Ask The Trailmaster

Please call Rikki Carter, our Director of Special Sales (1-877-459-5701). She can assist you by putting a letter together with an estimate of its value for insurance purposes.

I think the Pony your are asking about is titled "Heavenly Pony." The artwork features clouds that have taken on horse shapes. This is a very rare Pony. We don't even have any in our Vault. You may want to check on eBay, or call and leave your contact information with Rikki Carter, Director of Specia Sales (1-877-459-5701). If another collector contacts us who would like to put their "Heavenly Pony" up for sale, we will let you know.

We love the Jeweled Gift Boxes too and think they add an elegant touch to The Trail of Painted Ponies merchandise line. Our reason for discontinuing them is simply this: the dramatic increase in overseas production costs. We were so discouraged by the new pricing that, until we found a more reasonable manufacturing source, we decided to hold off on producing more. The good news is that we are still offering the Jeweled Gift Boxes we have in stock at a great price on The Vault.

The Fall 2011 Release is not a typical one, and we apologize to collectors who are finding it confusing. Here is what's going on: Normally we introduce the new Fall Ponies on our website on September 1, and begin taking pre-orders. But as it turns out, our manufacturer's sales reps traditionally call on their store accounts at the beginning of October, and they asked us if we would delay introducing and taking pre-orders until October 1, at the same time retailers learned about the new Ponies and could take pre-orders. We were concerned about making yet another change to our release schedule, but in the interest of fairness agreed to give it a try. Instead of posting an announcement that the release was being delayed however, we thought it would build anticipation to introduce the new Ponies a week at a time. Then, we found ourselves confronted with another situation. A year ago, Dillards Department Store selected "Magical Swan" as their 2011 exclusive Painted Pony, to be released in late spring. Over the winter, Dillards made a corporate decision to downsize and eliminate the Home Department in all their stores, which is where the Painted Ponies were displayed. "Magical Swan" arrived in the middle of this change, and because we think it is such a fantastic Pony, we delivered only a small number of these Ponies to Dillards, and decided to make this Pony part of the Fall Release. This explains why "Magical Swan" can be ordered now and is available for immediate shipping. Again, we apologize for the confusion. The silver lining in all this is that even though pre-orders for the remaining three Ponies will not begin until October 1, all of these Ponies will be shipping by mid-November, which is the same time they would have shipped had they been announced on September 1, and in time for the Christmas Holidays. And Dillards, reluctant to give up The Trail of Painted Ponies entirely, is carrying the complete Holiday line of figurines and ornaments.

Currently we only publish our own titles. Should Painted Ponies or horses be the subject of your poetry collection, we would be open to considering it. Otherwise, we are not the right publisher. But thanks for thinking of us and good luck.

What keeps a collectible fresh and relevant is when you hear from and take into consiceration the thoughts and ideas of your collectors. Thank you.

You will be pleased to know that we loved "Seahorse" as much as you did. So much so, it is currently under development as a future figurine.

Your question calls up a vivid memory of Mary Iron Eyes, and how proud she was of her origingal Painted Pony and all the different children's handprints that were part of the design. Unfortunately you are right, she never had a chance to autograph any of the figurines inspired by her Pony.

I am sorry to report that these items just Sold Out on The Vault, and we are updating this information on our website as I write. Thank you for your interest in these very special Painted Ponies.

Please check the Store Locator feature on our website for stores in your vicinity that carry Painted Ponies. (And if there are stores near you where Painted Ponies would be a good fit but they don't currently carry Painted Ponies, let them know about us.) Beginning this fall, Dillards will be carrying just the Holiday Painted Ponies and Ornaments.