Memory Lane
I was born horse-crazy. As we lived nowhere near a stable, and didn’t have the money to boot for such an expensive luxury as a horse or even riding lessons, I made do with reading every book I could find about horses, and collecting Breyer model horses, one at a time. Every year on my birthday and at Christmas I would eagerly look forward to getting a new model horse – such excitement!
As a graduate student, I began those riding lessons I had wanted as a child, and discovered over time that I enjoyed the companionship and personalities of the various horses I had as much as others enjoy the company of a cat or dog. Throughout the years, however, I continued to collect Breyer models, enjoying their beauty and craftsmanship and the friends I had made around the world who also enjoyed this hobby. Collectors like myself had great fun when we gathered together to hold and judge model horse shows, most of us scroungers who loved ice cream, chocolate, swapping stories about our families and careers and sharing tales about pouncing on an old model found in a flea market bin that was prized as a unique treasure.
I haven’t bought any model horses in almost two decades. All the models in what remains of my collection are at least 20 years old. The big gray Belgian shown above is over 40 years old… which means that I have friends who are younger than some of my model horses! I quit collecting when the hobby changed, become bigger, with a price tag on even the most basic of models higher than makes me comfortable. The manufacturer moved the factory that created my beauties to China, laying off hundreds of employees while doubling the prices for the horses, something I couldn’t stomach.
The memories I have about those years when I did collect model horses? Those are mostly about the wonderful people I met and the times we shared together.
Good memories, those.
Musings, Village Life | JAS | 
October 15, 2008 11:55 pm
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By Kris, in New England, October 17, 2008 @ 9:55 am
I love the look of the grey Belgian. Beautiful collection!
I too love horses – though I lack the necessary personal fortitude to actually ride one. But I can sit and watch others for hours and hours.
By Moo, October 22, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
What makes me smile is knowing that this very collection and telling me about it is what led to my cow collection, and my foray into eBay to search for the bovine equivalent of the Breyers horses. I’m sure I don’t have as many as you m’dear, but I’m tickled to look back at where it all started.
By Balancing Act, October 22, 2008 @ 7:31 pm
What a lovely collection. Growing up on a farm was wonderful but being a dairy farm did not allow the luxury of a horse. As you well know it is an expensive hobby. Anytime I asked for a horse I was granted any holstein cow in the herd. My dad wised up when he finally realized that I had started my own farm name. It only got to be about 1/2 dozen or so but we grew up in a town called Somers so the name of the farm was Somer-Hills.
By JAS, October 22, 2008 @ 10:51 pm
Kris, Michael doesn’t ride either, but he enjoys the horses the same way I do, as big friendly companions that have amazing personalities. Wouldn’t it be fun to get a house-broken mini?
Sarah, great story – Somer-Hills is a lovely name for a dairy operation! Horses are indeed an expensive luxury, and a lot of work even if you already have a farm.
Moo!! Yes, I sure am the guilty party that got you collecting cows! Good to hear from you here!
By Elyse, October 28, 2008 @ 5:43 pm
I still have a few of these horses, stuffed in a box with some stuffed animals, relics of my youth. Loved ‘em as I couldn’t have a real horse…