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The Amazing Year of

Classic Grand Champions

1997 was the year that Grand Champions started expanding their Empire, so to speak. New types of horses arrived on the scene, not just Traditionals and Mini horses. Micro horses, Collector Editions, Feed and Nuzzle horses, and Sound and Action Stallions all debuted this year, the mares finally got some comeuppance in the mold department, and all the horses started getting more attractive accessories. Instead of being solid-color felt, saddle pads came in plaid, fringed and flannel, and saddles and bridles came into their own as well. Instead of the plain English and Western tack of previous years, which had all been black, brown or gold with silver or gold trim, 1997 saw the first use of color on various parts of the saddle. Some were still brown and black, but accents in lavender, white and blue showed up to complement the colors of ribbons and reins, making these horses the fanciest Grand Champions to date. Also, the English Rose saddle appeared for the first time, a larger, rounded saddle with a colored seat and roses molded into the side flaps. A more decorative Western saddle was used as well, one with flower designs on the sides, and a girth that was in front of the stirrup rather than behind.

There were new poses introduced this year for the mares, stallions and foals. Most noteworthy was the addition of Clydesdales to the Grand Champion ranks: an adorable Clydesdale foalie with fluffy li'l feet, who was the baby of a lovely mom clydesdale, and a big, charging dad Clydesdale. WOW!

All of 1997 is just one big "wow." We got a gorgeous set of horses, most with great shading and detailed hoof/foot paint - nice markings all around, really - and most of these guys were in new color schemes, too. And the tack... Well, it's only the best tack ever! The Empire people outdid themselves on the attention to detail, painting reins, browbands, seats and saddle designs with great care. And the babies! Holy quackamole! What a bunch of cuties, and with all the same color and detail of their parents.

I assume that the Grand Champion Renaissance of this year was due to the great success of '94 through '96, but here is where the story darkens: The 1997s would go on to become the rarest group of horses. The babies from this year are almost never seen.

This is so sad and mysterious. With the success of the previous years (and especially since this group is 110% in quality), you'd think this collection would have sold like crazy. I think there must have been some lapse in distribution, or maybe these were made in limited quantities or something. What a tragedy that these guys get dilluted by the thousands of Copper Travelers and Golden Glorys and Sweet Silvers... This collection is sorely missed.

Thanks to many kindly donations, the detail page is somewhat complete and does have some really nice photos of these guys. But remember as you peruse this remarkable slice of model horse history, that these are the Grandest of Champions; we have yet to see their equals.

Clydesdales... Chestnut and bay. Both in #1 position.
Mare: "Molly"
Stallion: "Drum Major"

Quarter Horses...Buckskin and Palomino. Both in #2 position.
Mare: "Sugar Blaze"
Stallion: "Coronado"

Spanish Barb Horses... Liver and flaxen chestnut. Both in #3 position.
Mare: "Sienna Silk"
Stallion: "Senor Speedy"

Akhal-Teke Horses...Liver chestnuts. Both in #4 position.
Mare:"Red Gold"
Stallion:"Bronze Baron"

Trakehner Horses... Pale gray and dark gray. Both in #5 position.
Mare:"Over Easy"
Stallion:"Perfect Match"

Tennessee Walker Horses...Palomino and Chestnut. Both in #6 position.
Mare:"Lady Trooper"
Stallion:"Memphis Pride"

Here is a pic of the foals that so deserve better pictures ! I highly recommend going to The ID Site and seeing the beautiful catalogue pictures to fully appreciate this bunch.

Ordinarily I take most of the label stuff out of my pictures (You know, so it looks professional instead of like the brochure that it is) but this one I left in. I guess they're all male foals? Here is the debut of the squishable Clydesdale foal with his big ears and cute little hoofs, and the others are wonderful, too!
Ordered as they are shown in the picture:

Major Max ~ (Clydesdale) Molly and Drum Major
Coronado Blaze ~ (Quarter Horse) Sugar Blaze and Coronado
Silk n' Speedy ~ (Spanish Barb) Sienna Silk and Senor Speedy
Red Baron ~ (Akhal-Teke) Red Gold and Bronze Baron
Easy Does It ~ (Trakehner) Over Easy and Perfect Match
Memphis Trooper ~ (Tennessee Walker) Lady Trooper and Memphis Pride

You can't see such details in this pic, but the QH foal has the bicolored tail and the single high sock in front. Then there is the Akhal-Teke, who has a neat, sickle-shaped star. The Trakehner foal is very special, too, having yellow hair with a pale gray body, and he has socks in front that are so subtle, but he still has different color hooves in the front and back. These are simply great foals, some even more handsome than their parents.

Here are awesome pictures of two of the foals in real life, Silk n' Speedy and Easy Does It. They are both just so cute ! I think Easy Does It (and probably Coronado Blaze) is one of the most handsome foals in the entire GC line. His combination of socks, multicolored hoofs, pale body color and golden hair makes him completely unique. Even more than the details, it's the colors of these foals that make them so sought after. Here you see what an atypical dove brown Silk n' Speedy is molded in, separating him from other foals in this pose.

This is Red Baron, I think the least interesting foal in this group. His features are pretty ordinary except for the neat-shaped star, which is not visible in this pic. I haven't seen this guy in person but I'm looking on his back legs there and seeing some dark, purple-like shading. This may be the same, dark sheen that can be found on his dad, Bronze Baron.
This individual also has the curious, discolored banding that shows up around the legs of some GCs.

Go On...
To Grand Champions 1997 Horses in Detail
To Next Year- Grand Champions 1998 Main Page

Or Go Back...
To the Grand Champion White Zone
To Last Year - Grand Champions 1996 Main Page

Š2005 Sloane Eljay
Blue Paradise Stables