Welcome To Silver Snow Stables!

* Please note that my books are closed at this time and I am not taking any new orders until further notice. *

Hi and thanks for stopping by! I'm Laura and I've been a model horse nut since I was 6. My love for repainting began at age 11, when I owned my first "real" horse. I wrote to Breyer and asked them to make a model of him, and while that never happened it did give me the idea of painting a model on my own. I still have that little repainted Stablemate so I know just how special these little critters can be. I will do all I can to make ~your~ dream horse a reality!

Feel free to sit a spell and browse through the pictures of model horses I have repainted.

Important policy changes effective immediately: Because of time constraints (and to keep my sanity) I am implementing the following policies.
1. There is now a charge for prepping. Traditionals are $25, classics are $20 and Stablemates/minis are $15.
2. I will no longer accept unprepped "old mold" traditional- and classic-sized Breyers. (Old mold Stablemates are fine.) The larger ones require too much prepping to fill their seams and carve proper details to my satisfaction. If you want one painted, please let me know and I can help you find a prepping service that will accept them.

"New mold" Breyers I will accept unprepped include, but are not limited to, Lonesome Glory, Cigar, Huck Bey, National Show Horse/Rejoice, Zippo Pine Bar, Midnight Tango mini horse, Cedarfarm Wixom, Silver, twin foals (Amber and Ashley,) Big Ben, Susecion mare and Le Fire foal set, new Paso, Strapless, and the classic Shire, reiner, barrel racer, cutting horse and roping horse. I accept all unprepped Peter Stone horses and most artist's resins.

I do not accept "raw" unpainted / unfinished factory plastic models (models where seams were never sanded at the factory.)

Email me with any questions you may have about models I accept.


3. I have decided not to accept orders for pintos and appaloosas any more, and instead concentrate on the solids and dapples that I do best and enjoy the most.

My custom orders are priced as follows: Please remember that painting prices include base and top coats, but do not include sanding, filling, and carving.

Traditional sized: $100 regular color, $110 dappled. Prep work $25 extra.

Classic sized: $80 regular color, $90 dappled. Prep work $20 extra.

Stablemate size: $45 regular color, $50 dappled. Prep work on Breyer stablemates is only $5, but if it's a very rough mini resin it can be up to $15
For all sizes fantasy and decorator prices vary, please email me for a quote.

Preparation price includes:

sanding and carving of seams, logos, hooves, ears, nostrils, and filling of small divots where required. I cannot re-sculpt or re-position models. Certain "home-cast" resins (such as Eberl's) will be extra because of the work involved, price to be determined upon my inspection of the piece.

Painting price includes:

a base coat of artist-quality spray primer / gesso for a smooth finish. I use airbrushing and hand detailing, both using artist quality acrylic paints. I complete all my models with a flat, semi-gloss or gloss finish spray (your choice) for durability. Painting prices DO NOT include the cost of the model body and mailing and insurance. You may provide your own model body if you'd like, or I can get it for you if possible (depending on the availability of the mold you choose.) My work has NAN qualified and I only send out horses I would be proud to show myself.

Please note:

At this time I am unable to strip paint off models previously repainted. I can only accept original finish plastic models or unpainted artist's resins. I also do not do repositioning or sculpting.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope I can help make your dream horse a reality! If you are interested in my services, kindly contact me at:
laura_marr@yahoo.com
I'd be happy to hear from you! Take care!

~Laura

Re-do and Return policy:

Please read carefully and if you have any questions feel free to e-mail me and ask!

Redoing Models:

I always send digital pictures via email attachment for you to approve before I send your horse to you. (Sorry, I am unable to send photographs via "snail mail." If you cannot receive email attachments I will post the picture to my Yahoo photo album. Please let me know your preference.) These pix give you a chance to change what you'd like and get just the horse you dream about and avoids your having to return the horse to me for changes.

However, if you receive your horse and dislike it even after approving the pictures, you must contact me within 3 days of receiving your horse and I will do my best to adjust it to your satisfaction. I retain the right to choose how I adjust your model, either by totally repainting the model or touching it up, and how many times I accept the model back for redoing. (I will not pay for shipping or insurance costs for returned models and will not send them back to the owner until such costs are paid.)

Refunds:

Refunds will be given ONLY if I have the chance to adjust the model to your satisfaction and you are still not happy with the model. Refunds will only be issued for the cost of painting only. If I paid for the mold I will refund your entire cost, including the cost of the mold, only if you return the model to me IN THE CONDITION I SENT IT IN.

Altering of the model in any way by anyone but myself voids any and all refund or re-do policies I have. You may not return the model for a refund or a retouch.

Showing the model voids any and all refund or re-do policies as well.

Please inform me IMMEDIATELY of any models damaged or broken in shipping as I insure all horses that I mail out to customers. I will mail you the insurance slip so you can take the model horse back to your Post Office for insurance claims.

DO NOT RETURN DAMAGED MODELS TO ME as I cannot refund your money OR fix any breakage (I do repainting only, not remaking or repairs); the Post Office requires the recipient of the package (you!) to process any claims.

Please note that the post office gives you options in this matter. You may return the model to them for reimbursement at full value BUT you must surrender the model and it will be destroyed! OR if you just want the model repaired you then must provide the PO with a written estimate (by a model-repair artist, not by me) of the cost of repairs and they will reimburse you for for repairs and you may keep the model.

Please consult with your local Post Office for further details (I do not take responsibility for claims made, nor for information I furnish about the Post Office's policies; I'm just recounting the process I went through for a model I received damaged in transit.)

A Charity I believe in:

http://www.littleshelter.com
The Little Shelter is a NO-KILL animal shelter and sanctuary that takes even the so-called "unadoptable" pets, unlike many shelters that call themselves "no kill" but only take young, healthy pets. Their Sanctuary is for the pets who have been at the Shelter too long and need a more permanent home. This is a wonderful organization that can make fine use of even a dollar! (They accept Paypal as well as traditional donations.)

So far I've raised over $500.00 for The Little Shelter thru donations from generous model horse lovers that I've sold on ebay !!! Please check out my Ebay Sales