Your first Julip horse

[george]

Tell us about your first Julip!

Mine was the Piebald Farm Cob, from the catalogue but before each model was allocated a name. I chose her because she reminded me so much of my favourite riding school cob, picked a red halter to go with her as that's what the real one wore, and I even remember that she cost £34. Waiting for her to arrive was very exciting, unwrapping the tissue even more so, then it was love at first sight when I held my new cob in my hands - I was so impressed with her silky soft mane and tail, and how heavy and solid she felt - so much better than the plastic models about at the time, there were Grand Champions and My Beautiful Horses in the shops, and no internet to speak of, let alone order on! I was converted instantly, Julips felt so much more grown up and collectable, I could see myself still loving them for years to come, never outgrowing them like toy ponies I'd had when I was younger. For a while Chance stood on her own, but soon the catalogue came up with another model who looked like a riding school horse I oved, and I was able to order her a friend. Then I found out they could do special orders so I didn't have to wait for co-incidental lookalikes, and my herd began to expand!

[Manda]

People think that my first Julip was Meredith the cob, but in truth he wasn't.
I was attending a Live show in Nottingham some year ago and I was showing my Dream ponies, Britains and tiny collection of Breyers. In the lunch break I was wandering around looking at the sales tables when I found a small Julip grey mare. At that time a lot of people were selling their Julips to buy Breyers so the price for the mare was very reasonable (£8 or something similar, bearing in mind this was about 20 years ago!) so I bought her and that was my first Julip Original. Her name was Whiskas and she was a grey family horse with a black mane and tail. I still have her and occasionally she comes with me to shows.

[EG]

When I first got seriously involved with this hobby in 2005, all I could think about was realism and so Breyers became something of an obsession. Living in Scotland, there aren’t quite so many retailers of them nearby (although there are more now) so whenever I went down south on holiday I’d buy them up eagerly – even ones that I didn’t even like that much but they were Breyers so I couldn’t afford not to get them!

I’d heard of Julips from seeing adverts for the HOTYs in magazines but I didn’t really pay them too much attention, assuming that they were aimed at kids and weren’t really all that popular. (back then I just followed the majority of collectors and went with what was all the rage at the time) I didn’t realise that there was a difference between the mass produced plastic HOTY range I’d seen and the handmade, poseable Julip Originals that I now can’t get enough of. I don’t remember who was painting them at that stage but the paintjobs were pretty plain and unappealing so none of them really tickled my fancy and I didn’t realise that you could do special orders.
Years passed and I started to get really into photography which led to my first photo stories with Breyer Trads and Schleich scale models.

I really enjoyed setting up scenes and making tack and props and things but something was missing.
I couldn’t put my finger on it but there was definitely something. It took me a while but I eventually pinpointed the problem. While the models I used were realistic, they remained in a static position; virtually scuppering any plans of using the same model for both a relaxed stable scene and a flat out galloping cross country one!

I toyed with the idea of painting an array of models in different poses but for horses with more complicated patterns it would end up being more trouble than it was worth. I carried on regardless but all the while I was thinking of the alternatives. More interesting colours were emerging from the Julip workshop by this point and the day I saw Espiridion, a gorgeous mulberry grey Lipizzaner - one of Georgie’s special orders - I was convinced that I had to get a Julip, at least to see what they were like. My parents (mainly my mum – my dad doesn’t really mind what I buy, so long as he’s not paying for them!) were against them from the start because of the price and especially seeing as I could get ‘one of those nice realistic ones’ for a lot less.
I wasn’t sure what to expect or indeed what to order so when a Lippi was listed on the spares page (in the days before they put up photos) as a ‘shaded battleship grey with chocolate mane and tail’ I just had to get him as he sounded just like Espiridion. Although he turned out to look absolutely nothing like what I’d expected, I loved him instantly and it wasn’t long before Tamarind, as he became known, was joined by several others and the EA Equestrian herd started to grow.

I'm now at nearly fifty horses and have no plans on slowing down! XD


David and Tam by Elrenia_Greenleaf

[joeypf]

I can't remember what year I got my first julip, but I do remember that I paid for it completely by myself (I'm not sure who was happier, me or my mother ) He's a catalog model, on the ID mold, released as 'Crackerjack', and is known as 'Crackerjack Popcorn', or Jack on my little yard. <3

[zirliz]

I started with the HOTY models the originals seemed expensive, my first was Topaz, my mother considered them a waste of money and stopped buying them for me
That meant unless I had money I'd to slow down getting them but I got a job so continued to get them.
it wasn't till I was in university that I tried an original model out Malteser I just loved her colours.

