well. What made it even better was Kelly being there to see it! 

My beloved Golden Child completed her redemption arc from last NAN, and took top honors in the regular run unrealistic class. She's one of my favorites in my collection, and I was thrilled to see her (deservedly) do so well this time around. The same goes for my no-stamp dapple gray ASB Psychotic Love Theme, who took a Reserve Champion in a very competitive, 79 entry Regular Run mini class. Both of these models were very lucky eBay lot finds. 

I can't talk about NAN without giving a special shoutout to my friends Sarah P. and Kelsey B., who ran my collectability horses for me on Wednesday while I volunteered. They did such a fabulous job, and even took photos of everyone in the photo booth for me! I'm very fortunate to have such fabulous friends.

I haven't quite decided yet how many horses I'll take to NAN in 2028. I may work on some merit awards, and I may volunteer more next time. I'll have to see how my horses show in the next two years - I'm too tired to think about it now! 

The Cookie Winners:

Peony - OFP Breyer LB/SM Foals - Stock/Sport National Champion

Voulez-Vous - OFP Breyer LB/SM Spanish (all other colors) National Champion

DWS Mister Waternoose - OFP Breyer Draft - Clydesdale/Shire National Reserve Champion

DWS Mister Waternoose - OFP Collectibility Breyer SR 201+ Realistic Color - Draft/Pony/Other Type National Champion

Mist It By That Much - OFP Collectability Breyer SR 201+ Realistic Color LB/SM - Stock/Spanish Type

Golden Child - OFP Collectability Breyer Regular Run Unrealistic Color (post 1971) National Champion

Goldenlake - OFP Collectibility Breyer SR 201+ Realistic Color - Light/Gaited/Sport Type National Champion

Psychotic Love Theme - OFP Collectibility Breyer Reg Run Realistic Color LB/SM National Reserve Champion

Belli - OFP Collectability Breyer SR 201+ Realistic Color Foals LB/SM National Reserve Champion

The Top Tens (listed):

• Always a Wendy - OFP Breyer Foals Light/Gaited/Other Foals
• Riker Horse - OFP Breyer Gaited - ASB
• Shameful Sunday - OFP Breyer LB/SM Arabian/Part Arabian
• Ego Death - OFP Breyer LB/SM Morgan/Other Light
• Southport - OFP Breyer Sport - Thoroughbred/Standardbred
• I Don't Collect These - OFP Stone PB/CH Spanish
• Everyone's Type - OFP Breyer LB/SM Spanish (all other colors)
• Saludos al Sol - OFP Breyer LB/SM Spanish (all other colors)
• Total Eclipse - OFP Breyer LB/SM Other Stock (Incl. Mustang)
• Divine Rival - OFP Breyer LB/SM Other Stock (Incl. Mustang)
• Not Mine to Lose - OFP Breyer LB/SM European Draft
• Heavenmetal - OFP Breyer LB/SM Other Pure/Part (Incl. Donkey/Mule/Exotics)
• Join the Heist - OFP Breyer LB/SM Other Pure/Part (Incl. Donkey/Mule/Exotics)
• Goblin King - OFP Breyer LB/SM European Pony
• Goblin King - OFP Collectability Breyer SR 201+ Realistic Color LB/SM - Draft/Pony Type
• Heartbreak in Remission - OFP Collectability Breyer SR 201+ Realistic Color LB/SM - Draft/Pony Type
• Coincidence - OFP Collectability Breyer SR 201+ Realistic Color LB/SM - Draft/Pony Type
• Three Shots, Lemon Drops - OFP Collectability Breyer SR 201+ Realistic Color LB/SM - Draft/Pony Type
• Daytime Contender - OFP Collectability Breyer SR 201+ Realistic Color LB/SM - Light/Gaited/Other Type
• Gotta Goat - OFP Collectability Breyer SR 201+ Realistic Color LB/SM - Light/Gaited/Other Type
• Fearless Leader - OFP Collectability Breyer SR 201+ Realistic Color LB/SM - Stock/Spanish Type
• Greek Tragedy - OFP Collectability Breyer SR 201+ Realistic Color LB/SM - Stock/Spanish Type
• It Ain't Me - OFP Collectability Breyer SR 201+ Realistic Color LB/SM - Sport Type
• Say It Right - OFP Collectability Breyer SR Realistic Color Foals
• A Jazz Combo - OFP Collectibility Breyer Connoisseur Realistic Color
• Smol Gay Bean - OFP Collectibility Breyer LB/SM Fantasy Equid
• Lighting Strike - OFP Collectibility Breyer Reg Run Realistic Color LB/SM
• Friendship is Magic - OFP Collectibility Breyer SR 2 - 200 Realistic Color LB/SM

