I intended to make this post much earlier in the year, but time got away from me as usual. The last couple of months in particular have been pretty stressful, and I haven't felt much like writing. And now it's December and well ::gestures vaguely at everything:: here we are.
So that said, 2025 has been a big year for both Breyer and Hagen-Renaker. They both celebrated impressive milestone anniversaries (if you like numbers that end in zero or five anyway rather than, say, forty-two, which is also an important number, but much less talked about). Breyer, which began making model horses in 1950, celebrated it's 75th anniversary, and Hagen-Renaker, which began in 1945, celebrated it's 80th anniversary.
Both companies have changed immensely over the decades, surviving ups and downs, and forging their own paths forward through economic upheavals, changes in ownership, and cultural shifts. It's pretty remarkable that they're still chugging along creating beautiful models for us to enjoy.
Breyer has always straddled the line between toy and art object with their model horse line, but they have embraced the collector side of the market much more in recent years with the Premier Club, Vintage Club, and Stablemate Club. This year, they produced a bunch of fun merch celebrating their first model, the Western Horse, and while my budget all year was pretty lean, I did splurge on a 75th anniversary mug and pin because I'm a silly Western Horse nerd.
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| The 1950 OGs standing over Mastercrafters clocks |
I have yet to acquire the 75th anniversary Western Horse, and while the flurry of silhouette models released this year aren't really my jam, it's one conga I do try to keep up with. (I still need a Trailblazer, too, dang it. Will trade paint work for Western Horses!)
Hagen-Renaker meanwhile has always had a very fluid line of offerings, ranging from functional ware to figurines to decorative planters to wall plaques---whatever the market and the economy demanded. Miniatures have been at the heart of the company almost since the beginning, and though Hagen-Renaker Tennessee now perforce operates with a different business model, the company returned to these roots this year with the release of the new Bibelot line currently available through two exclusive dealers. Various models from the Miniatures and Specialties lines will be be debuting in new colors, starting with this darling foal in baby grulla and baby black.
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| Bibelot foal in baby grulla (Photo by HR) |
HR TN also continues to produce exquisite Designer's Workshop scale models as well. I am ecstatic to see the return of one of my most favorite molds, the Small Zara, in a new and exquisite color. If you're not already a member of the Hagen-Renaker Collectors Club and want to order this piece, membership is only $34 per year.
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| Kaizen (Photo by HR) |
I did some work for both Breyer and HR this year, and while I'm not at liberty to discuss most of the former, I am excited to be able to promote the Hagen-Renaker Channel on Youtube. Kristina is working to preserve the history of the Hagen-Renaker pottery (and related potteries) by interviewing former employees and artists as well as creating how-to videos showing production methods, amongst other topics. The subject matter is fascinating and so important to save for future generations of hobbyists and collectors. I have been wanting to create some videos of my own to go along with this blog, so editing the videos for HR has been a really fun creative outlet for me in the meantime. Please check out the channel and subscribe!
Lastly, on an unrelated note, in an effort to try to find some good cheer as the weather turns dreary and the days get especially short, my sister Sarah and I decided to put together a photo challenge for December. These have been making the rounds for several years on Facebook and Instagram, and we thought it would be fun to create one that suits our own weird sense of humor this year. The prompts are largely inspired by lines from our favorite holiday movies as well as the many holidays and other shenanigans that dot the month of December.
I may post about some of the prompts here over the course of the month, but I'll for sure be posting my responses to all of the prompts on Instagram for anyone who would like to follow along. And please feel free to join in on your own social media accounts! You can catch up on the last few days or just join in on whatever day you see this. Have fun and enjoy!
