Trail of Painted Ponies

Over the course of my life, I’ve been a collector of many things – items both rare and commonplace. When the Elvis stamps were introduced, I went through a brief phase of seeking out and buying postage supplies. When I filled an album or two, the obsession switched over to coins. I talked to all of my friends who had visited foreign countries and offered to barter with them for the strange currency.

Then, when I entered middle age, I thought my passion for collecting had finally abated. I would be able to return to a live of relative normalcy in which I don’t feel compelled to “collect them all.” That’s when a friend referred me to a Web site offering painted horse figurines. Their collectible nature appealed to me of course as a new “herd” is released several times a year. But it was actually the craftsmanship and artistic value of the pieces that really made them stand out in my mind.

I thought I enjoyed riding horses just as much as the next person, but that was before I met my friend Elizabeth during a trail ride one summer afternoon. She works as a large-animal veterinarian and comes in contact with horses on a daily basis, but that’s not enough to satisfy her obsession. She takes leisurely rides nearly every evening and lives on a horse farm with several high-priced thoroughbreds. In short, she doesn’t mess around when it comes to horses.

As her birthday approached about a month ago, I racked my brain for a unique gift idea. She had every sort of saddle imaginable and owned horse-themed paintings by the dozen. Recognizing her love of art, I investigated a flourishing creative niche: painted pony figurines. They struck me as ideal horse themed gifts, perfectly suitable for my purposes. Elizabeth was overjoyed to receive a hand-painted pony, and she has since added to what is now a serious collection.

In tough economic times, many people are finding that they have to get creative with their funds or their future funds. And that’s why so many people are looking into collectibles right now. As people become more and more strapped for cash, they are starting to sell off the various pieces of their collections, and that means anyone with a little bit of expendable income can snatch them up at a great price.

Whether you’re collecting collectible ponies or rare mint condition coins, these can be a great investment if you’re purchasing them on the cheap. Then, when the economy turns around sometime down the road, they can be sold at a far greater value. And if you’re able to hold onto these items for an extended period of time, it’s all the better, because their value will only go up. Just make sure you don’t hold onto the items past their prime!

I love horses.  Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been enamored with horses, but living in the city, I could never convince my parents to get a horse for our condo.  Though I’m too old to ask for a horse from Santa, my boyfriend still likes to entertain this notion.

Every year for my birthday, Christmas, or even Flag Day, he showers me with horse gifts and it’s the sweetest thing that anyone has ever done for me.  While I may not have my own pony named Princess, I’m reminded that the dream will never die.

Many little girls dream that someday she could own a pony. If you’ve ever known a young girl that’s interested in Disney princesses and dressing up in pink, it’s likely that you’ve been offered a birthday or Christmas wish list with “pony” written at the very top. Unfortunately, for most little girls, this just isn’t realistic. Even if the economy were behaving better, there aren’t that many parents that can pony up that kind of dough (pardon the pun).

If you know one heartbroken, pony-less little girl, make her day by buying her some collectible horse figurines. Sure, they aren’t quite like the real thing, but they are also a lot more financially reasonable. They also require a lot less work and attention. When was the last time you had to shovel out the stalls of a hand painted horse figurine? And if she treats these figurines gently, maybe someday she can even pass them along to her daughter. Unless, of course, she can actually afford to get her daughter a real pony…

Hobbyists never tire of things to collect.  A favorite is the collectible horse.

They come in the form of sculpture in various materials such as bronze or copper.  Some are content with photographs.  But in all cases, they highlight the spectacular form of the moving horse.  It may be in a running stance, up on its hind legs or it may just a bust showing the strong neck.

These pieces are acquired as a décor for the study or the library, especially in western styled homes.  Choose the pose that excites you most and you will treasure it the rest of your life.