I have loads now (over 100 I think last time I counted) I'd say half is yearling and foals.
My mother picked out her favourite from last batch of spares and I bought him.
She still thinks they are expensive but is starting to see I'm not getting tired of them.

[Josie]

I was given a Bob the Cob and Holt Mill stables set for christmas as a child. Later in the year they bought me the Tasha and Tornado set I was always interested in the originals, and another christmas, can't remember if it was the year later or the year after that, I got Joker and one of the show bridles with a lilac and white browband. The herd expanded, but I think I only have maybe 6 now? They've all been in storage for a while since I've been at uni, apart from a portrait model of my old pony Rosa.

[spookymoo]

My First Julips were a grey Hunter and a chestnut AQH that I had together as a Christmas present in 1979. They were from my Mum and I was allowed to choose up to a certain amount from the price list. So, with the Hunter and AQH also came two huntsmen, a groom, two saddles, bridles, headcollars, whips, rugs and haynets! Opening that little lot on Christmas day is one of my most treasured memories and easily the best present I had as a child. I still have all of it too!

[garej]

Mine was a HOTY called Jigsaw in 2003, it was the later single release with matching girl rider (Alice) sold separately. I admired them from childhood, but I could never afford them, having a lack of pocket money. Here it is:-


My first original was Flame, I cant remember when I first ordered it but it was when it was in the catalogue. I remember it taking 3 months to arrive and being very impatient! Here it is, I ordered a saddle, bridle and rug at the same time to fit him!

[Jan]

My first Julip was Shadow, the grey Arab mare in the photo below. I spent hours and hours looking at the Julip price list, trying to work out how long it was going to take me to save up my pocket money - a very long time, as it turned out! At the time, you filled in an order form with the mould and a choice of three colours. Then waited to see which colour horse turned up!

The palomino Arab stallion and yearling arrived a couple of years later (1978). I collected 9 horses up until 1983 and then stopped... until late 2006 when I ordered a catalogue model, Mighty Mouse, to get my Julip collection going again.

Here he is on the right (I call him Furzley) with two other new friends from 2007.

[herbiebear]

My first Julip was a palomino Arab mare in 1981. I saved up my pocket money for ages and poured over the catalogue - an A4 piece of paper in black and white - to choose. I was SO excited when she arrived, that yummy rubber smelling exquisite horse!!! That started my addiction, and last year I bought more originals than ever! There's no hope for me - I'm thoroughly addicted!!!!

[Tashie]

My first Julip was the HOTY Nutmeg along with her unofficial rider Nicola in 2004.
My first Original was the catalouge Galaxy in the Arab Champ mould.

[Echo]

I received my first Julip yesterday, it is the Bay Hunter. Actually I don't think he looks like a hunter at all and will probably call him something else. I don't have a name yet.  I had never seen on in person, so I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the package.  I also was suprised how heavy and big they are.  Needless to say I will be looking for some others to purchase in the future.  Excuse the photo I will be doing better ones later.

[Tashie]

Oooh! He is a very nice bay colour! Congrats on starting your collection!

[pip]

my first HOTY was a factory flawed cobweb, shortly followed by bob the cob. my mum got them for me as presents when i got a scholarship to my secondary school. my first original was bantry's boy, the catalogue yearling. i don't still own any of those, the older original i have that i still own is topsy, the catalogue roan welsh cob. he's had a respray though as i loved him a bit too enthusiastically, haha.

[cookie]

An Original mustang who I've ended up rehairing and repainting as got real damaged kept in storage at our first house move.
Might wash it all off and send him to a proper restore person tho

So for now meet Chain Reaction.

[hope]

I don't have a photo yet but I have just got my first original! The lovely Malteaser roan Arab champion and she's gorgeous! I got my first ( and only one of two) HOTYS model when I was about nine I think- I pleaded with my mum for one for my birthday and searched high and low for where she might have hidden one until I found Midnight complete with headcollar, rug, bridle, saddle, bucket, brushes and rider! I was so chuffed Id sneak a look every time mum was occupied for the month before my birthday!! And yes I still have her but sadly shes in storage:(