18th Annual BreyerFest Features Scripps Miramar Saddlebreds
Monday, August 13, 2007
By Leeann Mione
Photos by Debbie Uecker-Keough
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The 18th annual BreyerFest was held July 20-22, 2007, at the Kentucky Horse Park and included numerous events featuring the Saddlebreds of Scripps Miramar Ranch of San Diego, Calif.
Doctor Zhivago, the 2005 Three-Year-Old Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding Sec. B World’s Champion was honored by Breyer with a limited edition of 500 porcelain figurines featuring the young stallion decked out in silver-adorned parade tack.
Breyer’s limited edition porcelain of Doctor Zhivago
Michele Macfarlane, of Scripps Miramar, made the trip to Lexington with her Saddlebreds including her multi-titled CH Like Thunder, winner of western country pleasure victories this season at Diamond Jubilee, UPHA Chapter 1, Pikes Peak Spring, Rock Creek, UPHA Almost Summer and Santa Barbara National.
CH Like Thunder stepped up in place of Doctor Zhivago and performed like a star at the guest autograph sessions where throngs of fans gathered to have their limited edition porcelain collectibles signed by Macfarlane. The special editions were only available to ticket holders and during special shopping sessions at the three-day event.
CH Like Thunder, with the American flag
behind him, was truly one of the stars
of the weekend for Scripps Miramar.
Doctor Zhivago proved to be quite popular and the special porcelains sold out at each of the shopping sessions. The live performances by the Saddlebreds of Scripps Miramar filled the stands and the autograph signing sessions drew a huge crowd each day.
Doctor Zhivago, wearing fresh roses
and adorned in silver to match his
special edition Breyer porcelain
posed with Michele Macfarlane.
Everyone was encouraged to visit the barns and many of the spectators were unfamiliar with being near horses. CH Like Thunder seemed to love the attention and stood patiently in the sun for more than three hours while adults and children alike clamored to touch him and have their picture taken with him.
Everyone wanted to have their picture taken
with CH Like Thunder and Michele Macfarlane
during the autograph sessions.
CH Like Thunder and Ashley Hallock
greeted the group from Premier Stables
Breyer has donated upwards of $600,000 over the last 18 years to beneficiaries including Morris Animal Foundation, North American Riding For The Handicapped, Humane Society of the United State and various Kentucky organizations including USEF, Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, Kentucky Mustang Troop, Kentucky Horse Council and the Lexington Lions Club.
BreyerFest was hosted by Breyer Animal Creations, the world’s best selling manufacturer of collectible models, and the weekend’s event drew more than 6,000 visitors to the horse park for model horse shows, raffles, live and silent auctions and equine demonstrations.
Macfarlane, Don Trunk, Kim Matoza, Ashley Hallock and Jaime Torres rode CH Like Thunder, Sunlight And Shadows, Texas Gunslinger, Flurry and CH Tommy Typhoon during opening and closing ceremonies. All five riders carried American flags and wore custom made patriotic outfits to match the stars and stripes theme of this year’s BreyerFest.
The Scripps Miramar Saddlebreds carried
American flags
during opening and closing ceremonies.
(L-R), Ashley Hallock, Michele Macfarlane
and Kim Matoza displayed the outfits,
uniquely custom made for all five riders
in honor of the “Stars And Stripes”
theme of this year’s BreyerFest.
Doctor Zhivago and CH Like Thunder were two of the most popular performers during daily demonstrations by guest horses.
Doctor Zhivago and Michele Macfarlane
Available each of the three days were fabulous vendors specializing in clothing, jewelry, tack, accessories and vintage models. A crafts activity center where attendees could paint their very own model horses, a children’s story time tent with renowned equine authors, petting zoo, pony rides and pig races were also part of the agenda, as was a model horse show which was judged.
Chubasco, one of the Saddlebred industry’s most prolific sires and sire of 2007 BreyerFest participants CH Like Thunder, CH Tommy Typhoon, Texas Gunslinger and Flurry, was previously selected by Breyer as one of their “traditional” collectibles and included the Chubasco daughter CH Caravelle.
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