It's Friday, I'm a Judge! Traditional Collectability #6

Happy (official!!) first day of BreyerFest! As you might guess, this post was written and scheduled to post in advance, as I am a busy little bee this week. But, the blog show stops for no one, and we're in collectability land today. 

As always, my personal judging history and credentials can be found on my About Me page. 

This week, we're looking at a class of Connoisseur models. Connoisseurs were exclusive models for subscribers of Breyer's Just About Horses magazine. Much like the web special lotteries of today, subscribers would send an entry form to Breyer for a chance to win a special run of 350 pieces each issue (just through snail mail instead of digitally!) So, how do we evaluate runs of identical provenance and run size? Well, let's take a look at our class and try it together. 

Horse A: Hope-N-Glory - 2002 Connoisseur Series - 350 made

Horse B: Reverse Polarity - 2005 Connoisseur Series - 350 made

Horse C: Jazz Fusion - 2007 Connoisseur Series - 350 made

What are you thinking about when determine what makes one of these more collectible than another? Are you thinking about desirability? Condition? Age? When you're ready, my placings can be found under the jump. ↓

Collection Spotlight: Chestnut Stagecoach Surprise

 Happy Horse Fest! I'm writing this from Kentucky, after a long couple of days at NAN. This'll post while I'm at NAN Day Three, but I wanted to get in the BreyerFest spirit a little bit, so today we're looking at my chestnut Stagecoach Surprise from 2023. 

Hamilton was a mold I was dreading as the surprise, as I do quite like him and mostly conga him. He's not a high priority in the way the minis are, but I knew whenever he was the surprise I'd have to spend years tracking them down (and I've only added one since 2023 -  I traded one of my extra buckskin tobiano glossies for the sabino glossy. I've just had other pony budget priorities!) 

I think in part one of the reasons why I've been slow at accumulating the Stagecoach Surprises is because of how the order of the surprise molds fell. 2022 was the year of the Cleveland Bay, and I ran myself ragged trying to get as many of them as I could before leaving Kentucky, and I had zero desire to repeat that a second year in a row as I do value my own sanity.

The Stagecoach Surprise came in four realistic colorways split across matte and glossy finishes, with a decorator as well. The matte chestnut was a run of 1,125, and he is gorgeously shaded. I think I'd like to get one of the glossy chestnuts next! 

Now, 2023 was the one and only year I've participated in the Sunday Second Chance line at BreyerFest. It was a combination of a few factors - there wasn't one in 2022, so people didn't know if it would be returning for the post-COVID BreyerFests (and therefore no one was lining up for hours ahead of time), my friend Amanda and I didn't have any commitments Sunday afternoon, and another friend who was volunteering had a sightline to the Special Run line sent me a text that the sale was happening. Amanda and I were close to the line and decided, well, why not? 

I ended up going through the Second Chance line probably three times that day - once for me, once for Amanda since she had her dog with her and opted to take a break in the shade and babysit the bags, and once for my friend on her volunteering shift. I believe I pulled this guy directly from the Second Chance line that day. 

And it turned out that he was exactly the same red shade as a Vizsla. as confirmed by this comparison photo. I therefore named him after said dog, with the very original name of "Riker Horse" - because he looks like Riker, but is horse. (He was also definitely licked by Riker that day - a good blessing for sure!)

