The My Little Pony Scrapbook: G1 in the UK and Europe

Butterscotch

Concave Foot Edition/"The Gymkhana"

Gold earth pony with gold mane and tail, orange butterflies symbol.

Gold earth pony
Pony Data
Set Collector Ponies (Concave)
Asst. Number ?
Accessories Pink basic comb and pink ribbon
-
The Gymkhana set (UK only)
Pose 'Collector'
Distribution Worldwide
Other Versions Concave Foot (Gymkhana in UK)

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Ponies Sold in 1984 in the UK Rainbow Ponies (Set One) | Earth Ponies | Show Stable | Adult Sea Ponies (UK) | Butterscotch's Gymkhana | Baby Ember (Mail Order) | Bluebelle (Concave) | The Grooming Parlour

Other 1984 Ponies Unicorn and Pegasus Ponies (Set One) | Adult Sea Ponies (N.America) | Dream Castle (UK:1985) | The Waterfall (UK:1985) | Dream Castle (UK:1985) | Baby Buggy (UK:1987) | Lullabye Nursery (UK:1986)

Also available in 1985 in the UK.

Butterscotch in the United Kingdom

Butterscotch was released as a pony with Concave Hooves in various places from 1983, and continued to be offered via Mail Order in North America through the early 1980s. In the United Kingdom, these offers did not exist, but Butterscotch had her own, unique and distinctive means of being sold which - as far as I know - was only sold here on these islands. This was the "Gymkhana" - a budget playset based in part on the idea of the Show Stable, as some of the accessories shared moulds. The playset was not promoted on the 1984 pony insert, but was illustrated on the 1985 one and was included on Hasbro's list following "Inception" in 1985.

This playset was first released in 1984, with a box that was quite basic. This package featured a promotional photograph of the set on the front, with a child playing.
box with child playing with ponies featured on front.

The original Gymkhana box from 1984 (Thank you to the Ebay seller who donated this image)


The second release of the set in 1985 had a much more jazzed up box, with illustrations around the border featuring other earth ponies - ironically all of whom came from 1984, and not 1985. Pony sales in the UK often overlapped between years, however, making this perfectly reasonable.

Box with pony illustrations around the bordersGymkhana illustrated box instructions, 1985

The Gymkhana in 1985, with its upgraded box featuring other pony characters, and the instructions for the Gymkhana set.

The new box also featured new photography with a different child shown playing with the set. Butterscotch is shown on the front, as is Bubbles - ironically given that Bubbles was sold in a seated pose, making it difficult for her to showjump. The image is framed by a meadow - presumably the setting of the Gymkhana event. The rear of the box features detailed instructions on how to dress Butterscotch in her tack, how to do her hair, and how to award her a prize at the end of the show.

The playset was also made available in the Argos Catalogue in 1985.

Catalogue image

Butterscotch's Gymkhana, as featured in the Argos Catalogue in 1985.


The accessories in the set remained the same between the years 1984 and 1985. They included:


Gymkhana playset with jumps, rosettes and pony

Photo of the actual playset (from the 1985 release, please note my photo is missing the heart shaped brush).


Butterscotch's Character

Butterscotch had very little exposure in the United Kingdom. She featured in one pony annual, briefly, but was not in the pony comic. She was included in the fact file, and her release with the Gymkhana indicated that she was designed to be a showjumper.

Collector Ponies (Concave Foot Edition)