While Breyer plastic model horses remain the favorite of most collectors, many other companies produce plastic model horses. You can choose to collect Breyers only or simply your favorite colors, poses and breeds from among the many plastic model horses available.

Collectors favor plastic model horses for several reasons:

• Plastic models are readily available online and at mass retailers nationwide.
• They're inexpensive, with the average price range of $15 to $50, making it easy to assemble a collection in a short amount of time.

• For those with an artistic bent, plastic is the most malleable and easily customized material, enabling the do-it-yourself hobbyist to customize the base plastic model into a unique, one of a kind creation.

The major companies producing plastic models horses are Breyer and the Peter Stone Company. Hartland models are the third most popular plastic models, with several other minor brands available as well.

Breyer Model Horses

Breyer model horses have been collected and enjoyed since the late 1950's when the Breyer Manufacturing Company was stuck with an order of acetate plastic clock bases shaped like a horse. Reeves International, a major toy manufacturing company, purchased the Breyer company in the early 1990's and focused the model horse line more on toys, accessories, and games. Collectors still enjoy the company's models, especially limited edition and special run models which are produced in smaller quantities, making them more desirable for collectors. Breyerfest is the company's annual global collector event, typically held each July in Lexington, Kentucky.

Peter Stone Model Horses

The Peter Stone Company introduced its competing line of model horses in the mid 1990's. Peter Stone is the son of the founder of the Breyer Model Horse Company, Sam Stone. When Reeves purchased the Breyer line in the early 1990's, Peter Stone created his own line to bring back the lustrous colors and hand-painted details sought after by collectors. Stone tends to focus more on the collecting market, while Breyer's new introductions appeal to the toy market.

Stone manufactures models in the same scale as Breyer but offers many limited editions of 50, 100 or other quantities, special colors, and other collectible features. Stone offers models for sale through its online collector club, through its website, and through a small selection of dealers. A new line of completely customizable models launched in 2010 allows collectors to choose a blank base model and select the horse's color, markings and details to create unique models.

Hartland

Like Breyer, Hartland began as a plastic injection-molding company in the 1940's, producing plastic bodies for radios and clocks. In fact, Hartland had the first contract with Mastercrafter Clocks to produce horse-shaped clock bases, but withdrew their contract, leaving Breyer to snag the contract and produce the now famous standing horse that launched its model horse business.

A softer, rounder form and a more artistic approach distinguish Hartland's models from either Breyer or Stone. They tend to produce unusual and fanciful colors, glossy finishes, and other eye-catching details. Hartland focused in the 1960's on famous horse and rider duos from television and movies, and produced sets such as The Lone Ranger and Silver, which are highly sought after by collectors today.

The company has seen its share of difficulties and halted production in the mid 1990's after mismanagement and floods harmed their factories and inventory. Hartland launched new models in around 2001 into the collecting market, but the older sets in mint condition from the 1960's are the most desirable.

Other Plastic Manufactures

There are many other brands of plastic model horses: Schleich of Germany, Julip, and many mass produced plastic models from China. Most lack the authenticity and details sought after by model horse collectors, especially collectors who like to show their model horses. Realism is the key to success when showing model horses, and many of these inexpensive children's toys lack the details to win the blue ribbons at model horse shows.

What to Look for When Buying Plastic Models

What should you look for when buying plastic model horses? Use this handy checklist when selecting your next Breyer, Stone or Hartland models:

• Buy what you love. The collecting market is fickle. Buying with the goal of making money over time is uncertain, but if you buy what you love you will always be happy.

• Look for mint condition above all else. Mint means no scratches, discoloration, or noticeable manufacturing seams.

• Choose limited edition models for their collecting appeal. They are also desirable in the show ring and often have their own classes, which mean less competition.

• Age doesn't necessarily mean a model is worth more. Many Breyers from the 1950's such as the #4 Palomino Family Stallion were produced in such great quantities and for so many years that they are virtually worthless on the second hand market. On the other hand, a unique Breyer created especially for a charity auction in 2006 commanded a whopping price tag at the Breyerfest Auction of over $3,000. Purchase a good collector's guide to determine realistic prices and values of plastic model horses.

No matter which brands or types of model horses you prefer, any plastic model horse may be shown in photo shows or live shows. Collectors focus on different aspects of model horses. Some choose only certain breeds, such as Arabian horses, while others prefer amassing all of the production colors of specific Breyer molds. The best advice is to collect what you love. That way, you'll always be happy with your model horses.