Question about Penny

[ksami]

This is something that I've been wondering about for a while now. Does Penny's bridle actually come off? I bought Sam's sleigh last year but waited on the horse because in the catalog pic (Curt Danhauser has it up on his site: http://curtdanhauser.com/AG_Collecti...ghRide_Big.jpg ), if you look closely, you can tell that the tan noseband and reins are still on underneath the harness bridle! I noticed this, too, on the Samantha movie DVD's tour of AGPlace. I took this to mean that the bridle is permanently attached to Penny's head. Otherwise, why would AG leave it on for the catalog pic? But I didn't notice the tan bridle underneath Felicity's carriage harness in the pics that have been up on the boards, so now I'm confused. Does it come off or not??

Thanks in advance!!

(edited to get the link right, sorry!)

<font color="#051E50"><font size="1">[ August 01, 2005 07:28 AM: Message edited by: ksami ]</font></font>

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ August 01, 2005 07:29 AM: Message edited by: ksami ]</font>

[MadelynsMom]

Our Penny, which was purchased last Christmas, has the nose band and reins attached. They do not come off. The nose band is attached with 2 silver clips into the horse, and the reins are attached with silver rings to the nose band. But, I don't know if they are making them different now.

Robin
(Madelyn's Mom)

[ksami]

Thanks for the info! That really helps a ton!

The whole removable bridle thing is why I waited to get Penny last year. When it was official that the next movie would be about Felicity, I had hoped that AG would change Penny's tack (her saddle and bridle) to be more like the Palomino horse's when they released all of Felicity's new things. I never really liked the light tan color of Penny's tack against her beautiful dark coat. I thought black or a very dark brown would have suited her much better!

[Ima AG Fan]

It does not come off. I just take pliers and get the rings off so that the riens and rings are no longer on leaving a leather band around her mouth if I want to put a new bridle on. If it's a thick bridle...you don't notice it.

[jordygirl]

I have both Penny and Palamino horse..I personally think the Palamino is my favorite and thinking she will look great with the carriage even though it might not be historically correct.Althought they did have creamy colored horses with white mane and tails in willamsburgat that time..

[ksami]

Even though Felicity's collection - including all her new things! - is very pretty, I just couldn't afford to get into another new doll right now. I already have my heart set on Nellie! But I bought Samantha's sleigh last year and still don't have a horse for it, so that's what I'd use Penny/the palomino for. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I was also wondering if it would be "historically accurate" to use the palomino horse for the sleigh, or for that matter, Felicity's new carriage. Would it be fashionable for Grandmary or Uncle Gard and Cornelia to own a palomino horse for their carriage(s) and such? I know palominos are not a recent development in horses coloring, but how "proper" would it be to for someone to own one for sleigh and personal carriage duty in Victorian times? Or even in Felicity's time? Palominos are rather flashy in their coloring. But I know that in Felicity Saves the Day, Felicity rides a ladylike palomino mare on Grandfather's plantation - I think her name was Jessamine? Or Jasmine? Sorry, I don't have the book handy to check! [img]redface.gif[/img] But for a family that owns maybe a pair of horses, I would think they'd have regular brown horses like Penny. Anywho, how would you even go about researching something like this??

Anybody who can clear this up, thank you!!!

[only1genevieve]

ksami - go to your Target and look at the "Our Generation" horses, they're like AG sized Grand Champion horses (does anyone else remember those?). You can get them in a variety of poses and colors, eg, standing, walking, trotting, running, as well as tack assortments (all of which are fully removable) and so on and so forth. I got a mare and foal running set for Christmas, and it was $35 - a lot cheaper than AG. They don't have the soft fur, but personally, I do like them a lot better. Their faces look better, and the poses seem more realistic to me :-/. Which is weird, because that's the only time I've EVER found the American Girl quality lacking in comparison to something more "mass market."

One difference is that while they have more tack, it's a little more plasticy. But if you're going to order replacement parts anyways, you still save money.

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ August 01, 2005 05:13 PM: Message edited by: only1genevieve ]</font>

[ksami]

Oh good, thanks for that info, stepshigh! I'm glad that they can be taken off, if only by force. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Okie dokey. Now I just have to decide if I want to get the palomino horse for Sam's sleigh (which I don't think would look too bad) or get Penny, ply off her reins, and try to get the palomino's stuff through spare parts. Or wait until they finally change Penny, but if they didn't do it for Felicity's re-release, I doubt they'll do it at all. Darn!

Thanks for all your help, everyone. [img]graemlins/heart.gif[/img]