Thanks for the warm welcome you guys! I don't know why I waited so long to join, but am I ever glad I did.
Yeah, I had a good sized herd as a kid, my friends used to love coming over and seeing which new ones had been added since their last visits. After serious play sessions, my mom and I would spend hours brushing their manes and braiding their tails and getting them back to tiptop shape! (Like I said, total Momma's Girl) 
I do have to admit though, I was feeling pretty good about my collection until I started looking online and realized there is more to MLP collecting world then I ever imagined.  Some of your collections make me want to cry with envy!