Many Pony Up! adventures occurred before the project was even developed.
Daddy
My father, Colonel Dorsey “Jim” Talley, flew classified missions at Larson Air Force Base in Moses Lake, Washington, during the 1960s. During these missions, he noticed a man at the airport who made miniature horses. He introduced himself to the man, who was Bob Thorn. As Texans say, “Now, that’s a horse of a story!”
Hippolyta
My father, Colonel Dorsey “Jim” Talley, flew classified missions at Larson Air Force Base in Moses Lake, Washington, during the 1960s. During these missions, he noticed a man at the airport who made miniature horses. He introduced himself to the man, who was Bob Thorn. As Texans say, “Now, that’s a horse of a story!”
Runs High To The Clouds
Pony artist Cathy Locke’s father Charles (to whom her pony is dedicated), and my father, Dr. Colonel Dorsey J. Talley, USAF Retired, worked together on a project for NASA, circa mid-1980s. In the course of this project, the two became reacquainted and revived their friendship from 40 years prior.
La Belle Époche
Gustav Klimt has always been one of my favorite artists, and since my childhood I have had an obsession with collecting two-sided art. I own double-sided Kandinsky and Chihuly pieces. Ernestine Tahedl’s tribute to Klimt, Belle, certainly falls within this category, as well. I am besotted!
Rescue Stick Horse
Shortly after meeting my future sons, Wade (9) and Clay (5), we were taking a walk when Wade ran ahead and fell into the spillway under the Ben Jones bridge. Hearing a scream and a splash, I told Clay to get help. I slid down the embankment and found Wade chest-deep in rushing water. Unable to reach him, I yelled for him to jump into my arms. Miraculously, something lifted him onto the grass beside me. As we climbed back up, we saw Clay approaching with his stick horse. He said, “I thought this could help pull Wadie out of the water.” As we walked home, shivering, Wade looked up at me and asked, “You’re not ever going to leave us, are you?” I immediately promised, “No, I’m not.” Thus began our family journey with a stick horse leading the way. A pony then, ponies now, ponies forever.
