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.