Friday 19 September 2014

Collection model 19: the Showtime Stables and Rusty

Showtime Stables
19. Rusty the Cleveland Bay
Rusty came with the Showtime Stables set: a stable; cardboard base; brown saddle, bride and reins; pink numnah and leg bandages; pink bucket; pitchfork; bale of hay; blue grooming brush (more realistic than the usual design); braids, ribbons and beads; breed card; winner’s cup; blonde rider in a pink jacket; pink/black hat. The stable had a working light, two stalls, an open area and “grooming area”.
To avoid confusion, let's just point out that this set shares a name with the brand of toys that came before MBH and used the same moulds... but is an MBH product :) However there are some slight differences between the photos and reality once again, the released product having a green tower and weather vane. It seems likely that the Showtime Stables brand had released their own version at some point, especially given that the banner-type sticker on the front of the stable reads "Showtime Stables Horse Show".

Elli's photos:

More photos of a Showtime Stables Playset to follow.
Next post: Mare and Foal Family

Collection models 17, 18 and 20: Gymkhana Playsets

Gymkhana Playsets
17. Chieftain the Thoroughbred
18. Princess the Appaloosa
19. came with the Showtime Stables set
20. Romany the Mustang
Once again, some of the models differ from some promotional photos which are likely left over from Showtime Stables publicity. However the accessories pictured are the proper MBH ones as Showtime Stables models came with differently coloured jumps.
 Each MBH set contained a horse and breed card, plus:
17. Chieftain: floral jump wings, two red/white poles, brick jump wings, two green/white poles, pink heart brush, brown saddle, bridle and reins, pink numnah and leg bandages, (hair colour?) rider with pink t-shirt, rider tabard, pink/black hat, hair accessories (?) and blue rosette.
18. Princess: hedge jump, water trough, floral/pink fence with two flags, red heart brush, grey saddle, bridle and reins, red numnah and leg bandages, rider in black and red, black/red hat, hair beads and blue rosette.
20. Romany: red/blue wall jump with two flags, grey/pink gate jump, purple heart brush, black saddle, bridle and reins, lilac numnah and leg bandages, blonde rider in purple jacket, purple/black hat, hair accessories (?) and blue rosette.

Princess sets in a magazine competition:
Next post: the Showtime Stables and Rusty the Cleveland Bay

Collection models 15-16: the Wedding Carriage

Wedding Carriage
Sometimes called “Julia’s Crystal Wedding Carriage” set - may have been a tie in to another toy range.
15. Romeo (on the cob mould)
16. Juliet (on the Welsh cob mould, like Lucia)

Set contents: carriage, shade, horses Romeo and Juliet (both pure white with pink shading), pink leg bandages for both, baby pink heart brush, bride, dress, veil, bouquet, two breed cards.

Promotional photo:

How the models really looked:
Thank you to Elli for these photos.

Versions of Romeo and Juliet with silver shading, found by Helene who has also provided the photographs - thank you! We don't know where these two came from.

Next post: Gymkhana Playsets

Collection model 14: Sparkle

14. Sparkle the Exmoor
Sparkle could be ordered using tokens from the magazines and models' packaging. Although advertised as a grey native pony Sparkle was actually bay. He's not thought to have had a breed card or accessories.

How to send off for Sparkle, featuring a photo of another pony collectors have never seen. If you have a copy of this pony we'd really appreciate a photo!
A similar offer on Jet's packaging:

Three copies of Sparkle as he really looked:

Next post: the Wedding Carriage

Collection models 10-13: Mother and Foal Collection

Mother and Foal Collection
10. Bianca and 11. Bella the Andalusians
12. Lucia and 13. Laura the Welsh Cobs

*** New photos coming soon! ***


Each set contained a mare and foal, rugs for each, leg bandages for the mothers, breed cards and heart brushes (baby pink/lilac). Both sets were also available as part of the Showtime Stables range – Lucia and Laura had rugs with edging rather than plain purple but Bianca and Bella seem to have been the same.

Promotional photo (probably Showtime Stables, from the Welsh Cobs' rugs):

How the models really looked (sets incomplete):
Thanks to Elli for the photo of Laura!


Later on these sets were advertised with models 21. Rosie and 22. Rosanna, the Morgan Mother and Foal set. This photo shows the models as actually released.
If anyone has a photo of these sets completed, please could we use it for this page? Thank you!

Next post: Sparkle the Exmoor

Thursday 18 September 2014

Collection models 7-9: Horse and Rider Collection

Horse and Rider Collection
7. Gem the Lipizzaner, with rider Ginny
8. Apache the Quarterhorse, with rider Naomi
9. Toby the Thoroughbred, with rider Mandy
Each of these three sets contained a horse and breed card, plus:
7. Gem: Brown saddle, bridle and reins; pink numnah and leg bandages; blonde rider in purple top and pink jodhpurs; rider tabard; black and purple riding hat; hair beads; heart brush.
8. Apache: Black Western saddle; black bridle and reins; red square numnah (“Western blanket”); rider in yellow and pink; cowboy hat; hair braids; heart brush.
9. Toby: Brown saddle, bridle and reins; green numnah and leg bandages; brown-haired rider in pale green and yellow with tan boots; rider tabard; green and black riding hat; ribbons; heart brush.

These riders were given official names, written on the horses' breed cards. Once again some horses differed from those actually released under the MBH brand. Gem is shown with shading whereas she was released lightly speckled white with black hooves. The bridles pictured are also more realistic than the actual MBH releases.  
 
Gem featured in the magazine's craft section:
Promotional photo of several early models:
(Jet appears to have no markings here, Tara has a grey mane and Gem has shading almost like Sultan, so these are probably old Showtime Stables photos reused on MBH promotions.)

Next post: Mother and Foal Collection

Collection models 4-6: Beautiful Horse Collection

Beautiful Horse Collection:
Three horses were available separately:
4. Jet the Arab (black)
5. Treasure the Palomino (palomino)
6. Samson the Shire (grey)

Again, each set contained a heart brush (green for Jet, lilac for Samson and yellow for Treasure), breed card and hair accessories (beads for Jet, ribbons for Samson and braids for Treasure). Treasure was never available as pictured in the promotions - the chestnut version of her was probably an older Showtime Stables model.


Promotional photo:

The actual models:
(I KNOW I have her yellow brush somewhere, I just can't find it! So annoying.)

Helene's photos (thank you!):
Note that Helene's collection features international breed cards, printed in multiple languages on a fold-out leaflet.

MIB Jet:

Close-ups of Jet's packaging:

Variation in Treasure models:
(White marking have been added by owners.)

Next post: the Horse and Rider Collection