In a funny turn of events, he ended up on the table with Amanda's Second Chance sale Stagecoach Surprise at the River City Classic earlier this year. Amanda's is also named for Riker - his show name is Let Sleeping Dogs Lie because Riker slept on the bag while I was making laps of the special run line. We were thrilled when Amanda's horse went section champ in collectability, and mine went section champ in breed. 

And as a little bonus for my NAN show results next week...somebody did well this week! 

Monthly Round Up! June Additions

June has been a month! The clock is ticking to leave for BreyerFest (I'm heading down in four days, and I feel so behind!) But let's take a look at what I added to the collection in June. 

First up was this keychain! She's from the 1998 BreyerFest. She popped up on eBay at the right price, and I jumped to add her to the collection.

BOB meant I got to see my fabulous friend Kelly M., and as per usual I came home with a pile of things from her. I traded one of my leopard Mayas for one of Kelly's roans, and finally got the glossy Javier from the Stablemates Club last year. 

I also picked this little gal up at BOB, but she was unexpected. My friend Jane gave her to me as a gift, since she knows I love rainbow ponies. She's one of Kelly Sealey's Thistles. I'm not much for resins or customs, but she has a permanent place on the shelf. 

So these guys were actually a May purchase that arrived in June - they're Erudite and Pupil, the May Literature release from Stone. I chose the matte set because I'm always leery of light grays in gloss. I'm mostly just excited I finally added a Chip Foal to the herd!

Finally, we have the June Stablemates Club release - Najwa! I unfortunately did not receive one of the chestnuts, so I picked the nicer of the two blacks to stay in the herd, and the other will be destined for the sales bin or a show donation. 

It's a bit of a light month, but next month is BreyerFest, so funds are limited right now! 

Stablemate Sunday: BreyerFest Online Exclusives

I can't believe we're at the end of June already! BreyerFest is approaching so fast - are you ready? If not, let's get you in the BreyerFest mood. This month, we're looking at the Online Exclusive Stablemates from BreyerFest. I'm not including Eire or Kaleidoscope in this post, just the online Stablemates since BreyerFest introduced the hybrid model in 2022. Don't worry, they'll get their time to shine eventually (when I make a post about BreyerFest Limited Edition Stablemates!) 

The first Online Stablemate was in 2022, the first year BreyerFest had both an online and in-person event. This little guy is Torlinie, known to the hobby as the soccer ball Stablemate. It's safe to say that the poor guy was not the most popular - decorators are already kind of a hard sell (people either love them or hate them), and the G2 Clydesdale was facing serious fatigue from the hobby. He's not a super popular mold, and he'd had about 13 uses since 2019 thanks to Breyer using him in just about every unicorn blind bag release. I think he's a cute idea, but I understand why people weren't drawn to him. 

After 2022, Breyer introduced a new fun twist to the online Stablemate, and with that stopped including an in-person Limited Edition Stablemate in the Breyer Store. Starting in 2023, the Stablemate has had some kind of split in the run, though the numbers vary from year to year. 

The first split run Online Stablemate was Buggy in 2023. The variation came as a surprise, revealed on the BreyerFest livestream. While Buggy had been advertised as a glossy bay roan appaloosa, part of the run was the same pattern in a rosy gold. The entire 2,000 piece run sold out on Friday. This was my first year at the live show, and I wasn't anticipating a sell-out so I didn't try to buy one on my phone. I want to say I got the regular version late 2023 from either eBay or a Facebook seller, and I got the gold through Kelly M. who ended up with an extra somehow. The split ended up at 1,800 bay roan and 200 gold. It's important to note that for some reason, most of the gold variation ended up with flaws in the gloss, almost like it wasn't cured long enough before being packaged, so that's something to be aware of when buying one. 

The second split run was Wild Things from 2024. Like Buggy, the variation was revealed on the livestream, though I don't believe the numbers were stated until after BreyerFest. This year, the split was more equitable - the advertised realistic variation of Wild Things, a glossy flaxen chestnut sabino, was a run of 1,950. The variation was the same pattern but in a green to gold color shift in a run of 1,050. I wised up this year and had a friend who wasn't showing at the Open Show order two for me. Between the two of us, we ended up with both variations. 

