Meet the Members - Laurel Dedes
by Wendy Blum

For this issue, I've profiled Laurel Dedes. Laurel is a fairly new member to the club and all ready has set up a very impressive s/d list!

In real life, Laurel has had real horses since the age of seven and Arabians since the age of thirteen. She currently has several broodmares and foals as well as a Quarab riding mare. All though she loves the Arabian, Laurel has many friends involved with other breeds which has given her a broader view than just her own personal preferences. She visits every horse farm she can and attends many different shows, clinics, races and exhibitions.

Laurel has collected models since the 1970's with her favorite breed being the Arabian. While she collects mostly OF Breyers, the author knows that she has some very lovely older Hagen-Renaker pieces as well. She also collects some dog models as well as other animals and loves to judge shows. Laurel has assigned pedigrees to her models since the 1970's when she became active in the showing hobby. She noted: "Pedigree Assignment has certainly become more intricate and realistic, which I enjoy for the most part!"

Assigning pedigrees to models appeals to Laurel because it allows her to imagine each model with a "full life". Since joining IPABRA in 1999, she's come to really enjoy the IPABRA email list, particularly the color genetics expertise of people on the list. A few tips Laurel had for newcomers to the PA hobby was "to obtain as much reference material as possible, to be on the lookout for free information as shows and tack shops etc., and to limit model mares to one foal per year until real technology is in place to produce more in the live horse world".

You may write her (be sure to enclose a LSASE) at:

Laurel Dedes
5193 Coventry Lane
Barboursville, VA 22923

Back