Mares in Black LLC

15/11/2024

Happy Friday, new episode with Lesli Kathman!!

On episode 124 of Mares in Black, we sit down with hobby icon Lesli Kathman and discuss her wide-ranging hobby journey. Lesli is an accomplished show holder, sculptor, customizer, painter, glazer, mold-maker and a recognized expert and author in the field of equine color genetics. We talk through he...

15/11/2024

This lovely from was sent to us from .perez and at first I thought it was a live horse!!!

This is a lovely standing sport horse type, Snow White with a braided mane and tail. The face is heavily mottled around the eyes and muzzle, making me this this horse is a few spots appaloosa rather than a grey (I knew a horse when I was a teen who looked like this-he was a registered app)

The neck is stretched out and head slightly angled with one ear forward, one to the side as though he is looking for a treat.

This is such a gorgeous piece of art and I’m so glad Kaitlin shared it with us!

We need your nag brags and artist recs! Send a picture to [email protected] and tell us why you want to tell the world about it!

13/11/2024

A blast from the past for today’s from Cheryl E!

Celebrating 40 years of Sam I Am – Henderson Farms of Jackson, Ohio partnered with Breyer in 1984 to release shares of their real horse, Sam I Am, on the Stock Horse Stallion mold. I saved my allowance and eagerly awaited my own share of Sam to arrive in the mail. Sam (Mr Mister is my model’s show name) became a staple of my photo show string in the 80’s and early 90’s winning several awards. He was retired from showing when the SHS mold was no longer competitive and remained stored until the advent of Collectibility. His first collectibility class was a “fun class” at a live show where entrants were asked to include a 3x5 card explaining what their childhood model meant to them. Sam won a special prize and I was hooked on showing Collectibility. Sam does extremely well with his picture box and ownership papers. He’s a three-peat National Champion (2018, 2022, 2024) and we’re working on his second level Merit Award. He will always be one of the most beloved models in my collection.

We need your nag brags and artist recs! Send a picture to [email protected] and tell us why you want to tell the world about it!

11/11/2024

I had the distinct pleasure of judging a really fantastic customer division at Candyland Live last weekend.

For large scale models, my champion was Cat Lady Rage, a custom Breyer Tigerlily to a mostly white tovero, with her head down and ears back- she means business!! She has very subtle dust/dirt on her that looked very real. Her artist owner is

My reserve was Hestu, a Breyer shire in an incredible densely dappled steely grey by

This really was a treat for me to judge and I’m so glad you all brought your lovelies for me to see!!

We need your nag brags and artist recs! Send a picture to [email protected] and tell us why you want to tell the world about it!

30/10/2024

sends us another !!

This is Daevi, or “deity” in Marwari, a sooty palomino Marwari mare I did as one of my 2024 NaReViMo horses from the Classic Silky Sullivan and a resculpted Kelso head. I did her using Nancy Strowger painting techniques and she was such a blast to create! NaReViMo is National Retro Vintage Month where a bunch of us make any model look like a Vintage Custom to learn techniques and to just enjoy creating something nostalgic and playful! It happens every August — come join us in 2025!

We need your nag brags and artist recs! Send a picture to [email protected] and tell us why you want to tell the world about it!

23/10/2024

A gorgeous vintage custom from for our today!

This is Commander’s Flashy Lady, a LB ASB customized by Jason Ross (Nancy Strowger) and Adren King (Ava Durbin) in 1986. I first saw this little mare at my first big live show back in 1989, WRC in San Celemente, CA and was so taken, she stopped me in my tracks! I waited thirty-five years to buy her and now she lives on my shelves, a reminder of that wonderful day at a great live show! Isn’t she kewl?!

We need your nag brags and artist recs! Send a picture to [email protected] and tell us why you want to tell the world about it!

16/10/2024

A makeover from

Hello I have another Nagbrag! It’s been awhile since I have done one hahah but anyway! My Instagram is

I recently got this Na’ilah as a body to give a new lease on life (I’m attempting to customize more) it’s not shown in the former owner’s photos but she had a broken ear and had a missing/broken off peg and couldn’t stand. She needed a fresh start so I stripped off the very sticky, gross paint, resculpted a new ear for her, put a new peg in her hoof, and gave her a new paint job! From a fiery red to a sunburnt black 🩵🩵 I handpainted her in acrylics with a paintbrush and I’m honestly very happy how she turned out! Especially her eyes 🥰🥰🥰 I named her Hawt Mess Xpress because she was indeed a hot mess 🤣🤣🩵🩵🩵

We need your nag brags and artist recs! Send a picture to [email protected] and tell us why you want to tell the world about it!

