Breyer 1987 US Olympic Team Set of Model Horses.

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!

Breyer Red Roan Running Mare.

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.

Breyer Smoke Belgian.

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.

Breyer Bay Might Tango Mold.

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.