Lionel Horse Transport Car / Rodeo Car through the years -- how similar/different are they?

Do all the trucks work ok?  I get the impression that some people don't like the MPC-era products.  But I do prefer the look of the MPC version (red, Santa Fe) vs. the post-war (yellow, no road name).

The mechanism for animating the horses did not change from Postwar through MPC to the Modern Era.  There is a difference in lattice work and quality from one car to the next, depending on the use of plastic versus metal trucks, chassis and other parts.  All of the car bodies and horses are molded plastic.

You can get a Horse Transport/Rodeo car for $15 or less.  You didn't say how old your daughter is, but if she collects Breyer models, there's a Breyer branded version (6-16747) typically available for $25 - $35.

Here's a list of other animated cars available for much less than $80:

• 6-6473 Fast Express
• 6-9280 Santa Fe
• 6-16682 Lionelville Farms
• 6-26139 Lionel Lines
• 6-26712 Churchill Downs

Other equine-themed (but not animated) cars, also available for much less than $80:

• 6-26036 UP corral on flat car with 4 horses
• 6-26123 Santa Fe (oversized) livestock car with 4 horses 
• 6-52244 L&N LCCA-issue Lexington Horse Sales livestock car

Then, of course, there are the Postwar 3356 Santa Fe, MPC 6-9224 REA/Churchill Downs and Modern Era 6-19895 Santa Fe operating horse car and corral sets for which you may (or may not) justify paying $80 (or maybe more) in excellent working condition.

Thanks, Hoby-Go-Lucky, for a great list of things for me to look at!  My horse-loving daughter is 5.  Someone just gave her a Breyer set last week (before that I had never heard of the brand).  I would prefer to have the Great Northern or Santa Fe versions all else equal, but the Breyer horses do look nicer (painted vs. uniform plastic color).  And has metal trucks unlike the MPC Santa Fe.