15/10/2024

Today we celebrate and recognize , and honor their spirit, heritage, and community!

14/10/2024

An oldie for ! This is a liver chestnut scratching foal. I first saw one in an ancient Breyer catalog that came in a NIB horse. I was fascinated and needed one. 40 years later I got one! I still love is big, lunky head! This pose was amazing to me and still is-it’s pretty complex for a 2 part mold!

We need your nag brags and artist recs! Send a picture to [email protected] and tell us why you want to tell the world about it!

09/10/2024

We went down under for today’s with What a lovely horse!!!

Hi Jackie

Thought you needed a Nag Brag from Australia, so here goes!

The AIMHC (Australasian International Model Horse Club) are celebrating their 30th Anniversary this year so as part of the celebrations a series of Live shows are being held around Australia. The first one was held in Hahndorf, South Australia on 21st July 2024, with competitors coming from around the country to attend. Having had a 10 year or so break from the hobby, I returned to customising last year and spurred on after discovering Heather Bullach’s painting workshops, took along the model shown here being my first custom painted after my break from the hobby. To my delight the model, painted in oils by myself, was awarded the Best Workmanship Award.

We need your nag brags and artist recs! Send a picture to [email protected] and tell us why you want to tell the world about it!

07/10/2024

Happy !

This lovely medallions is by I love the glitter insert-the glitter rolls and flows as the medallion is moved!

We need your nag brags and artist recs! Send a picture to [email protected] and tell us why you want to tell the world about it!

04/10/2024

A group of lovelies from for

We need your nag brags and artist recs! Send a picture to [email protected] and tell us why you want to tell the world about it!

02/10/2024

A from Elaine B

One tiny step closer. Some of you may be aware that I collect the 7 in. Hartland woodgrain families. I have even sent the Mares searching for them. I now have all but TWO of every mold and color. These were produced 1965 to 1966. There’s an arabian stallion, saddlebred family, and thoroughbred mare with foal in walnut, cherry, or ebony woodcut. This ebony woodcut thoroughbred was produced in 1965 only, acquired from Dosland Auctions, Bonnie Ellis estate.

We need your nag brags and artist recs! Send a picture to [email protected] and tell us why you want to tell the world about it!

01/10/2024

PEOPLE! Spoopy season model horse show...November 2nd in COLORADO. Candyland Live is back. Lookit all this stuff! Also, awesome judges...and it prolly won't snow? 😁❄️🎃🍭 Come join us!

It's not an official MIB event but the Mares will be there. Patreon members get an entry fee discount as well!
FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/448741185646023
Website: https://heathermalon9.wixsite.com/yellowcard

30/09/2024

I wanted to share this very special Valegro- I acquired this guy at an event in NYC Breyer invited me to right as this fellow was released. I realize he just looks like a Valegro, though his base is clear. In person, he has no mold marks! He is a prototype and about 20 of these were given out, mostly to non hobbyists, so I’m not sure how many ended up in collections (I’m aware of 3, including mine, but it could be more)

I am so grateful to own this guy- his name is Beautiful Day. Happy

We need your nag brags and artist recs! Send a picture to [email protected] and tell us why you want to tell the world about it!

27/09/2024

Episode 122 is streaming wide!

Join us for the second of our BreyerFest episodes co-hosted with Heather by the amazing Anne Field of Field of Dolls! We walk through some news and catching up, and then get into Anne's first, but hopefully not last, epic HorseFest odyssey! Just in time for Fall BF recovery.Listen up here or subscri...

25/09/2024

Today’s is from

I attended my first-ever NAN this year. It was such an awesome experience and the highlight was my girl “Luck Be a Lady” winning Grand Champion for the CM Workmanship Chestnut class! She is my smallest horse on my show string yet one of my heaviest hitters and she definitely proved herself that day!
Custom MW painted by Spruce Wood Farms Studio, on Instagram as

Congratulations!!

We need your nag brags and artist recs! Send a picture to [email protected] and tell us why you want to tell the world about it!

23/09/2024

Happy ! Meet one of my favorite Stones- this is the trotting Arabian weanling and she is a really gorgeous metallic chestnut!! I particularly like how coppery this color is while still staying in the realm of reality. She looks like she has been groomed within an inch of her life and then given a coat of Show Shene!

We need your nag brags and artist recs! Send a picture to [email protected] and tell us why you want to tell the world about it!