In my March Special Effects post, I covered the Classic-scale Gambler’s Choice models in my collection from 2017, 2018, and 2019. Today, we’ll round out the rest.
#712344 Nayati was the April 2020 gambler’s choice on the new Rearing Mustang mold, which had debuted the year before. There were three color choices - matte dark bay pinto, glossy dunalino, and glossy chestnut leopard appaloosa. I’m not a fan of loud pintos and the dunalino looked decidedly greenish-yellow in the promo photo, so I only bought my allotted model from my membership and hoped for the leopard appy. Happily, that’s who I got.
The dunalino ended up being a perfectly normal, nice color in-hand, and I’d probably pick one up someday if the price is right.
The dunalino ended up being a perfectly normal, nice color in-hand, and I’d probably pick one up someday if the price is right.
In late April 2021, the gambler’s choice was #712392 Slyder, on the Hollywood Dun It mold. It’s not one of my favorite molds, but the colors were outstanding, and they were all glossed, so it was an easy choice to order one on my membership. The chestnut splash was the one I received.
I purchased the gray Slyder a couple weeks later from a seller on Model Horse Sales Pages.
This Slyder has an awesome story.
Every May since 2014, I’ve struggled with an intense bout of seasonal depression. May of 2014 was difficult - a relationship ended, I moved out of my home, and I had to put my cat to sleep, all within the span of two weeks. I expected some feelings to crop up in May of 2015 when the anniversary rolled around, and they definitely did. What I didn’t expect was for that pattern to continue. And continue. And continue. Every May, like clockwork.
I didn’t understand it - after all, I had long since moved on from those losses - and I berated myself for being so dysfunctional when everything outside was getting bright and warm and beautiful again.
Then I did some reading on it, and some work with my therapist, and I started to understand that this is just a thing my brain does, and that it’s not uncommon for people (and even animals!) to struggle with depression in the spring. That helped normalize it, and now I just have the depression to deal with, rather than the guilt and anger and frustration about being depressed. I work extra hard on balance that month, giving myself a couple activities with friends to look forward to and to avoid isolating, but also being careful not to book activities and social time beyond what I know I’ll have the energy for. I take days off from work when needed. I remind myself that a messy house isn’t the end of the world, and that it’s okay to come back to tasks when I have more energy. I have people in my life that know what I experience in May and are there to help if I ask. I allow myself the minutes/hours where I can do nothing more than sit on the couch and stare into space. I remind myself that this is just something my brain does.
I struggled worse than usual with my annual May depression during the pandemic (no surprise there; even the healthiest, most well-adjusted people I know struggled with their mental health during the pandemic). May of 2020 was the worst, but May of 2021 was no picnic, either, even as we started to creep back toward normal life with the vaccines. I was in charge of a brand new program at work that was not doing well. People were still leery of getting together, so I didn’t have the usual social or hobby activities to look forward to. BreyerFest was confined to online-only again, so there wasn’t a Kentucky trip to look forward to, either.
I had been messaging with my friend Nina pretty regularly since buying her Smurfy Sham the year before, and we were talking about the appaloosa Slyder. She had an extra and offered him to me, but I was really after a Crane (the web special on Emerson) and wanted to wait to see if I got picked or not before buying her Slyder. I didn’t end up getting selected for Crane, and as we were lamenting our relative lack of luck with web special draws, I mentioned my annual May depression. She was supportive and we commiserated a bit about how hard things had been with the pandemic.
Three days later, the appaloosa Slyder showed up at my house, with Nina’s return address on the box.
I messaged her right away. It went like this:
Me: “Nina! What is this that just arrived at my house!!!”
Nina: “I wanted to send you some cheer. You need the set!”
Me: “Oh my gosh, he is gorgeous. I love him. You have to let me pay for him. At least cost plus shipping!”
Nina: “Nope! All is good! He’s a gift! I just thought it would help put a smile on your face this May.”
He sure did.
I say this a lot in this blog, but I truly have met the best people through plastic ponies. Five years later, Nina and I are still messaging each other several times a week, celebrating the good times and hobby successes, and supporting each other through the tough times and hobby disappointments. I am so glad we became friends.
***
I wasn’t too worried about the gambler’s choice when it rolled around in April 2024. I had just found out I needed to replace my car and had cut myself off from hobby purchases in the anticipation of that gigantic real-world expense. I hadn’t needed any of Johann the Lipizzan in 2022 or Santino the Polo Pony in 2023, so I figured I was probably safe.
HA.
Every May since 2014, I’ve struggled with an intense bout of seasonal depression. May of 2014 was difficult - a relationship ended, I moved out of my home, and I had to put my cat to sleep, all within the span of two weeks. I expected some feelings to crop up in May of 2015 when the anniversary rolled around, and they definitely did. What I didn’t expect was for that pattern to continue. And continue. And continue. Every May, like clockwork.
I didn’t understand it - after all, I had long since moved on from those losses - and I berated myself for being so dysfunctional when everything outside was getting bright and warm and beautiful again.
