Wynn Medinger
Loving horses might insulate you from all the manure on the internet.
That’s what the New York Times said in a wonderful story on BreyerFest, Giddy Up, Girlfriend!
In an intimate afternoon ceremony on a sunny Friday in July, a dappled gray gelding and his bay bride, swathed in a gown of artificial hydrangea petals, were wed by a steer wearing clerical vestments. Those present for the vows exchange included a chestnut ring bearer, a “flower filly” and friends Bella Bernaiche of Marshall, Mich., and Georgia Padgett of Saluda, S.C., both 14, who coordinated the ceremony together.
The most striking part of the tableau wasn’t that the bride, groom and officiant were inhuman, but that they were inanimate: made of plastic, measuring roughly six inches high from hoof to wither.
Welcome to Breyerfest, a treasured summer rite for those deliriously in love with horses to indulge their obsession alongside approximately 30,000 (mostly teenage, mostly female) kindred spirits: “horse girls,” as they are sometimes called.
Read it here at the New York Times.
BreyerFest is Breyer Animal Creations’ annual celebration of horses at the Kentucky Horse Park—a fabulous three-day family festival that combines the excitement of a horse fair with model horse activities.
The EQLiving Winner!
The winner in Equestrian Living’s contest for a Breyer “EZ To Spot” horse model and a Family-4pack of tickets, which included tickets to the Celebration of Horses Evening Show as well was Carrie Hamel of Grantham, New Hampshire.
About EZ To Spot
In the world of pony jumpers, talent and heart are everything. Add color to the mix, and you get EZ To Spot, a 2001 Pony of the Americas gelding. His flashy leopard coat inspired his show name, as a previous owner’s parent said he’d be “easy to spot in the field.” Known as “Lash” in the barn, he is owned by Ponies Unlimited LLC. His career highlights include being named the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) Zone Champion 2012-2015, and the USEF’s National Pony Jumper Champion in 2013 and 2015.
Standing 14.1h, EZ To Spot regularly jumps fences from 1.10-1.15m, and up to 1.20m in the USEF Pony Finals. Still competing today, his long and successful show career can be attributed to his athleticism and love of his job. Ponies Unlimited describes him as having “a heart bigger than he is.” Add that to his one-in-a-million personality and you have a winning combination!