Antique Horse
Identification Guide

Collinson Brothers
Circa 1836–1990

• Paintwork: bold, dark dappling with a lot of black; bright red, garish eyes, nostrils and mouth.
• Eyes: upholstery pins used for eyes.
• Hair: curly mane and tail.
• Tack: red corduroy saddle centre; remainder of saddle in leatherette. Bridle nailed on, many decorative tacks used on dawdle and bridle.
• Stand: rectangular linear pillars with a diamond cut-out on top of each pillar.

Baby Carriages Ltd
Circa 1906–1963 · Liverpool

Often misconstrued as Collinson horses.

• Paintwork: bold black dappling, but in a more patched, finer format than a Collinson.
• Eyes: glass eyes.
• Hair: curly cow's tail hair (as Collinsons).
• Tack: no saddle block; saddle made from fabric (sometimes velvet); skirt and remaining tack in leatherette, occasionally real leather. Blanket (numna) made from cotton.
• Stand: rectangular linear posts; rounded ends on horizontal rails; brackets have three holes; BCL Rambler transfer on base of stand.

G & J Lines Brothers
Circa 1850–1931 · London

• Paintwork: beautiful, subtle face and body painting.
• Eyes: glass eyes.
• Hair: real horse hair mane and tail.
• Tack: leather padded saddle; blankets in a classic shape with angular pointed corners.
• Stand: beautiful turned pillars with an indented collar. Brackets have three bolt/screw holes; brackets sometimes have company initials engraved on the underside. Thistle logo sometimes included on front of martingale.

Lines Brothers — Sporty Boy

A special G & J Lines Brothers model with its own distinct features.

• More streamlined features on the head.
• Featured a removable saddle and nailed-on bridle.
• Fixed blanket.

Brassington & Cooke Rare
Circa 1920

• Body: forward-facing head; stocky body; unusual profiled legs (they used a Leeway carver).
• Hair: real horse hair mane and tail.
• Tack: leather saddle with padded saddle block.
• Stand: classic pillars, similar to Ayres. Two pairs of brackets at each end. Horizontal rails with rounded ends and a cut-out profile at each end.

Leeway
Circa 1890–1947

• Body: vertical head; simple, stocky body; shapeless, straight, upright legs.
• Paintwork: basic dappling.
• Tack: leather padded saddle; no saddle block.
• Stand: thin, unshapely pillars; horizontal rails with rounded ends.

F.H. Ayres
Circa 1864–1914 · London

• Shape: finely carved with lovely intricate heads; heads often turned slightly to one side.
• Paintwork: beautiful subtle dappling; heads exquisitely painted.
• Eyes: glass eyes, always beautifully painted and highlighted.
• Hair: long horse hair; dapple grey and brown most common.
• Tack: real leather padded saddle. Leather bridle, occasionally removable. Cotton blanket (numna) edged in white braid, cut in a square shape with slightly rounded corners.
• Stand: normally pine with beautiful classic turned pillars. Brackets have four bolt holes each. Ayres horses were quite often mounted on bow rockers.