Then I did some reading on it, and some work with my therapist, and I started to understand that this is just a thing my brain does, and that it’s not uncommon for people (and even animals!) to struggle with depression in the spring. That helped normalize it, and now I just have the depression to deal with, rather than the guilt and anger and frustration about being depressed. I work extra hard on balance that month, giving myself a couple activities with friends to look forward to and to avoid isolating, but also being careful not to book activities and social time beyond what I know I’ll have the energy for. I take days off from work when needed. I remind myself that a messy house isn’t the end of the world, and that it’s okay to come back to tasks when I have more energy. I have people in my life that know what I experience in May and are there to help if I ask. I allow myself the minutes/hours where I can do nothing more than sit on the couch and stare into space. I remind myself that this is just something my brain does.
I struggled worse than usual with my annual May depression during the pandemic (no surprise there; even the healthiest, most well-adjusted people I know struggled with their mental health during the pandemic). May of 2020 was the worst, but May of 2021 was no picnic, either, even as we started to creep back toward normal life with the vaccines. I was in charge of a brand new program at work that was not doing well. People were still leery of getting together, so I didn’t have the usual social or hobby activities to look forward to. BreyerFest was confined to online-only again, so there wasn’t a Kentucky trip to look forward to, either.
I had been messaging with my friend Nina pretty regularly since buying her Smurfy Sham the year before, and we were talking about the appaloosa Slyder. She had an extra and offered him to me, but I was really after a Crane (the web special on Emerson) and wanted to wait to see if I got picked or not before buying her Slyder. I didn’t end up getting selected for Crane, and as we were lamenting our relative lack of luck with web special draws, I mentioned my annual May depression. She was supportive and we commiserated a bit about how hard things had been with the pandemic.
Three days later, the appaloosa Slyder showed up at my house, with Nina’s return address on the box.
I messaged her right away. It went like this:
Me: “Nina! What is this that just arrived at my house!!!”
Nina: “I wanted to send you some cheer. You need the set!”
Me: “Oh my gosh, he is gorgeous. I love him. You have to let me pay for him. At least cost plus shipping!”
Nina: “Nope! All is good! He’s a gift! I just thought it would help put a smile on your face this May.”
He sure did.
I say this a lot in this blog, but I truly have met the best people through plastic ponies. Five years later, Nina and I are still messaging each other several times a week, celebrating the good times and hobby successes, and supporting each other through the tough times and hobby disappointments. I am so glad we became friends.
***
I wasn’t too worried about the gambler’s choice when it rolled around in April 2024. I had just found out I needed to replace my car and had cut myself off from hobby purchases in the anticipation of that gigantic real-world expense. I hadn’t needed any of Johann the Lipizzan in 2022 or Santino the Polo Pony in 2023, so I figured I was probably safe.
HA.
Enter #B-CS-10011 Zayn.
Of all the molds they could have picked in 2024, it had to be the Classic Arabian Stallion. My first Breyer love. My first complete conga.
Of all the colors they could have picked, they had to do three ultra-realistic Arabian colors, including a SHINY BAY THING.
Doomed. Instantly doomed.
Of all the colors they could have picked, they had to do three ultra-realistic Arabian colors, including a SHINY BAY THING.
Doomed. Instantly doomed.
I bought one on my membership, and then threw all caution to the wind and paid for a membership for Felice and bought a second one on hers. I was fully prepared to purchase a third membership on my gmail account … but then Nina and I were messaging back and forth, and she said she was able to secure my third on one of her extra memberships. We would each end up with three, and probably have to do some trading with other hobbyists to each end up with a full set.
Nina received a fleabit, a rabicano, and two Shiny Bay Things. Both of my Zayns arrived a few days later. In the most bizarre twist of fate ever, I, the lover of all Shiny Bay Things, had to root AGAINST a Shiny Bay thing in the boxes. I just needed them to be a fleabit and a rabicano for us both to have a complete set.
Nina received a fleabit, a rabicano, and two Shiny Bay Things. Both of my Zayns arrived a few days later. In the most bizarre twist of fate ever, I, the lover of all Shiny Bay Things, had to root AGAINST a Shiny Bay thing in the boxes. I just needed them to be a fleabit and a rabicano for us both to have a complete set.
What are the odds?!
I picked up the extra Shiny Bay Thing from Nina at BreyerFest a couple months later, and the rest is history.
I picked up the extra Shiny Bay Thing from Nina at BreyerFest a couple months later, and the rest is history.
The
chestnut rabicano is the only one of the three I've shown so far; he
took first place in his class and NAN'd his first time on the table. His
show name is Like A Charm.
Favorite release of the gambler’s choice Classics by miles and miles.
I didn't pick up any of the 2025 Gambler's Choice, Rambler, not having been a fan of the mold or the colors. We'll see what they throw at us for 2026.
If it's a Classic Arabian Mare, think good thoughts for me.
I loved zayn too and also obtained all 3. The appy slider is gorgeous too.
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