Collectibles attract fancy of many horse lovers

By Marty Metzger
North Forty News

Horse lovers who collect equine-related objects are as lucky as the oft-touted, heels-up horseshoe because the genre is nearly limitless.

If space isn't an issue, and glad money abounds, antique buggies, phaetons, carts and even covered wagons can be driven into a barn museum. There are many collectors of horse-powered fire engines, sulkies, plows and other horse-drawn farm implements.

Less cumbersome and far more ubiquitous are saddles, saddles and more saddles. An aficionado can stick to one type or a particular era, like the 1800s. But consider other possibilities: cavalry, sidesaddle, hunt, dressage, endurance, cut back, pony, foreign.

Why not "saddle up" childhood memories and collect carousel horses? Too expensive? Well then, how about carousel horse music boxes?

Model horses, such as Breyers, not only represent most breeds, ages, colors and riding disciplines, there are online horse shows to enter and ribbons to win with the little, molded equine facsimiles.

For those whose hearts beat as fast as a Derby winner's hooves at the sight of bits, spurs or boots, there's an ample assortment in which to rejoice.

Bits date back to ancient Egypt and can be easily found in modern civilization in Western, English, driving, pony and other types. Some are adorned with silver or crafted from copper, steel or aluminum. Draft horse fans might choose to stockpile those gentle giants' bits or bridles. Chew on these bits: sweetwater, cavalry, cutting horse, reining, roper, Argentine, Kimberwicke, eggbutt, German spoon spade, Baucher, mullen mouth eggbutt, dee, bradoon, Pelham, curb types galore and hundreds more styles.

These boots aren't solely made for walking: cowboy, Newmarket, hunt, field, jodhpur, polo, paddock.

Spurs come Western and English in a multitude of blunt and roweled versions.

Other possible collectibles are vintage and current hats and hatbands, equine jewelry, books, magazines, postcards, event programs, furniture, chaps, headstalls (including those made of horsehair), halters and lead straps, browbands, brushes, artwork, harness, blankets and fabric items.

Good sources of equine items are auctions (live and online), antique shops, flea markets, collector clubs, private dealers, farm and estate sales, garage sales and equine magazine ads. Those with courage should never pass up an old barn: "I have cash. Can I look around in your barn?"

Bean & Bean Auction in Loveland conducts an annual Western sale each June, as well as a general merchandise sale every third Sunday monthly with equine items mixed in. The yearly auction pulls 200 to 300 bidders from Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Nebraska, New Mexico and Arizona. Additionally, online advertising brings bids from overseas, especially England, Germany and Japan. At this year's sale of nearly 1,200 lots, most desired collectibles were bits, spurs and chaps, said Mike Bean. Art did fair but not great. Saddles were strong, as were most leather items.

Anne Park of Berthoud loves, collects and sells equine tack, equipment, apparel and ephemera. She rents booths at Front Range Antique Mall and Foothills Flea Market, both located on South College Avenue in Fort Collins. The ambitious dealer might also be adding a space at Eighth & Pearl Antiques in Boulder.

Park's current and previous antique/collectible passion turned business ventures grew out of props needed for her other endeavor, 4 legs photography.

The animal photographer/antique dealer is a devoted horse owner, but Park admitted she wasn't exactly born in the saddle.

"It took me into my 30s to fully become a cowgirl," she said. "I now have four horses and can't imagine life without them. Similarly, I can't imagine my life without the history behind them found in 'horsey' merchandise."

Her booths offer buyers many categories and price ranges of those vintage and antique equine-related wares. Park said her display saddles range from $85 to $200 for 1900 to 1950 models. Collectible spurs run $85 to $300. Old horse or cowboy photos from the 1890s through 1950s can be as affordable as $1 to $5.

Online prices run the gamut. Some recent eBay sales of spurs brought $250 and up for top end. A seller asked a $700 plus S/H "But It Now" price for a vintage Circle Y Western saddle. Hand-tooled Westex boots carried a $395 opening bid.

Unlike fragile antiques that must be secured behind glass or displayed on high, child-distant shelves, many equine-related pieces can safely enhance walls, tables, floors, barns or porches. Some are still quite usable, which makes them practical as well as eye pleasing.

Much of the world was built by the strength and sweat of horses, burros and mules. The nobility, romance and history of the wonderful equine species can be celebrated and preserved in related antiques and collectibles.