Collection Models 23 - 25: Foals and Friends

Foals and Friends

23. Thistle the Shetland foal with Bouncer the Old English puppy

24. Omar the Arab foal with Hans the Daschund puppy

25. Minnie the Falabella foal with Snowy the Westie puppy

Each set contained the foal, puppy, a breed card and pink finger brush.

Promotional photos:

Helene Bay has provided some wonderful photos of the complete sets - thank you!

Thistle:

Omar:

Minnie:

Next post: Hair Fashion Fillies

Collection models 21 & 22: Mother and Foal Family

Mother and Foal Family
21. Rosie and 22. Rosanna, the Morgans
This mare and foal set was released a little later than the others and included two horses, red rugs, red leg bandages, hair braids and beads, a breed card and red heart brush. Old Showtime Stables versions had turquoise rugs with yellow trim.

It's worth noting that these horses often look dark brown rather than black due to the plastic they were made from.

The "Showtime Stables" version of this set:

Thanks to Helen for this photo!

Next post: Foals and Friends

Quick update

Hi everyone!

Although in the past I've been unable to access my Webs site whilst other people couldn't, I think they've finally made good on their threat to scrap the free web hosting.

I'd better get on with transferring information to the blog to make sure it's all still available in one place. It's going to take a while as the hiatus on doing so started with my new job which is still keeping me plenty busy! However, I'd like to get it done :)

Hope everyone's MBH collecting is going well!

Caitlin x

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