By Ashley Cerasaro
Weekender Correspondent

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with horses. People always ask me if I’ve ever owned, rode or bet on horses. It sounds like a simple question, but the answer is complicated. I own about 20, except they’re models. And yes, I rode one for two years. He was made of wood and handcrafted by my Uncle Tony. I’ve never physically been to a racetrack, but I watched the Penn National races religiously, that is, until my nine o’clock bedtime.

But no, I’ve never owned, rode or bet on real horses with real money, so I’m pretty sure my infatuation is genetic because for as long as my mom can remember, she has been obsessed with horses too. She never had enough money to afford a real horse, so she did the next best thing. She became a Breyer Collector.

Breyer Animal Creations, the leading brand in model horse sales, volume, distribution, innovation and quality, has been manufacturing models since 1950. According to Breyer’s official website, no two Breyer models are alike. Each horse is handled by approximately 20 artisans from start to finish-- a process that is still done by human hands today.

Breyer models are available on the company’s website www.breyerhorses.com as well as Equestrian Obsessions located at 58 S. Mountain Blvd. in Mountain Top. Owner Amanda has been carrying Breyer products since the store opened in 1996. Currently available is the legendary racehorse Seabiscuit #1188 and 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes Winner, Smarty Jones #586.

For more information about Breyer products, visit their site or call Equestrian Obsessions at 570.474.2345.

Ashley Cerasaro is a former Weekender intern who attends King’s College in Wilkes-barre. She loves to shop.