Breyer Pottery Barn Exclusive: Strapless

Breyer's exclusive Pottery Barn Kids model went on sale November 1st, and sales have been brisk.  This seems to be a Traditional model based on the measurements shown on the Pottery Barn website.  (Which I assume are of the box - so I can't confirm it's a Traditional rather than the smaller Classic - anyone know for sure?)

Pottery Barn has commissioned several Exclusive Breyer models in the past, including a really nice model in 2007, "Gray Morgan Stallion" which used the Kennebec Count Morgan mold.  Pottery Barn's Gray Morgan Stallion proved to be quite popular, as well.

This year's Pottery Barn model is a bay mare, which is simply called "Pottery Barn Exclusive" as far as I can tell.  It uses the Strapless mold, which was created in 2003 as a limited edition to celebrate the noted champion hunter jumper mare.  Strapless the real horse was retired in 2007, although Breyer has used the Strapless mold to create several other popular models, including many of the exclusive BreyerFest exclusive models, and Breyer's "Anatomy in Motion" see through anatomy models.

The Strapless mold is a nice one, with a sense of relaxed dynamism.  I personally do not care for the models which are SUPER ACTION.  On the other hand, a horse that is just standing there is a little bit on the boring side.  Strapless is shown in an easy extended trot, with her head and tail nicely balanced.  If there is anything weird about this model, it is the super definition of the haunch muscles, which seem overly exaggerated, and more of an "artistic interpretation" than a faithful rendering of a horse in miniature.

One thing I always appreciate - and don't always see - is a Breyer model that can stand up on its own four feet.  Breyer models can have a hard enough life, particularly in the hands of a child.  Any model that tends to be tippy or is only balanced on three feet (or worse, two feet and a tail prop!) is just asking to get breaks and chips.  Strapless' "all four feet on the ground" mold does a good job of conveying action without sacrificing stability.

The coloring on the Pottery Barn Kids Breyer Exclusive is also nice - attractive, without being too showy.  Again, I prefer more naturalistic "regular" colors to some of the wackier color patterns you often see on modern Breyer models.  Some of the shading is a bit unusual and pushing towards "over the top," particularly the lighter shading over the haunches.  The combination of overactive modeling AND overactive shading is frankly a little bit much.

Comparing the pictures on the Pottery Barn Kids website with pictures on Identify Your Breyer, it looks like the Strapless mold's tail and mane have been altered a little bit for this release.  I like the Pottery Barn Kids tail a little better than the Strapless tail.  Although they are similar enough that you have to know what you're looking for.  (I had flipped back and forth several times before I even noticed it.)

Overall, this would be an excellent addition to your collection, and certainly a welcome gift for the Breyer horse-crazy kids on your shopping list.