Finally, we have last year's Online Stablemate - Shindig! As was typical, the variation was announced on the BreyerFest livestream but the numbers weren't. I was dreading that the split would be another micro run like Buggy - and I was correct. The decorator variation of Shindig was a run of 75, while the realistic matte gray sabino ended up as a run of 2,925. I bought two (again through my friend who bought my Wild Things in 2024), and ended up with two of the realistic. I ended up putting out an ISO for the decorator version last fall and paid him off over the course of several months. 

Breyer threw us for a loop this year by revealing the variation splits for BreyerFest early. They revealed the Online Exclusive Stablemate Hygge on the Icelandic mold would have a split - one-third of the run would be a pink decorator color instead of the chestnut dun tobiano advertised. I was anticipating this, since in 2024 the split was more equitable as well. I don't mind alternating between smaller and larger splits! 

Which BreyerFest Online Exclusive Stablemate is your favorite? Are you partial to the decorators or the realistic colors? Personally, I love the shifty colors they've been using on the decorators lately! 

It's Friday, I'm a Judge! Breed: European Pony

Happy Friday judging clinic! We're back in breed land today. 

As always, my personal judging history and credentials can be found on my About Me page. 

This week, we're looking at a Traditional European Pony class today. Like my last breed clinic, we've got a couple of horses on the same mold in this class, as a fun treat. Before we look at our entries, let's familiarize ourselves with the breeds that will be appearing in this class today.  

Norwegian Fjord

• Strongly built, hardy, well-proportioned, and athletic
• Proportional head, not long, has a slight dish and is not convex. Large, dark and bright eyes, short and wide set ears with a refined point at the tip
• High set neck with a convex topline, gently sloping shoulder, withers are not prominent and blend smoothly into the back
• Long, broad, well-muscled and sloping croup; tail carried freely and naturally
• Accepted colors: brown dun, white dun, grey (black dun), red dun, yellow dun

Information courtesy the Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry https://www.nfhr.com/catalog/breedstandard.pdf 

German Riding Pony

• More elegant and refined than a typical pony type
• Big framed and harmonious
• Small, well-defined and noble head
• Well-muscled, clean and correct limbs

Information courtesy Westfalen Verband NA https://westfalenverband.com/documents/GRPbylaws.pdf

Let's take a look at our entries! 

Norwegian Fjord mare

Horse A: Astrid

Norwegian Fjord mare

Horse B: Sweetwater's Zorah Belle

German Riding Pony mare

Horse C: Rowan

Take a minute, evaluate each horse against their assigned breed standard. Think about what make one entry stand out from another. When you're ready, my placings are under the jump. ↓

Plastic Pony Field Trips

One thing about me is I love to take my hobby in the wild. I talk about my models to everyone I know. I describe it as my "weird little niche hobby" to new people (and then subsequently feel validated when people say collecting and showing model horses isn't weird!) I keep an extra blind bag Stablemate on my desk at work. 

But one of my all time favorite things to do is take my model horses on field trips. 

My mascot The Original Gay Prancer obviously travels with me to every show. Sometimes when traveling he only makes it out of the car on lunch break...

Sometimes he's out the whole time and poses with my coffee...

And sometimes he's out for fun stops, like when I stopped at a library while waiting to meet a hobby friend for lunch! But he's far from the only model I've taken with me places. I love being able to take my models on themed field trips. 

When I went to a Halsey concert last year, I was tickled to bring Suddenly I Was a Lilac Sky from BreyerFest 2024 with me. The model is, of course, named after a lyric from a Halsey song. 

More recently, I saw a production of Macbeth. You may already know this, but I have a degree in English, and my focus was in British literature specifically. I have a lot of love for the Bard, and Macbeth is one of my favorites. Stone's Literature series last year was Shakespeare themed, and I knew I'd be wanting one of the Macbeth Chips when the time came. And of course, I brought her along with me when I went to the Scottish play!

Do you take your plastic ponies on field trips with you?