Welcome to my blog
Written by Rod Barker on July 31st, 2008As with most first-time bloggers, I feel a need to explain why I have decided to take up this particular form of communication.
Its roots go back to an interview I gave to a newspaper reporter in 2002, at an early point in The Trail of Painted Ponies public art project. He was calling for my reaction to a sexual discrimination charge being leveled by an artist who claimed that his Painted Pony design had been rejected because he was gay. I didn’t know the artist he was referring to personally, much less his sexual orientation, which was totally irrelevant when it came to approving designs, and I said as much. Fishing for controversy, the reporter raised some other issues, just as preposterous, which brought me to the point where I said, “Look. Why don’t you come into my office and spend the day with me? Listen to the phone calls I take from artists and charities, and read the emails I receive from people thanking us for all the good feelings the Painted Ponies are creating.” It would put the nonsense into perspective, I told him.
Well, he didn’t take me up on my offer, of course. But the idea of allowing others to bear witness to what a day in the life of the President of The Trail of Painted Ponies is like, stayed with me. This blog won’t necessarily serve that purpose. But it will give me an opportunity to share my thoughts and experiences in a way that will give people – give you – a channel you can dial in on for an inside view of The Trail of Painted Ponies. And, hopefully, it will lead to something we can all enjoy and learn from.
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Funny, I had a conversation via email with Bob Coonts about his ponies and we decided Mosaic was female and Prairie Horizon was Stud! Wonder if the reporter would think we were being sexual bias? HA
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I love the painted ponies, started my small collection in 2005 when I first saw them while in Arizona for my 40th birthday. I purchased the Kokopelli pony, and had it sent to my brother & his wife as a housewarming gift. Apparently kokopelli is the fertility G-d. Anyway, later that year my sister in law was pregnant with twins ( who will be turning 2 next month).
I think the ponies are A sexual, I don’t get a gender vibe from any of them. But, watch out for what they represent!
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I definitely agree with Deanna on both of those ponies. I do get definite male or female vibes on some, quite a few actually, while the rest could be either/or or just neutral. The art is great on all and it is just a matter of how you view them.
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Oh, and Lauretta, I meant to say that is a neat tale on Kokopelli! Congrats!!
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In my collection I feel some are definitely female and some are definitely male. Then there are the ones that can go either way. Wow, I didn’t know that about the name kokopelli. Thanks Lauretta for sharing that. My daughter and her hubby are talking about having another child maybe I should let her borrow my Kokopelli pony… lol
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Some are definitely ladies look at Painted Lady and the new 4 seasons ponies I believe Summer is a female and possibly Winter. Some look more feminine than others. Such as Bedazzled and Crystal. Apple loosa also screams out female. Of course Viva Las Vegas is female it is a showGIRL.
Now on the hand some scream out masculine GoVanGo he is definitely a male as is may I say, Happy Trails. Fallen Heroes is a male. Fireman pony well no doubt about his gender there nor Patrol Pony. Runs The Bitteroot is male for sure. As are Supercharger and Silveraldo.
Now some are harder to figure out Renewal could be male or female? What about Cowpony and Year Of The Horse? They could be male or female depending on what you see within them.
I have done a couple of PYOPs to date and both of them are definitely male. I would be shocked if anyone thought Napoleon was a female. Unfortunately for Napoleon I am not attempting a Josephine. LOL
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I have been buying Painted Ponies, since February, of this year. My mother passed away in Calif., and I made the drive from Utah to Calif., for several months, taking care of my familys home, selling it,and every 21 days driving back to my home in Utah. I have MS, and have to have treatment then.
I would always stop at this store in St.George, Ut., and look at the
ponies. I bought “Trail Of Honor”, as it reminded me of my father.
Every trip I made from Utah to Calif.,and back again, I would stop at this little store and always just had to purchase one MORE, painted ponie. I have become
what people would say, addicted, to them and now order them thru the
web. I love each and every one I get and the one that happens to come next is of course my favorite.
I had never really given thought to their being female and male ponies. But now looking at my ponies, I can definately see what you are talking about. I just received “Dynasty Pony”, and for sure this is a male horse and as beautiful as can be. From now on I will be paying more attention to the ponies that I buy, are they male or female? makes one give a second thought. In any event they are ALL works of beauty and how can anyone say there is no god, when you see beauty like this in a figurine. Thank’s for letting me give a rather long comment.
Painted Ponie Lover,
Carolyn
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Carolyn thanks for sharing your experience with the ponies. My brother had MS and passed away last year. You reminded me though to call his widow who also has MS and just say “Hi”. I did so and she’s doing good. I had been wondering about a pony to send her and think I’ll send her a Blue Medicine Pony. Check that Guy out if you haven’t already.
Hope you are and in remission and that you will be healed. You must be strong to have done all that traveling as well as the emotional challenge of parting with your parents, their home and things. I’m dealing with my dad’s estate now and everything is 1600 miles away.
Ponies somehow can give us strength. I think it’s the feeling the artists put into them.
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I whole-heartedly agree about some of the ponies being obviously male or female. The others I feel are like Geldings. Easy to love and hold, and safer to deal with. Maybe not quite as exciting as the Stallions and Mares, but with more of a gentle nature. For example: Tropical Reef or Wilderness Roundup. The “gelding” Painted Ponies are still beautiful and have more of a calming touch, or protecting the environment feel to them.
Two Ponies that I feel have a lot of good “medicine” in them are Fetish Pony and Medicine Horse. Both would be good to give to someone who is ailing. Fetish feels very protective, calming the spirit, and good for the soul. They both send out healing to me.
Julie
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One pony I definitely can’t determine the sex of is the new Australian pony in the words of Chris I think that can go either way.
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If you’ll look, even the Trail agrees with ya’ll.
In the ‘Gifts for Him’, & ‘Gifts for Her’, they’ve taken a stand as to which speak to them with a female look, & which they feel are guys.
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Dear Jan..
I just happened to find your answer to my blog on Trail Of The Painted Ponies. Thank’s for telling me about your brother and his wife. MS, is a miserable disease and wish no one to have it.
Just yesterday, I recieved 2 new ponus. “Maple Leaf” and “Polar Express”, and as usual I love them both. I continue to but ponies but sometimes get mixed up and find out I have ordered the same one’s twice. They are very good about letting me return them and then of course, I order another one I don’t have. Have you tried out the necklaces yet? They are really great. They come with a rope chain, but you can take the pony off, and wear it as a pin if you want. They make nice gifts for someone you don’t know what to buy.
Talk to you later. Carolyn
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Carolyn, I have the Lavender crystal necklace and whenever I wear it people always make comment on good it looks. I have had it a while now and it still good as the day I bought it.
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Boys of Summer and the reunion with a pet horse = inside view of the Trail….. I must be missing something? All four blogs have nothing to do with the ponies.
Collectors are interested in reading and talking about the ponies that are produced and being able to share their collecting experiences.
The majority of blogs on this site do not give the collectors the opportunity to do this.
I do not find the blogs “an exciting new way of communicating with other collectors” as advertised a few months ago on your website.
Seems not many collectors are visiting and posting on the blogs. Look above and the last blog was posted over a month ago. Seems to me others may feel same.
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I would like to wish all you Collectors out there a very happy and safe Christmas and a grouse new 09.
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Hmm, very cognitive post.
Is this theme good unough for the Digg?
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Google does not offend your prospect?
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Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.