Models and memories

After I published yesterday's post, several hobby friends messaged me and said, "Hey! If I had known you had a Gold Charm Secretariat/black pinto Stock Horse Foal/Lippitt Pegasus for sale at that price, I would have definitely bought him!"

That's fair.

I admit, I am really bad at selling model horses.

In particular, I am really bad at selling old, low value horses with lots of memories attached to them. Take this little guy, for example. He was a birthday gift from my friend, Laura, probably in 1984. 

I remember being kind of conflicted when I opened him. Yay! A new Breyer! but also, not exactly the Breyer I wanted. 

I named him Newspaper Man because he was black and white like newsprint and his sire was Backdoor Man (#88 Overo Paint). I remember being quite pleased with that name.

He's stayed with me all these years, not because I love him, but because I love the memories attached to him.

Laura and I on Tiger and Snickers in 1983

In the last two years, Seth and I have cleaned out both of our parents' homes. I can't help but wonder what it will be like when we're on the other side of that equation, when Ryan and James are trying to work their way through a mountain of model horses. I've realized that I don't need models to hang on to the memories. It's time for Newspaper Man and some of his friends to move on to new homes where they can make new memories for someone else. 

Thirty bucks

Model horse collectors are funny.

I have been trying to sell this 1990 Breyer Gold Charm Secretariat for years.

This three thousand five hundred piece run was sold mostly at signing parties, and no surprise, he's signed by Peter Stone.

He's got a few little dings, but unlike so many of his brothers, this one has not tarnished.

He's a steal at thirty dollars.

No one has ever been interested enough to make me even a lowball offer.

And then yesterday, I posted a picture of him in a group of potentially free models, and suddenly, at least ten people were interested.

Like I said, model horse collectors are funny.

Should the winner of this month's free Braymere blog giveaway want a horse that is not Gold Charm Secretariat, this guy will be for sale - shipping included - for the princely sum of thirty dollars. 

Will anyone still want him? Only time will tell.

Limbo + May giveaway

I didn't work yesterday, and I also didn't go to the barn.

For sure there were things I could have done there. My tack room needs cleaning, the foals need handling and I certainly could have found a horse to ride. I probably would have enjoyed doing any of those things, but I just couldn't muster the energy.

It will obviously be different once Sage gets here, but right now I just feel stuck in limbo.

This isn't just a real horse thing. It applies to my hobby life, as well. 

I have so many models - so, so, so many - and although I've loved accumulating and owning them, I have arrived at a place where I would like to have less. Specifically, I'd like to have less of the original finish plastic variety.

Unfortunately, that's easier said than done. For the last several years, I had been using the BreyerWest Swap Meet to help thin the herd. Alas, that's no longer a thing, and my sales horses have been sitting in tubs, completely untouched for more than a year.

They are also stuck in limbo.

This morning I had a thought. I pulled a few of the sales horses out and took a photo. One of theses horses - winner's choice - will be given away for this month's free giveaway.

The rules are a little different this time. Tell me which model you'd want in the comments section of this post, and I will enter your name in the drawing. One entry per person please. The winner will be announced on Sunday. Good luck!

P.S. It's entirely possible the rest of this herd will be available for postage costs only to non-winning giveaway entrants. 

Almost wordless Wednesday

As I was typing this post's title, I capitalized the W and then automatically tapped "i n s l" before I realized what I was doing. I backspaced over those letters and changed it to Wednesday, but really, my subconscious knew what I was doing. This post is almost wordless Winslow. It's a tribute to the best boy horse and our time together 💛💛💛

Yesterday and today

Before I went to work yesterday, I told Seth I was probably going to spend the evening at the barn.

"It's Winslow's last day with me," I explained unnecessarily. "I want to make the most of it."

Of course, then I worked my eight works and came home tired. I was ready to spend the evening on the couch, but Seth said no. We were going to see Winslow.

He's a good husband.

The skies were threatening, but the rain stayed away long enough for us to walk Winslow around the pond.

Seth looked for golf balls, Winslow ate and I took photos.

It was a really pleasant evening.

I'm so glad I didn't spend it on the couch.

This morning I did not go to work. Instead, I drove to the barn, groomed Winslow while he ate and packed up all his clothes.

After a while, Pam and Trisha arrived. We spent some time with Winslow, played with the foals and went to lunch with Karen. It was a really nice morning.

Then it was time to say goodbye. Trisha took pictures of Winslow with Pam and I.

Be good, sweet boy. I love you.

Despite a history of not always doing so, Winslow walked right on to the trailer. I think he knew his work here was done. It was time to go home.

I said one last goodbye...

and watched them drive away.

I can not overstate what a privilege it has been to have Winslow in my life these past four months. He is truly the Best Boy Horse Ever.

Thank you, Trisha! Thank you, Pam! Thank you, Winslow!