Trail of Painted Ponies

Every year around this time I think of my childhood summers spent helping out on the family farm. My grandparents lived on a horse ranch in the thumb of Michigan, and I would wake up early each morning to bale hay and feed the horses with nutritious oats. If I misbehaved, there was only one suitable punishment – I would be relegated to mucking out the stables. In time, even that became a pleasant activity.

Years later, I’ve begun to collect a series of painted ponies figurines that remind me of the early days on the farm. These collectibles are hand-painted with intricate designs and vibrant color schemes. They look great lined up on top of the hearth in my living room, and anytime my mind begins to wander I like to focus on their personal meaning.