Arkansas

The first Breyer I ever bought with my own money was the bay Running Foal. I was seven.

I wanted him in grey Appaloosa to match my Family Arabian mare and foal, but all the store had was bay. I settled.

For the record, the Running Foal never came in grey Appaloosa. Clearly, I had it mixed up with Breyer's "dapple grey"
photo by Triple Mountain Model Horses

But what to name him? My older sister had helped me name all my other horses, but she was away at Girl Scout camp. I sent her a letter.

Her return letter offered two suggestions, Pixie and Arkansas. I chose Arkansas.

That might seem like a funny selection, but really, it wasn't. Our next door neighbors hailed from Arkansas. They were really good to all of us. Naming a horse after their home state seemed like the most normal thing to seven year old me.

Last week, Colleen and I spent a lot of time cleaning out my mother's house. There are only a few horses left in her basement, and Arkansas was one them. I took him upstairs, gave him a gentle bath and then took him back to those same next door neighbors' house where we were staying.

He looked at right at home there, but I didn't leave him. He's in Colorado now and has been reunited with his mother, Arizona.

I'm at a place in my life where I want fewer horses, but this one gets to stay. He's a reminder of my past, a piece of my present and a tribute to some of the best people I've ever known.