The original Gem Twist model came out 1993-1994, which was right when I was graduating high school a year early and then going into college for equine science. I’m not going to lie. I think the Gem Twist mold is one of my favorites. From the swish of the tail, to the forward canter, it reminded me of the horse magazines I read cover to cover each month, and of what I wanted to do with horses (and my life, back then as a wise teenager, which guess what? I’m doing now! Writing books about horses and caring for horses. How cool is that?)Â
I still have my original Gem Twist. He’s on a shelf in the house with all my other vintage models. I don’t remember what his name was. All my horses back then “raced” with the Iowa Model Horse Racing Association, where we drew names to determine the winner and gave year end points. But this model was, and still remains, one of my favorites.
So when eBay showed me #726 Gray Appaloosa Sport Horse, and I knew I was starting to write a new series, I had to get it. I’ll be sharing more about the character this model represents (and the palimino head that you can see behind it) in the near future as I roll out a new story.Â
The two models make a very short “conga line”, which is what model horse collectors call multiples of the same model. Looking at the prices for some of the other variations on this mold, it will probably remain so. Gem Twist is a very popular model and the second hand prices remain rather high for my budget. But I’ll keep an eye out and let you know if any more Gem Twist molds join the herd.
