I accidentally overlooked one of Breyer's new models for the Spring 2010 collection, which has been on sale for about a month now.  This is a portrait model of Fleetstreet Max, a famous overo Quarter Horse gelding.  Fleetstreet Max and his model were profiled in the May/June issue of Just About Horses (JAH).

Fleetstreet Max has a story that practically begs for the Hollywood treatment.  He's the horse that no one believed in - except for a young girl who had faith in his abilities.  Together they end up sweeping the awards.  What more could you want in a story?

When Fleetstreet Max was two years old, all of his trainers said that he would never make a useful all-around horse.  But today Fleetstreet Max is "One of the American Paint Horse Association's most highly decorated show horses."  Fleetstreet Max and his rider, owner, and trainer Alisa Bernhard hold the "single horse lifetime APHA record for most world championships (18) and set a new record for 21 world titles!"

Bernhard herself is particularly excited about this model, because she has been a Breyer collector for years, with a collection of over 50 models.  Fleetstreet Max and Bernhard will both be at BreyerFest, working the crowd!  (Try not to get too eager about petting Fleetstreet Max - according to Bernhard, he "prefers to be admired from a distance."

Fleetstreet Max's model uses the Zippo Pine Bar mold, which was sculpted by Sommer Prosser in 1999.  The Equine Chronicle Online has a great interview with Bernhard about the process of converting her horse into a Breyer model, which will make interesting reading for any Breyer fans!  Apparently it all started when Bernhard's cousin wrote a short story about Max, which he sent in to Breyer.   Although I dare say Bernhard and Max's super-mega-championship year in 2008 would have caught their eye, as well!

Fleetstreet Max has unusual coloring, including the lightning like zig-zag of white on his neck, and a little bit of roan coloration on his cheek and hip.  (Roaning occurs when darker hairs are blended in with hairs of the predominant coat color.)  Breyer sent Bernhard a "final draft" model, and asked her to compare it against the original.  She then marked it up with a Sharpie to correct any differences, and mailed it back.

In exchange for being a portrait model, Bernhard received a case of 12 Fleetstreet Max models, plus free transportation and boarding to come to BreyerFest this year.  They won't receive any financial compensation or royalties, although the honor of being enshrined as a Breyer model will certainly add to Max's reputation.  (Although, since Max is a gelding, it obviously won't earn him any stud fees!)

One of the few remaining differences between Fleetstreet Max and his Breyer model is that Fleetstreet Max's mane falls on the other side!

The release of the Fleetstreet Max model also answers the question of which "mystery horse" was hidden under the horse blanket.  Breyer released pictures for its "Quilted Blanket & Hood" set last December.  But which horse was hidden under there?  Speculation was rampant until Fleetstreet Max finally answered the question.  So sneaky!