The Making of Rockwell - the Beginning

So, how did Rockwell, Kathleen Moody's Moyle horse, come to be?

It began on August 7, 2001 when I sent out my Christmas cards. (Early or late, take your pick!) For the gals on our Yahoogroup list, Mormon Model Collectors, I included more than just the standard family photo/letter. I also enclosed a copy of the 1970 Horse and Rider magazine article on Ellen Hitchins and Simi Smiljanic's early hobby club IMPHSA (International Model Photo Horse Showers Association) and a copy of some pages from a breed book about the Moyles horse.

Message 1 of 5 , Aug 7, 2001

Hey all,

More Christmas cards going out to all of you (Melissa! I still need your

addy, please, dear! :)

Enclosed is a xerox of a 1970 article from Horse and Rider Magazine.

Reading that article is what introduced me to the formal hobby as it was

in its fledgling years (although I had been collecting since 1963 and

having live shows with my friends. We used to throw those Breyers in

grocery bags, hop on our bikes, and pedal to each other's homes for

shows. Bel;ieve it or not, my glossy charcoal Mustang survived unscathed.

:) Thought you all might like one for your files.

Then, I've enclosed an article about Moyles Horses. A few years ago on

Haynet, Lesli Kathman brought up the "horned Mormon horses" that had been

imported by Brigham Young and Porter Rockwell. I went "Huh??" as did

Kathleen (which is how I found out she was LDS. :) I emailed Lesli and

asked for more information. I am enclosing a copy of that article for you

all -- it's pretty interesting, and the horses do have vestigial bumps on

their foreheads! I told Jessica and Stephanie at BreyerFest that I would

send this to them, and decided everyone else should see the article, too.

Enjoy!!

Lynn

The enclosure about the Moyles horses began a discussion among us. Cristine responded later that day.

August 7, 2001

Oh, Lynn, I am *so* enjoying Christmas in August! The articles you mention 

sound fascinating! You know, I actually worked with a sweet Christian woman 

at a local university in the music department. I wasn't LDS yet, but I was 

investigating the church. She told me in all seriousness that Mormons had 

horns. She said you could feel them if you ran your fingers through their 

hair and to beware of the men who were wearing hats to cover up the bumps 

if they had thin or no hair. I thought then that it was a little strange 

and dismissed the notion immediately. But now I look back and wonder that 

anyone could truly believe such nonsense .... which this dear lady did!

Cristine  ........... =D

We talked about the Moyles horse a bit more, and then our list chatter went back to the usual discussion of the hobby, our families, and our church activities.

Then, on August 15, 2001, Kathleen sent a stunner of an email. For some background information, Jessica, Stephanie, and I had all gone to BreyerFest together in July (what a blast that was!), and while there we picked up a few surprises for the other list members who had been unable to come. I mailed them out in August, and Kathleen had received hers. She sent us an email to thank us. 

And then, she made THE suggestion.

955You ladies are WONDERFUL!!

Expand Messages

• Aug 15, 2001

  Great big THANKS to the group for collecting Breyerfest goodies and
  passing them along!
  I will in all likelyhood never get to Breyerfest so to be remembered
  like this really
  touched me. Thanks again!!
  
  You know, we can create our own Moyles horse- I need to find some GOOD
  photos of the head especially- What pose,gender, etc. would we like?
  Kathleen

I will never forget the jaw-dropping amazement I felt at her suggestion! 

The next blog entry will be our reaction and discussion on just how "our own Moyles horse" should be.