New slideshow from Breyerfest '08.
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It was a busy weekend, as we knew it would be. Friday we beagn walking to Breyerfest (at Kentucky Horse Park) from the KHP campground and went the wrong way, wandered through some private property very quietly and politely, walked through some of the construction and came to the back gate.
After getting in and wandering around, we watched some performances and picked up our Alborozo's. When our SR tix time came, we picked up Pharoah, Patagonia, and attended the Dressage Workshop Friday before going directly to the Swap Meet. We got to keep the workbooks for the Saddle workshop which I thought was generous and inspiring.
The Swap Meet had a long line in the hallway an hour before it opened, which was about when we arrived to set up. Thank goodness I didn't have a whole lot. A doorperson let a singlefile line into the room and it snaked into the room one way and around and out the other door, for hours.
I sold enough to cover the cost of my table at least, and Tony & I both enjoyed sitting in the middle of the action and talking with people. Karen Zorn was sitting by us for awhile with a friend of hers who had a bunch of beautiful resculpted and prepped traditional sized horses. I enjoyed chatting with everyone, and so many artists whose work I have followed online. Karen is sickeningly talented! I love her work and am still gooey for the SM I was lucky to score. I was thoroughly exhausted and inspired by the time we got back to the campground.
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Saturday we explored a bit more of the actual BF and exhibitors before our Sculpture workshop with Sue Sifton. That was awesome and I would love to do it again.
I left breifly to go to the SR 'tent' with my ticket only to miss out on the SR's I wanted again, but not to be dismayed, I considered a pile of Adrianos but wasn't ready to buy, a clinky Tang SM (very cool in my opinion but not too popular with the crowd, it appeared by the size of the huge stack left) and some pins & a keychain. Then I went back to Adriano and got him. The more I look, the more I like him. Dapples and eyes are lovely. I like him better than the '08 clinky SR because I really don't like the molded-on tack.
The dinner was good, but we didn't stay for the auction as we wanted to find a vendor (Karen's friend who had a neighboring table at the Swap Meet) at the Holiday Inn who I wanted to purchase a prepped Hartland Jewel from, and generous woman who we met after not getting our SR Reisling, who said she would sell me her extra Reisling from the campground. I am trading Amanda Brock a paintjob on the Jewel for the Reisling. The Holiday Inn is always so jamming during Breyerfest. I found my vendor and horse, we had a bite to eat at the bar, and a drink with a horseman who knew other horsepeople I've worked for/with in FL... how small the horse world. He is one of those real horse people who is completely amazed by how many people come to the Holiday Inn during BF, and the range of detail and expense in the model horse hobby. It's more than a kid's toy at Tractor Supply Co. We were offered a job hauling horses to a sale but of course are on our own trek right now and had to politely decline the offer.
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Early Sunday I picked up Reisling at the campground and left on my bike for Jamie Rott's Pastel workshop. That was also very good and I begged an extra blank body, which I thought was special! Bought a traditional arab style show halter for Pharoah with tassels after some indecision. I soaked up as much more BF as I could take and returned to the camper.
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Monday-Wed we stayed on at KHP campground (who wants to leave?) and I visited some horses who had been in my care in FL this winter who live in KY in the warm months. 3 were right across the street! I think this was a perfect ending to BF since the real horses are the true inspiration anyhow.
Another of these colicked in FL right after I came to work at the farm last winter. The vet set us up to treat him on the farm (me w/3 yrs equine ER vet tech), as he was pretty severe and retired, and not a surgical candidate. We pulled him through and not suprisingly, he relapsed about a week later but mildly, but came throuh that as well. He is now living out his days on a happy farm in KY with his new best friend, a retired racehorse and broodmare. Nicest thing, to see happy endings for these horses.
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The Workshops are great, bottom line. All age groups were represented, class sizes are small, and we got great instructions and in many cases tools/text to take home to supplement our ambitions. I went 1st in '01 and took the English Show Halter and knew I wanted to take whatever workshops I could if I returned to another BF.
I am playing around with pastelling my prepped Mini Whinnies leftover from the Swap Meet and wondering where I want to work this fall when I return to FL. Speaking of returning, on the drive S through NH I am hoping to visit Stephen Marden's Golden Oaks warehouse of Breyers now that I see he's opening up a few days a week.
