Mystery Numbers

The Collection models each have a sequential number from 1 (Major) through to 54 (Brandy). At 55, the system breaks down. From 55 to 63, the numbers don't make much sense.

55. No model
56. Kira - Magic Foal Sets
57. Corrie - Magic Foal Sets
58. Lucinda - Magic Foal Sets
59. No model
60. No model
61. No model
62. No model
63. Polo - Horse Trailer 4 x 4 set

The best explanation for the numbers with no model is that the few un-numbered models in the collection are meant to fit here, but that they were never given breed cards officially so we wouldn't know.

These include:

"Jewel"

A black Native pony with a white stripe on his face, available with the first MBH story book. This model was not officially named but the book was called "Jewel's Day Out", so...

Foals from the Vet 'n' Care Playset

More information on the foals and playset here.

"Flash"

This flaxen hunter came with one of the Pony & Rider Assortment sets, alongside pony Teddy. He never had an official name but many collectors call him "Flash".

Black Arabian

Magazine subscribers received bonus rewards with their subscription, including the Pony & Rider Assortment sets plus an extra "bonus" horse: the black Arabian-mould horse pictured here.

Klaus with a white mane and tail

Klaus was a white model with cream-coloured hair, sold with magazine issue no. 42. Several collectors have a rare model with pure white mane and tail believed to be part of the MBH collection. It's not know where this model fits into the numbering system or how it was sold. Pictured is an actual Klaus, because I don't have a photo of the white-haired version.

Plain black Native pony

If you ordered back issues of the MBH magazine you expected to get the same model the magazine was meant to come with. This wasn't always the case but it's how the back issues were pictured above their order form all the same. In some magazines the advert for back issues didn't have an order form, just an explanation of who to send your £2.40 to and a photo. This photo shows a plain black native pony attached to the magazines. It would make more sense to include this model in the "magazine" models sequence, but maybe it was meant to have one of the missing numbers.

If you have any information to fill the gaps in the MBH collection, please get in touch via the comments section! Next up will be the final four collection models - the Magic Foals and Polo.

Collection Models 53 & 54: the Horse of the Year Superset

Horse of the Year Superset

53. Smokey

54. Brandy

The Horse of the Year Show themed set is one of the largest MBH sets and still one of the most popular with collectors, proving hard to find and selling for a good price when it does crop up on eBay.

It contained two horses - grey Smokey and bay Brandy - plus two riders (green/purple with green hat with chin strap and red/white with red hat with chin strap), two tack sets (purple and red), two numnahs (green and orange), eight jump blocks, eight poles, two cones, rosette, winner's cup, eight horseshoes, hoof pick, yellow finger brush, two breed cards and a real working stopwatch to time your horses' cross-country or showjumping rounds.

Photo credit: Rachel B

This was the second set to feature horseshoes which could be added or removed to the models and the only MBH set to contain the jump blocks. These were later sold in carious other colors as part of other brand sets such as I Love Ponies. A duplicate for Smokey was also sold in other ranges later on, making him much easier to find than Brandy or the accessories in this set.