For putting the tails back in I like to use a pipe cleaner instead of thread. It’s a bit easier to grab onto for me. If you’re having a problem putting the head back on, soften the body with a hair dryer for a few seconds. A hair dryer works well on the tail hole too if the tail gets stuck.

Why do they look like pigs tho? I promise I’m not being a G1 snob, but kid me liked them because they were horses. These weird things aren’t ponies.

I’d sell the baby ponywear and Parasol and Sunbeam (Peachy too if she cleans up well) separately, then the others as a lot, especially since they’re not rare ones. Personally I love buying old battered ponies to clean up and display! I find it more fun than just buying display-ready ones. If you price them reasonably, they’ll sell. Some people price bait grade ponies as if they are fine, and as a buyer I won’t take a risk that something is salvageable unless I’m getting a reasonable deal.

Nice to meet you all. I recently got my thirty or so 80s childhood ponies down from the attic, and in looking up how to make them look a little less grim, I found you lovely folks. I’ve decided to start collecting, because as a 40 yo I can finally buy the ponies I never had as a kid! It’s been really fun looking at everyone’s collections and remembering the pony things I used to love that have been lost over the years (RIP show stable).
My user name comes from my first pony, Blossom. I got her for Christmas in the early 80s, and she came with me everywhere until I was ten or so. She’s a rather pleasant shade of grey now (me too, sis) and her hair is a tangled stump, but I’m going to have a go at making her look a little less sad, and find her some more friends!
Thanks for all the knowledge you folks share here. It’s already been incredibly helpful.