Breyer Horse Display

The former owner of the house had trains and cars displayed on plain wooden shelves above the windows in the bonus/office room.  I already knew once seeing it that I could maybe do something for my Breyer horses.  I've gotten a lot of ideas from Braymere Custom Saddlery.  I'm not longer an active hobbyist and when I was it was original finish but I live through reading her blog and seeing the amazing tack and miniature model horse stuff.

The shelving was narrow so the main worry was if one of the horses became unbalanced from vibration or something like that.  A fence seemed like the most logical answer and would add to the charm of the display.  I went to Michaels Arts and Crafts store to pick up some basswood pieces of the correct size to make a fence post and railings.

After measuring and cutting my husband and I were able to get the perfect fit of the fencing to span the shelf yet allow the horses room to be placed onto the shelf space.  Glue and paint; and vuala!

I tried to group the horses with different colors spread out so it wasn't just a tone on tone look.  My favorite coast colors being darker ones like bays and chestnuts being the majority of my collection this task was a little bit of a challenge but I think the few lighter color horses break up the monotony. 

All of the horses I have left from my childhood collection fit!  I've sold many in the past years since I had a ton and with getting my own horse and then moving it just never made sense to cart around boxes of model horses.  Now I have a fun display in an area of the house walls that would otherwise be empty aside from maybe a picture.  When I look up and see my precious collection I think of the horsinalities each Breyer was given and the games my childhood best friend Jessica and I would play.

There is Marshmellow, the colt who won championships at a local Breyer horse show and his adoptive uncle Firebolt (personality modeled after Jesse from Full House).  Then there was Jackie the buckskin pony who all the boys were hot for.  Then there was BC Requested a buckskin galloping horse I was so excited to get for Christmas.  BC was my "stable" name; Blue Crescent Stables.  Oh the joys of childhood.  Now I just need to figure out where I can put the barn my dad and I made together....I have a couple ideas....