New AG horse palomino

[ubarose]

This is fascinating. We only have Penney because I got her for $8 at the Goodwill. I just thought it was cool that you could brush her tail. The thing is, it would be very easy for AG to hire someone who was really knowledgeble about horses, historical clothing, historical housewares, etc. Instead, they put out stuff that is close but no cigar. I studied historical costume for seven years so I notice things the average person doesn't. It drives me nuts, probably the same way the horses drive you nuts. It is not like it would cost more to do it right, its more like since Mattel bought the company they just don't care as much.

[dianasmama]

Well, how long has Penny been out? Are you saying it was all Mattel's fault or was this a design approved by Pleasant Co.?

[Grapedy1982]

Penny did not come out until after Mattel bought the company. The lack of accuracy is entirely their fault. They CAN afford it, and they do get a sculptor who knows what a real horse looks like to do the Barbie horses. The same person could design the AG horse with no problems.

[ubarose]

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I wasn't talking about Penney being inaccurate. I was talking about the new horse. Consider all the effort that went into designing an Olympic Equestrian set - the specific outfit, the specific saddle, the specific bridle, but then the wrong kind of horse. I can understand the size of the horse. If it really were to scale it would be too big for a small child to play with, and would take up too much room, and would probably cost more. I can understand the choices made regarding the over all look of the horse. But why not make it the right color?

Same thing with Nellie's coat. Why not use fur with fewer and smaller black spots so it looks like ermine instead of fake snow leopard?

PC had inaccuracies, but most were understandable compromises. For example, sleeves aren't always set in exactly as they would be for the period because of the scale and the fact that the dresses have to fit dolls.

I must give Mattel credit, the last set of short story outfits were exceptional. But that makes some of this year's summer outfits, and some of Nellie's items, and the horse thing all the more disappointing.

[anonymouse]

Didn't the horse come out in 1998? It might have been designed before Mattel.

[JAdder]

I don't really want to bring this up but Barbie's horses are also off scale. Dallas Barbie's palomino horse is also the off scale..the same off scale as the AG. Barbie's head is above the horses ears. Seeing this done on both dolls makes me wonder if this is done delbritly. Also incase people still wonder the sled for Nellie and Samantha is also off scale I am not sure which scale they were useing to make this but they falled miserably on BOTH areas. Nellie and Samantha LOOK like giant mutant childen sitting in a slead that should be for there dolls along with anyone who has taken begining physics can see this there is no way possable for a horse that size to be able to pull the sled that lage even without the mutant childen in is still too big. Yes, I have seen it.

[Grapedy1982]

Yeah, Barbie's horses are still off-scale, but at least they look like horses instead of badly bred ponies.

It IS possible to make a horse closer to the right scale. I know people who have the AG horse and the Battat horse from Target. The Battat horse, while still not the correct scale, looks enough like a real horse that for me, the scale problem can be forgiven. Yes, it's large, but it still costs less and looks better than the AG one, IMO. The Battat horse is a little awkward to handle, but no more than the AG one. Plus it has a better mane and tail that you can actually braid and play with. Battat horses are solid plastic and don't have the flocked coat, but I can easily forgive that since the mane can be braided just like a real one for a show.

[horsemom]

I never could figure out why all the play horses are so off-scale. That's one of the reasons I've never bought one yet. I think if Breyer ever made a line to work with 18" dolls they'd make a fortune, especially if they had accurate tack and equipment.

I agree that the sled is off-scale too. But I can imagine the sled and horse being proper scale IF I say that the horse is a shetland pony or large mini and the sleigh was built for children. You know, kind of like the miniature horse carts I've seen. LOL! But as a riding "horse," the AG horses fall very short of the mark.

[annkirstin]

It'll be a really long time before I'm able to purchase the sleigh (and thus the horse), so I'm holding on to the hope that by then they will have made one on a better scale!

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Penny came out in the Spring '98 catalog. What was the exact date of the sale to Mattel? If it was at about that same time, then the horse would have to have been developed by PC before the sale.

As I've mentioned on another thread, it's my perspective that the S/N horse is basically the same horse as Penny, but the assembly of the horse changed a little when it was changed to the S/N horse.
Joy