1983-6:PLAYSETS

THE SHOW STABLE
(First Edition)

With LEMON DROP: Yellow earth pony with purple mane and tail, purple raindrops symbol.
Thanks to Garej for the above 1985 Argos catalogue scan of the stable.

It was only logical that My Little Pony, being all about HORSES, should have her very own STABLE. In 1983, Hasbro did something about this by introducing the first Show Stable, including jumps, rosettes and anything you might need for a show day! Many of these accessories were included with Butterscotch's Gymkhana set (only in different colours) and some would even be re-used for Rosette's 'Prize Day' set in 1990.

The Show Stable was definitely on release in 1985 in the UK, because it is mentioned on the list I had from Hasbro UK in 1995 - but it was also definitely around here before that. Argos's catalogue featured the Show Stable in 1984, 1985 and 1986, which probably explains why it is one of the more common playsets second hand! Argos list the retail price in 1984 as £18.95. In 1985 the price rose to £21.95, indicative of sharp 1980s inflation, but by 1986 the playset price had dropped again to £19.95. Argos is obviously just one store, but it gives a sample range of the kind of prices of the playset during this period.

The box features Blue Belle as well as Lemon Drop and Peachy, all ponies confirmed to be on sale in the UK during 1984.

FIRST EDITION SHOW STABLE BOX (UK RELEASE)

Lemon Drop was the pony sold with the stable, which was white with a purple roof, and along with the pony came Brandy, the loyal, eager puppy (I apologise for the quality of my Brandy. I'm sure I have another somewhere, but I haven't yet found him!).

The Show Stable would get sundry reissues, too. In 1989-90 it would be sold in new colours with a revamped Lemon Drop (now made in China) and accessories that mirrored the new colour scheme. This playset was also sold in North America but without Lemon Drop. Here it was called Home Sweet Home.

The final Stable issue was Megan's Place, which came with no pony and was only sold in North America.

The original Stable and Lemon Drop remain the most common to find, however, on the second hand market.