50th Anniversary: Happy Hobby Anniversary!

It's October and this is the month that I celebrate 50 years in the formal model horse hobby. Note that word, "formal." I actually began collecting in 1963 at the age of six when Santa brought me my first model horse.

Brownie, still in my collection, is a battered, much loved, and much repaired MIJ china pony. Santa had no idea what (s)he was starting.

My collection of "glass horses" (as Leslie and I called our chinas) grew and a few Breyers were added in as well. Two of my friends at school, Bobbie Sue and Carol, also started collecting, and we'd spend summer afternoons and winter Saturdays at each other's homes holding model horse shows and making tack. (We used felt, old shoes, and plastic covered telephone wire.)

It wasn't until October, 1970 when Horse and Rider magazine arrived in my mailbox that I discovered I wasn't alone. The very last article made me gasp -  there were other collectors out there! 

I immediately wrote to Ellen Hitchins, joined her club, and began photo showing my models and meeting collectors across the country. I had found the fledgling, newly organizing hobby and it was absolutely wonderful. These were my people!

Fifty years later it is October, 2020. I had big plans to celebrate my golden hobby anniversary - I was going to center this year's Happy Trails show with classes, prizes, and gifts all themed around my 50th. I'd spoken to the folks at Great Lakes Congress and was planning a special collectors class to be held at their October show that I would judge and give prizes for. And, I'd hoped that I would be able to do something at The FAMulous Collectibility Show, too. The pandemic put paid to all that. 

But I'm still celebrating, and if you are a blog reader, you get to celebrate with me. I'll be writing blog entries about my journey through the years in the hobby and I will have some surprises as well, including a few give aways. Details about those will be coming soon. 

I'm excited to look back on my time in the hobby, and tracing my model history from its roots as Pawnee Stables to Windsong, from photo showing to live showing, and through all the things that happened along the way. 

Saddle up with me and enjoy the ride!