My Pony Has A Drinking Problem

When I wrote about my conga of Breyer Shetland ponies the other day, I left one little guy out.  He's not a Breyer, and not actually part of the conga, but he does bear a remarkable resemblance to the rest of the gang.

This is "Whisky Jack," my pony with a drinking problem:

"Whisky Jack" is one of a number of horse-shaped whisky decanters created by Hoffman Distilling in the late 1970s.  Not all of their designs are knock-offs of Breyer horses, but most of them are.

Of course "Whisky Jack" is not a direct copy.  For one thing he's much more masculine than the sexless Breyer Shetland.  He's also much tinier, approximately half the size.  But at first glance you can tell where the inspiration came from.

See the resemblance?

 
Breyer-inspired liquor decanters from other distillers are well-known among hobby enthusiasts.  There's the Ezra Brooks' Balking Mule decanter and of course the famous McCormick Old Timer decanter which featured an actual Breyer Old Timer "hitched" to his favourite tipple.  And Germany's Global Whisky and Spirits bottled Speyside Malt and others in a series of decanters apparently based on Breyer and Schleich figurines.

Hartlands have also been used, like the Old Timer, to pair with alcohol in various point-of-purchase displays.  The Hartland 9-inch Mustang has been paired with Mustang Malt Liquor beer in both cans and bottles, and of course Budweiser has a host of promotional material featuring Clydesdales, at least one of which was crafted by Hartland specifically for Budweiser.

In England, too, two special Beswick horses were cast for beer promotions -- the "Whitbread Shire" and the White Horse Whisky horse.  White Horse also has a number of point-of-purchase items featuring plastic horses, including one that looks a lot like a Breyer/Hagen-Renaker classic Swaps.

I've often thought that these brewery- and distillery-related figurines would make a great entry point into the hobby for otherwise uninterested husbands, boyfriends, or any male significant others.  Guys are well known for searching out such items for their "man caves" -- what harm could it do to gently nudge them into an equine collection direction?  The alcoholic equines could be borrowed when needed for a great Collector's Class entry, but for the rest of the time they could happily reside in the cave.  It might at least be worth a try, unless your guy is a recovering addict or an abstainer.

But then again, maybe it would work for them too.  After all, I very rarely take a nip of anything alcoholic, and I still proudly display my boozy Shetland.

I guess it just goes to disprove the old adage: it seems that not only can you lead a horse to water, but you can indeed make him (a) drink.