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

1984

Lemon Drop, Brandy and the Show Stable


Purple and white stable

Lemon Drop, Brandy and Show Stable (Hasbro picture, Argos Catalogue)

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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)


Show Stable also available in 1985, and 1986 in the UK.
Lemon Drop (Hong Kong)
Lemon Drop (Hong Kong): Yellow earth pony with lavender mane and tail, lavender drops symbol
brown dog
Brandy: Brown dog with dark brown ears.
Pony Data
Set The Show Stable (Worldwide)
Asst. Number ?
Accessories Green fences, yellow trophies, three rosettes, saddle, bridle (pink), yellow heart brush, flags, windowboxes, trophy shelf, ribbons
Pose Collector
Distribution Worldwide (and then some!)
Other Versions Show Stable II (1990) with Lemon Drop Made in China


Show Stable in the UK

The Show Stable finally got to the UK in 1984. It was one of the earlier playsets to come out here, and the ponies featured on the box indicate that it almost certainly preceded Dream Castle. It is extremely common second hand, but also prone to fading, and hinge damage on the roof.

The idea of an actual stable for the ponies made sense in one way and not in another. It opened that uncomfortable debate again about whether the ponies were for riding or not. Still, Lemon Drop had jumps and a saddle, so perhaps she didn't mind.

Argos's catalogue featured the Show Stable in 1984, 1985 and 1986, demonstrating that it continued to be released after 1984. The retail price according to Argos in 1984 was £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. This gives a sample range of the kind of prices of the playset during this period.

A second version of the Show Stable, in different colours, was released in 1990.


packaging

The UK Show Stable box, 1984


Lemon Drop and Brandy in the United Kingdom.

Lemon Drop's general portrayal in the stories was as a keen showjumper, who enjoyed gymkhanas and generally anything that involved jumps and contests. She also had other, more intricate adventures, however, such as a three part story called "The Magic Feather", where Tickle was turned to stone, and she went on a treacherous quest to claim the feather that will break the hex.

Lemon Drop in trouble
Lemon Drop is captured by the sorcerer on her quest to save Tickle
My Little Pony Comic

Brandy was an enthusiastic hound who also played along with the Paws and Claws club of attendants. He continued to appear in stories separate from Lemon Drop, although her re-release meant she continued to have comic appearances much later than most of her original contemporaries.

The weathervane from the Show Stable also had a character of sorts in the comic. Her name was Goldie and she was very protective of the stable's well-being. Whether the ponies knew she was sentient or not was never quite clear.

Playset Ponies Sold in the UK in 1984