Imagine if Breyer Called YOU and Asked If They Could Use Your Horse as a Model

One day a few years ago Julie Kennedy, who now trains her horses and mules in Eastover, S.C., got a phone call she wasn't expecting. It was the Breyer horse people. And they wanted to know if they could use her "horse" for a model.

Every year Breyer gets hundreds of requests from people hoping Breyer will choose their horse for a model for the company's line of exquisitely detailed collectible horses, joining the ranks of Seabiscuit, War Admiral and a host of other world-class, world-famous horses. This day, Breyer was calling Julie.

But Julie's horse wasn't a racehorse, a show horse, or any other kind of horse. In some people's eyes, Julie's "horse" is even better.

Julie has the world's most perfect mule. At least that's what the American Donkey and Mule Society told Breyer when they called the society to ask which mule typified the ideal mule -- and it was Julie's Maynard's Miss Sheba.

So when a few months ago I said I was going to fulfill a lifelong dream and ride a Breyer horse, that was not exactly true. I've always wanted to ride a mule, and here is one of the world's most famous. Retired now, and just a few miles from home.

She's much prettier than the model, which I purchased (pictured below). The funny thing is, Breyer asked for the mule that typified the ideal mule, then just used her coloring on their existing model mule. They didn't create a new body. The first run of Sheba models was even male. When somebody picked up on that, they shaved those parts off.

Julie and Sheba got to go to the Breyerfest at the Kentucky Horse Park. Sheba stood in a paddock while Julie stood at a table, autographing the bellies of Breyer Sheba models.

More on Sheba's many championships, her quirks and Julie's difficulties in training her, Julie and Sheba's experiences at the Breyerfest, and Lily (my daughter)'s ride on Sheba.

Because Sheba's story is longer and better than I can tell in one day.

Comments

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At last...those sleepless night are over! Those endless hours of paging through Breyer catalogs...which horse will Anne ride???? YEAH!!! We now know!!! How exciting. Looking forward to hearing how Lily's ride went. Sheba is a beautiful mule...wow. Very cool.