Barbie Cali Girl Horseback Riding (2004)

This Barbie came to me because I was looking for a doll for my Sunny. Yes, I had my Fashion Play and Bathtime Fun, they were more or less from the time of my coveted horse, but neither of them really had anything to do with horses, and I really wanted a cowboy doll. When Sunny came to me, the 2004 Cali Girl series was still on sale. At the auction, I've found a doll at a reasonable price, I bought clothes from the same seller.

Yes, there was a strange trend on Allegro that dolls were sold separately and clothes sold separately. I got the Cali Girl Barbie in perfect condition, it was even in the original box and I kept it in it for quite a long time. Unfortunately, I remember that I had the idea that it was an unnecessary obstacle and I probably threw it out, because I can't find it anywhere. The packaging was, in fact, incomplete, the cardboard liner and the attached stand were missing - it was just an empty foil box.

Back of the complete box (photo found on the net a long ago)

Sunny came to me in December 2005, the doll appeared in early 2006. As I wrote, I bought it at two separate auctions - a doll on one and a clothes on the other.

Photo by Mattel

Unfortunately, I was not able to get the complete equipment, the clothes are missing a denim jacket. From additional accessories - a shoulder bag, a brush and a sponge for horse care and a golden bucket are missing.

The doll I own is dressed in denim brick-red capri pants with strings at the legs, a belt with a silver buckle (it has gone somewhere missing, but it is), cream cowboy boots with brown ornaments, a green short top fastened around the neck (sleeveless), a shirt tied with 3/4 sleeves on the front and a beige flocked cowboy hat on the head.

I'm not a doll expert, but I establish that the Cali Girl or California Girl series was available from 2003-2005. The first beach dolls appeared in 2003, Horseback Riding dolls in 2004, there was also the So Excellent Earings line with earrings and the Surfer line with surfboards (I have two dolls from this line). There was also the Hwaian Hair line, supposedly in 2005 - and I have to admit that the dolls from this line also appeal to my tastes.

The doll with full equipment
(photo by Mattel)

As I wrote in the post about my first horse of the Cali Girl series, it was a breakthrough series in Barbie's history and I find it very special. The dolls were dressed in contemporary clothes, had modern hairstyles, more realistic makeup and eyes - it was a break with the previous image of the perfect candy princess that was Barbie in the 80s and 90s. In addition, it was announced that the main character had split up with Ken and had a new boyfriend.

Back to my Cali Girl Horseback - when she got to me she was like new, her hair smells like vanilla to this day - because I forgot to mention, of course, that the dolls were scented. I don't know if she was a shelf lender in some warehouse or was briefly used - however, she had no traces of play, so I suspect it was fairly new. To this day, her joints are not loose.

My Cali Girl Horseback Riding Barbie doll today

I kept the doll, as well as Sunny, hidden from everyone - children, nosy adults who knocked on the head that such an old woman deals with dolls and hungry rodents. She laid in a safe place for over 15 years.

What else is a distinctive feature of Cali Girl - dolls have a beautiful tan. In addition, each of them has a necklace.

Horseback Riding has plastic legs, movable at the hips so that they can easily sit on horses, and bent at the knees. Hands are also articulated - in the shoulders and elbows. The torso is one-piece, stiff. It is not articulated to the standards of today's MTMs, but allows for more than stiff arms and legs.

These dolls have unnaturally wide feet, but with tight joints it allows them to stand on their own, as can be seen in my photos, where the doll does not need any support.

This doll also took part in my project entitled Winter Christmas horses in 2021, she became Champion - Zdzisio's partner - and wear on a green sheepskin coat.