Pecans

Everyone wants to talk about the Arabians.

Meanwhile, I'm over here saying, "Yes, but have you seen my old/new donkey?"

This is Pecans.

She is an original finish, made in Japan Lefton China.

She came with a handmade packing set by Marie Welch.

There was originally a halter, too, but all of this is some fifty years old. Despite gentle handling, the crownpiece disintegrated when I took it off for cleaning and conditioning. I'll replace it eventually.

Fortunately, the sawbuck saddle and harness are still in fine condition.

I am so impressed with this set. If you told me it was made by a hobby artist in 2026, I would totally believe you. It's that good.

Here's a close up look at the panniers...

and the pecans inside those panniers!

I promise there will be more information about the Shirmars soon, but for now, let's all enjoy the cuteness of Pecans.

Braymere at BreyerFest

Today is the unofficial first day of BreyerFest.

photo by Celeste Alvarez-Plitz

For obvious reasons, I haven't been paying much attention to that.

James and Emma in 2018

I did manage to send two tubs of sales horses with Angelo. They're not organized and most of them aren't even priced, but if there's anything you're even remotely interested in, please check out Clarion room 643. I am one hundred percent open to all reasonable offers.

Since everyone wants tack, I will point out that a few of these horses come with their vintage Braymere halters.

I bought the Sears Special Run USET set in 1987.

The grey Keen - his name was Ghost Stories - was my favorite, so he got his own halter. This may have been my first attempt at a rolled throatlatch. It's a bit clunky, but not terrible.

The Classic Andalusian set was also a Sears Gift Book offering, this time from 1984.

In this case, the stallion was my favorite, but the mare got the halter! It's a simple piece, but I remember being quite proud of the leather pieces around the noseband ring.

Dancin' Darrell's halter is a little less vintagey-vintage, having been created after the purchase of Susan Bensema Young's Guide to Making Model Horse Tack.

I bought Darrell at Knott's Berry Farm and he was named after one of the carts on the Wacky Soap Box Racers ride.

Last and most certainly least is this... fun costume... created by my sister and I when we were really young. Erin had remarked that the scratching foal looked like she was doing aerobics, so we made her a headband and leg warmers.

How could anyone possibly resist these amazing offerings?! Head right over to room 643 and be sure to tell Angelo I sent you!

The impossible dream

Years ago, I signed up to judge the Youth/Novice Stone and Youth/Novice Performance divisions at the Springamathing Live Show. As it turned out, this was a pretty easy assignment. Both divisions were a sea of empty...

and nearly empty tables.

Seeing that had a lot of time on my hands, the show holder asked if I could step in and judge Stone Collectibility. I felt completely unqualified for the task, but everyone assured me it would be okay, so reluctantly, I agreed.

Before I stepped up to the judging table, I walked around the room and asked people about the criteria for Stone Collectibility. In particular, how did you decide which of the fifty models in the one-of-a-kind class was most collectible? Weren't they, by definition, exactly the same amount collectible?

There was a lot of discussion about molds, customization, finishwork, documentation and desirability, but no overall consensus other than do your best and don't overthink it.

I did that, and mostly, it was okay. At the very least, no one complained too loudly.

This was a long time ago, but I still remember one specific entry. It was a plain chestnut Foundation Quarter Horse - nothing special to look at - except its documentation explained that it was a one-of-a-kind factory painted portrait of the owner's real horse.

"Oh," I thought to myself. "I can not imagine anything better - and more collectible! - than owning an original finish portrait of my own horse."

Bear in mind, this was May 2011. Aside from photographing the occasional horse show, my life was completely horseless. Horse ownership - with or without portrait models - seemed completely out of reach. The impossible dream.

Well, that was fifteen years ago. 

A lot of things have happened since then, including not one, but two horses, both with original finish Stone portraits.

It hasn't been the easiest road, but I am forever grateful for my two beautiful mustang mares and their amazing and extremely collectible Stone counterparts.

Sage meets Sage

If you're lucky enough to own a real horse that gets turned into a model horse, you need to take a pictures of the two of them together. 

It's actually a requirement.

As everyone who reads this blog knows, my new girl, Little Colorado Sage, was the inspiration behind this year's Stone Horses NaMoPaiMo prize horse.

My Sage model arrived last week.

Yesterday, I packed her up and took her to the barn.

I gave big Sage an extra good grooming. Then I got out the Stone Horses bow that came with little Olive so long ago. 

It's a little worse for the wear, but still useable.

I tied it into Sage's forelock.

Then it was time to introduce the Sages.

Predictably, big Sage didn't care at all.

"Look, Sage. It's you!"

'Whatever, Mom. Give me some treats."

"Whatever yourself, Sage. Just stand there and look cute."

Thank you so much to Erin Corbett and the entire Stone Horses team for their continued support of NaMoPaiMo and the plastic Braymere portrait mustang herd. I feel so, so privileged to call both Sages my own. 

Look who's here, part two

Earlier this week, I received a shipping notice from Stone Horses. My Sage model was on its way!

Since then, I have been obsessively refreshing the tracking. Yesterday, she was finally out for delivery.

I had an afternoon shift, but the first update indicated a pre-work delivery was possible.

Sigh.

Of course, she arrived after I left. Seth sent a photo. It contained two Stone boxes, which was confusing, until I realized the other was for Angelo.

After what seemed like a century, I clocked out, drove home, dealt with some dog drama and - finally! - opened my box.

Sageeeeeeee!

Since I know everyone wants better pictures, I took some studio shots this morning. Here's the left side,

right side...

and belly.

I'm so glad they used the flippy tail. It's my favorite for this mold so far.

I also love the shading on the legs...

and look at her cute little brand!

And here's the part I was most excited about, Sage's funny little blaze.

It's perfect!

Thank you so much to Erin Corbett, Ellen Robbins and the entire Stone Horses team.

I absolutely love Little Colorado Sage.