The Hideout Gang's 2006 Charity Event

This 'event' started in March 2006 when a member of the Johnny West collecting group called The Hideout, suggested that we have a charity auction for some broken Marx 1:6 scale horses I was offering to the group.

Well, like all good groups of folks we jumped on the idea and it spread until we had to get something organized. So here is the 1st Offical Johnny West Hideout Charity Event!

We gave the customizers a few months to create their magic and started the auctions in July and concluded them on November 12th, 2006 and were able to raise over $750.00 for two great charities!

• Old Friends
  Old Friends began as a retirement and rescue facility for pensioned Thoroughbreds. Then news broke of the inconceivable death of Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand in a slaughterhouse in Japan in 2002 (read more about Ferdinand). The discovery gave even more impetus to our organization. "We went from getting five emails a day to hundreds," noted President and founder Michael Blowen. We knew such a death must never happen again. And so the plan became to bring at risk racehorses--those whose racing and breeding careers had come to an end--to Old Friends, provide them with the dignified retirement they deserve, and open the space to the public. By promoting these one-time celebrated horses through a campaign of education and tourism, we realized we could draw attention to all retired Thoroughbreds and all equines in need.
• Return to Freedom
  Our mission is to save the American Wild Horse by meeting their immediate needs of rescue and sanctuary as we create solutions to protect their freedom, diversity and habitats for generations to come. The Sanctuary serves to benefit people through direct experience with animals and the environment, thereby enriching the human spirit.

Below you will find the real workhorses of this event, the customizers! These talented individuals spent countless hours of their time and materials to create true works of art. I am very proud to be associated with this group of friends.

Click on the title to see a gallery of progress pictures.

Customizers

• Deb - Dutchess (Thunderbolt)
• Karla - Hippogriff (Pancho) with Harry (thanks Buddy)
• Jodi - Desert Wind (Comanche)
• Jill - Kiche (Thunderbolt)
• Jean - Gambler (Comanche)
• Sunny Laura - Mare & Foal (Buckskin and Thundercolt)
• Linda - Kokopelli (Thunderbolt)