With this in mind I wanted to take a moment to let you know that we at The Trail of Painted Ponies are very aware of this situation; and we are constantly trying to think of things we can do to ease the discomfort some of you are feeling.

Towards this end we are doing the following:

1. A strong appeal of Painted Ponies is their high value. People continue to be amazed by the incredible detail and quality of Painted Pony figurines, for what they cost. We remain dedicated to finding ways of maintaining this high standard at an affordable price so that collectors can continue to enjoy the experience of collecting “art” on a reasonable budget.
   
   
2. We all need pick-me-ups from time to time. In addition to the boost you get from adding a new Painted Pony to your collection, we have come out with “Ride the Sky.” This is a book for these times; an inspirational publication that combines gorgeous pictures of Ponies with quotes that will help you “Make every day your Masterpiece.”
   
   
3. Every day we hear from people who feel that by collecting Painted Ponies they have joined a family. We have encouraged this sense of community through several features on our website. Take a look at the Guestbook and My First Pony. Check out the Collectors Forum. Take a moment and read the entries in the new essay contest, “What Painted Ponies mean to me.” We will continue to look for ways of connecting friends who enjoy being a part of The Trail of Painted Ponies.
   
   
4. At the center of The Trail of Painted Ponies stand the artists who create the original Painted Ponies. We value them, and where we can we want to help nourish future generations of artists. Towards this end we have initiated a novel way of raising monies for under-funded art programs in the schools. To learn more about this, to join us in this undertaking, to help schools in your own communities, please visit: www.americanartparades.com.

Happy Trails to You,

Rod Barker
President
The Trail of Painted Ponies, Inc.