Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great tribute to Farley's classic children's story!, November 7, 2004
Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars
As a horse lover from a very young age, "The Black Stallion" is one of those books that was read to me when I was little, which I later read on my own, and of which I still have fond memories today. The first of Walter Farley's twenty-one books, "The Black Stallion" has become a staple in children's literature. It tells the story of Alec Ramsay and his partnership with a remarkable horse, referred to only as the Black. In this gift set offered by Breyer Animal Creations, you can get both the original story in paperback book form, and a beautiful, durable portrait model of the Black.
The storyline is as follows: While returning from a trip to India, Alec's ship is wrecked in a storm, leaving he and the Black as the only survivors, washed up on a deserted island. For nineteen days they must survive there, and in this time a strong bond is formed between boy and horse. Once Alec and the Black are rescued they return to New York, where Alec asks a neighbor if he might stable the Black in his old barn. As it turns out, Henry Dailey is a former racehorse trainer, and he immidiately recognizes the Black's potential. Thus, man and boy pair up in order to train the spirited horse, hoping to turn him into a competitive runner. At this time the racing world is abuzz about an upcoming match race between two champion horses, each said to be the best racer in the country, but who have never run against each other. But when the Black shows more talent than Dailey would ever have thought possible, he begins to think that this wild, unpedigreed stallion just might have what it takes to beat them both...
The story is a bit far-fetched and idealistic, but it nevertheless makes for one whopping adventure. Farley was an avid horseman and he puts his knowledge to good use here. His descriptions of the proud, fiery Black bring the wild horse magnificently to life before our eyes. The prose is simple and fast-paced, with one event leading rapidly into another, but it still maintains a richness and depth that allows the reader to develop a strong attachment to the main characters. You can really feel the bond between boy and horse, and you can't help but care about them. "The Black Stallion" is an absolute must-read for any young horse lover. The book has a timeless quality to it, and retains every bit of its magic even for modern readers.
After penning "The Black Stallion," Farley went on to write twenty more horse stories, most centered around further adventures of Alec, the Black, and the characters that surround them (the exception being "Man O'War," which is an account of that famous racehorse's life). I have read every one of these additional books, some more than once, and would recommend them to anyone that has read and enjoyed this first book. I don't know of a single die-hard horse lover that hasn't read at least the first few books in the series, and many adult equestrians cite Farley's books as being what got them interested in horses to begin with.
The model horse included in this set is the most recent of many different Black Stallion models Breyer Animal Creations has produced since the company was founded in 1950. It is a simple, solid black paint job on the Sham mold, originally used to depict the horse from Marguerite Henry's book "The King of the Wind." Breyer horses are surprisingly durable, made of cellulose acetate plastic. I've been collecting Breyers since I was seven years old, well over a decade ago, and have had them take all sorts of tumbles and falls from high shelves without incurring anything more than a light scratch, and often not even that. The recommended age given here is eight years, but the model is a perfectly suitable toy even for younger children. Conversely, it would also make an attractive shelf piece for adult collectors. It comes in one of Breyer's fancier boxes, with a tropical island scene printed on the backdrop.
To top it off, the price listed here of $19.99 is an unbeatable bargain. You won't find this set for under $40.00 in most toy stores. If you're looking for a gift idea for a horse-loving youngster, or simply want to revisit your own youth, this is definitely a worthwhile purchase. The only downside is that, if you already own the book, the model is not available for sale individually. You might also consider the movie version of the story, which appeared in 1979, though it is no replacement for the book.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!, November 30, 2006
This particular model was produced on Breyer's popular Sham mold, which was sculpted in the mid 1980's. This mold has never been produced in many colors but never black, making Walter Farley's The Black Stallion a unique addition to any Breyer collection.
This model is a small traditional scale horse, meaning that some other horses in the traditional scale will be fairly larger than he is. However, the scale different is not as appear ant as with some other models and he should fit in just fine with the rest of you herd. He'll just be the little guy.
This model shows a beautiful and accurate depiction of a traditional desert type Arabian, or Egyptian Arabian. Desert bred Arabians tend to be smaller, more delicate in appearance, and blessed with an abundance of flowing mane and tail. As you can see, this horse has all those characteristics. He is proud and alert.
Accurate and educational, this horse is also suitable for play. He stands squarely and poses no danger of tipping over. As with all Breyer horses, his ears are a bit delicate and may chip if bumped against a hard surface or dropped. Breyer's also occasionally break legs after taking bag falls or being dropped. But they hold up well to play.
A great toy for any horse loving child. Collectors favorite as well!
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Black Stallion, September 12, 2005
A Kid's Review
Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars
This Black Stallion model is a must-have for all serious collectors1 He comes with the book too! The day I got him, I started to read the book and it was great! He is also very durable and won't break just like that too.
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