Clydesdales, Shires and Percherons have all featured in the collection over the years, some complete with leather harness. Originally the racehorse (1564) was also available with a detachable leather saddle. The first model to actually include a rider was the Huntsman (868), now withdrawn. Since then a Cowboy, an Indian, a Bedouin Arab, a Canadian Mountie, a Lifeguard and a Guardsman have all appeared on horseback. The Guardsman was modelled at Kensington Barracks and it took over two hours to model the details of his uniform alone. Equally faithful in every detail is Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on "Imperial", and his Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh on "Alamein". To mark the Beswick Centenary in 1994, it was decided to model 'Cancara', the black horse, a Trakehner stallion. Available with a Beswick backstamp during 1994 only, thereafter it carried a Royal Doulton backstamp. With such a variety of colours used for decorating horses over the years, it is impossible here, to give all the relevant information which is needed. In the following lists, the current value given is for the 'basic' brown horse and makes no allowance for special colours. Any colour, other than brown, will command a higher price. A model, well worth mentioning here, is 'Kruger' a Welsh Mountain Pony, the last working pit pony at the Chatterley Whitfield mine when he retired in 1931. In 1987, following the mines earlier closure, a mining museum was set up on the site and it was suggested that a model of him should be made and presented to Princess Anne, when she opened the museum on 13th October, 1987. A total of 4 were cast, one to the Princess, one to the mining museum, one to the Beswick museum and the fourth was auctioned for charity. Financial difficulties forced closure of the mining museum in 1994 and the model was offered at auction. The price realised was nearly £2600 / US$5000 and this Beswick model is therefore the most valuable ever. The model was based upon Beswick Connoisseur No 2541, a Welsh Mountain Pony, and Graham Tongue, chief designer at the John Beswick Studio of Royal Doulton at that time, recalls that he only had about two weeks in which to prepare a new model. The other interesting thing is that this is the first piece since 1934 not to be allocated a shape number. The discontinued colours, referred to in the following lists are: Chestnut (dark), Blue (Turquoise), Grey (Heavy Dapple), Painted white body (eyes and feet black), Opaque (all-over white), Chestnut (Red-brown), Dapple Grey (light), Black or white, and treacle. From 1970, matt colours were available. Please note that DA (Doulton Animal) numbers were used between 1989 and 1999. Model Name of Model
No
Height inches
£
US$
DA No
Production Period
48-00
RRP
42
1939-Cur
30-700 45-50 40-500
50-1295 RRP 70-925
44
1940-Cur
Current Value
Horses 701 'Bois Roussel' Derby Winner 8 1938 701 Up to 10 discontinued colours — 855 Horse 6 855 Up to 7 discontinued colours —
84