A Pedigreeing Crime

It really is. Today, I finally got around to fully pedigreeing my oldest model horse. "Oldest" as in, the model horse that's been sitting on my shelf since the very beginning of my hobby, before it was even a hobby. It really is a crime that it took me this long to get her pedigreed.

I did have a good reason, honest. Grand Champions made bio cards with the model's name and a short story about them, as well as the name of their sire and dam. Inspired by another GC collector's PA process of finding bodies to match the BSO parent names on the cards, I set out to do the same. I prefer to pedigree models, not BSOs, so the GCs essentially waited in line while I found parent bodies, pedigreed them, and then finished the pedigree on the GCs.

Thoroughbreds are so numerous (as are Quarter Horses and Arabians!), that I procrastinated on doing them. Yet now that I've begun, pedigrees are falling into place very neatly. And, as I finished an older mare's pedigree, I realized her daughter was Grey Willow, my original. I got her back in 1996. Seventeen years is a long time to not know your heritage!

Apologies, Norman Cobs, and PAMs

First off, apologies to all my readers for my nearly two month absence! Where have the days gone? What happened, in reality, was a new job, and a new puppy. Both of these required all of my focus for the initial introduction, but now things have settled into a sort of rhythm.

Who could resist such a hopeful face?

The hours for my job vary tremendously. It all depends on how many cars are ready at the dealerships I go to, how fast I can do them, and whether or not I get stuck in traffic. I travel nearly 100 miles each day, visiting three (initially five, but Lexus went elsewhere) dealerships, and driving approximately 20 cars a day. Some days are more, some days are less. Rainy or 110 degree + days are my days off. Oh, and weekends, of course.

Yesterday, I got home early, and decided to spend my free time putting pedigrees in for Model Horse Fun Club's annual (spring?) pedigree. I can't remember if we do two a year now, or not. Well, going through my website, I saw my lonely Norman Cob mare and decided- she needs a mate.

SFC Belle Starr, bay Norman Cob mare

As suggested by the name, Norman Cobs are not from this side of the world, and therefore, most of my hunting took me into the depths of French websites. I brought my handy-dandy Google translator, and went to work.

What I found amazed me. There was a wealth of information, and not just for Norman Cobs, but Mulassier Poitevins, too!

I happily took what I found and pedigreed all five of my existing Mulassiers, and created not one, but two studs to accompany Belle Starr. I also added a sixth Mulassier stallion from a Breyer body that had troubled me from the start.

Grand Monsieur, bay roan Mulassier stallion

I didn't know what exactly his color was supposed to be, and I already had way too many Clydesdales, thanks to GC's Clyde mania. He fit in so well with all the drafts I saw, I knew he had to be one!

As for the PAM, well, there was a PAF with her as well. Two weeks ago, I saw them at a flea market in Mesa for $40 for the pair. I couldn't afford it then, and left them with a heavy heart. I went back this weekend, not really expecting them to be there, but other than having moved shelves, they were still waiting for me!

For those that don't know me, my boyfriend of 5 years, Shawn, is both handsome and supportive of my unusual hobby (how did I get so lucky?) When we went to get them, I looked at him and told him how much they were, and I wouldn't get them if he didn't think we could afford it. All he does? Holds out his hands so I can hand them to him and he can carry them up to the register.

One of my favorite pictures of us. We swapped sunglasses for the fun of it.

Pictures will hopefully be forthcoming of my new mare and foal!