The Horses of VnV Stables

Please Note: All pictures on this page are COPYRIGHTED to Samantha Kroese, 2007 and may not be used in any manner without explicit written permission. Sorry for the large disclaimer, in image searches the top of the page is usually all that shows. You make click on any blue text to go to my websites related to what is being discussed.

 

My first Breyers were given to me in 1985 for Christmas. They were the SR Classic Mustang Family Set from Sears. They surivived (mostly) the many years of happy play that followed, living out fantastic adventures with grand champions, funrise horses, and barbie horses as companions. Though they're now missing legs, ears, and rubbed, they are still my favorites of my collection. In 1989 I was given the SR Equestrian Set from JC Penneys for Christmas, the one that included Halla, Hanoverian, and Morganglanz.

It wasn't until 1991 that I discovered JAH and first learned that there was an entire world around Breyers that I didn't know existed. Tack making, shows, breeding. I fell headlong into the hobby and haven't looked back. My Breyers earned special places on my shelves and their play adventures stopped, but their showing/breeding adventures started.

I started showing in novice photo shows with many of the pictures that can be seen here at The Model Horse Photo Showing Museum

Through the years I have remained extremely active in the hobby. I had a tack making business, I've run several clubs, the biggest of which was MHABCR (Model Horse All Breed Club & Registery) that ran for several years then has stopped and started a few times after that. Now I currently run MHFC (Model Horse Fun Club) which I started to be an old type showing fun club when I got frustrated with the current snobby attitudes and rudeness in the hobby these days.

I have also been repainting since 1991.

My model horses have been bred since 1991 and I have one of the largest free online S/D lists available that I've found. Through the years I have photo shown extensively, live shown a few times, and have many champion horses.

I have had the stable name VnV Stables (short for Vibrant n Victory Stables) since 1991.

My collection is a black hole, what comes here does not leave usually. I have only sold horses once, to fund my real stallion's pen. Other than that I keep everything that I get.

I collect mostly OF Breyers, though you will find repaints I have done, vintage customs, a couple special resins, all manners of horse shaped toys and statues, a few Peter Stones, and a lot of other various makes scattered throughout. My first love has been and always be the OF Breyer though.

As for how many I have? I stopped counting at 885 and that was a few years ago. I would estimate probably close to 600 traditional models at least, with about 300 stablemates, and quite a large number of classics (I love the Mesteno Mustangs!).

For now my entire collection is displayed on a wall and a half of shelving. Eventually I hope to get built in shelving/display cases, but this is the best set up I've had for my models for years. I hope you enjoy the pictures. And yes, for the curious, all of them have unique names, and pedigrees, and show records.

Most importantly:

No horse in my collection is for sale.

Thank you for your understanding. If you have any questions or comments you can email me.

 

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This page was created and is maintained by Samantha Kroese, 2007. No images, text, or other part of this page may be used without explicit written permission by Samantha Kroese. Please feel free to email (click on blue highlighted name) with any questions or comments.