Mike Jackson’s Hartland Photos:
Brown Western Horses

Text & Photographs Copyright Mike Jackson 1998-2009


Brown Western Horses come in a variety of molds and span the entire production period, though I am not aware of a solid brown Champ horse.
Chubby with black points, without molded bridle:
Again, from the early mold Hartland used this horse for the early Davy Crocketts. This version has the black stockings. Crocketts horse is named “Streak”
Chubby with black mane and tail, painted on bridle:
Some early Wyatt Earps got this horse from the early Chubby mold. The black bridle is painted on the horse. No stockings. I don't believe it was used with Crockett. The proper name for this horse is “Tombstone”.
Chubby with black mane and tail, molded but unpainted bridle:
Another later version of the Crockett horse without the stockings but this time with the molded but unpainted bridle. Crockett horses are named “Streak”.
Chubby with white plastic stockings, black mane and tail with molded and painted bridle:
For whatever reason, Hartland stopped producing Davy Crocketts and started making Jim Bowies with the same molds. Bowie’s horse is named “Blaze” and has white stockings and a white blaze. There are basically two versions of this horse. This one has the brown paint, painted over the white plastic. I don't have any scientific evidence, but the two styles seem about equally split in their numbers for the Bowie horse.
Chubby with black mane and tail, white painted stocking and blaze, molded and painted bridle:
For whatever reason, Hartland stopped producing Davy Crocketts and started making Jim Bowies with the same molds. Bowie’s horse is named “Blaze” and has white stockings and a white blaze. There are basically two versions of this horse. This one has the white paint, painted over the dark plastic for the mane and tail..
Walking Brown Horse with wavy tail, black mane and tail, black bridle: Tombstone
Tombstone is Wyatt Earp’s first major horse variation and the one shown in most brochures. An earlier rare variation of the horse in a Chubby mold is found, but it has a painted on bridle. This horse will usually have chain reins.
Walking with black points, Wavy Tail:
This the earlier, less common, horse for the Rifleman. The only real difference in this horse and the one above are the black stockings. His name is “Razor”.
Walking Race Horse with cropped mane, black tail and mane, very short slender tail:
Turf King seems to have only been produced for a year or so and then discontinued. Actually, this horse’s tail is glued onto the rear as opposed to the other slender tailed horses who’s tails are actually part of the mold halves.
Walking Race Horse with cropped mane, black tail and mane, wavy tail:
This is an ususual version of Turf King. The majority of them have a specially designed slender tail as shown above. This one, however, has the full wavy glued-on tail. More than likely, it was a temporary piece used until the smaller tail was produced. At least one other collector has one like it that I know of at this time.
Walking Horse with black mane and tail, cropped mane, and white stockings and full wavy tail:
This horse is painted brown over white plastic. I really can only speculate that it might have been something planned for Custer, based only on the color of the horse shown on the box. Others have speculated that it might be the horse shown in some brochurse for early Cheyennes, but the angle of the photo is not conclusive.
Walking Horse with black mane and tail, cropped mane, and white stockings and small straight glued-on tail:
Unlike the later slender tailed horses, this one was from the early walking horse mold. The tail on this odd one is the same tail as used on Turf King. Hartland may have just been trying various color schemes for their race horse. Currently, I know of only one like this one, and two like the one above with the wavy tail.

Walking with black points, slender tail:
This horse is the most common version used with the Rifleman even though an earlier wavy tailed version does exist. Look for the black stockings!

His name is “Razor”. I've watched several of the old TV episodes and his horse always seems to be black.
Walking with slender tail, black mane and tail, brown paint over white plastic, white stockings & blaze:
This horse and the one below seem to be common horses used by Seth Adams (Ward Bond). I don’t really know the percentage of each, but there are probably more of the white over brown around since it gets shared with later Wyatt Earp sets. There just doesn't seem to be enough of this one around to suggest it was only used with Seth Adams.
Walking with slender tail, black mane and tail, white blaze and stockings over brown plastic:
Later Wyatt Earps seem to share this horse with Seth Adams. It is more common than the similar horse above with the brown over white painting. Over the years, these two horses have been mixed and matched by collectors, though Earp does have a couple of other horse options.
Semi-Rearing mane down, white stockings painted over brown plastic:
This horse is an uncommon variation used occasionally with Jim Hardy. It is believed to be a correct horse for Buffalo Bill, too This horse was molded in brown plastic and then the stocking and blaze were added over the top.
Brown Semi-Rearing white over brown with mane up, slender tail:
This horse seems to have been used with at least three cowboys and may have been shuffled around over the years by collectors. I believe it can go with Jim Hardy or Buffalo Bill at about any time. Most Cheyenne sets have the full wavy tailed Semi-Rearing horse but it might be used on occasions.
Semi-Rearing mane up with wavy tail, brown painted over white plastic:
This variation is less common than the one below. In this case, the horse was molded in white plastic and the chestnut color was painted over the top leaving the blaze and stockings. It may have been used for Cheyenne, but I do think it was more commonly found with Buffalo Bill sets.
Semi-Rearing mane up with wavy tail, white blaze and stockings painted over brown plastic:
One of the more common horses. He is used with Cheyenne, most Jim Hardys, and some Buffalo Bills. The white stockings and blaze are painted over the chestnut colored plastic.
Head Down Coffee Dunn Prancer with black points:
This is probably my favorite horse, especially when combined with his only rider, Gil Favor. They are very hard to find. I believe this was Favor’s first horse which was replaced by the mane down Coffee Dunn horse for his most common mount. The details are still sketchy right now though.
Semi-Rearing Coffee-Dunn with mane down, black points:
This the most common horse used with Gil Favor and is shown in some of the 1961 Christmas Catalogs. A few collectors have combined this horse with Maverick, but I don’t believe that is a correct combination.
Stevens Plastics 1993 Tombstone:
This Tombstone was created to go with Wyatt Earp in Stevens Plastic’s recast of their series. The cropped the mane on this set which was not done in the 50’s. This horse was molded in white and then painted brown. Final trim was done in black on the mane, tail, and bridle, along with the white on the stockings.
If you have, or know of any other Brown horses, please let me know!