Haven't found them at thrift stores, but I got a Honeybuzz off Craigslist. Someone was selling her with her saddle, bee pet, and the Ponyville dress shop that looks like a purse for $5. My daughter saw the photo and wanted it for her birthday so we got it. Pretty good deal considering just the pony would be $5 new at least.  I'm watching Goodwill stores now though since Christmas is over and people might be donating rejected gifts!

So sorry your "friends" are like this...   But it sounds like you could do without friends like that. Friends are supposed to love you no matter what, not tear you down!

I have gotten the occasional condescending comment like "why are you trying to buy back your childhood?" and "I liked my toys when I was a kid too, but you don't see me still playing with them..."  It hurts, because I feel like they don't get it and don't want to get it. I sort of wonder if they're right, like do I have maturity issues? But then who really cares. Everybody "plays" in their own way, that's why there's such a thing as Angry Birds, Wii, and don't get me started on all the collections people have that are supposedly so much more grown up.  Whatever.  Do what makes YOU happy, you are certainly surrounded here by people who have ponies in common!

Eeeek! 

1. Firefly
 2. Gusty
 3. Applejack
 4. Medley
 5. Peachy
 6. Fizzy

My kids part that off and use it as a long forelock that hangs in her eyes... they think it looks more like the cartoon that way.

I didn't like it much until I saw one person post a hilarious pic of a donkey Tink-a-Tink-a-Too with a cigarette in her mouth. Every time I see a donkey pose now I think of that photo. Not that I endorse smoking. Or ponies smoking. But it was still funny.

Just noticed that Kittybethy not only has a supportive, sweet thing to say to just about everypony, but she's recently topped 20,000 posts!! 
I think that's friggin amazing. Just sayin.

I would never dream of opening a MIB G1 pony, unless the package was so badly damaged that the pony was falling out anyway, or the package had damage (like mold/mildew) that could damage the pony if not removed. Yeah I'm one of those boring types

Then I guess I'm boring too! I can't stand the thought of something being less valuable because of something I purposely did to it. Maybe that's mercenary, I dunno, but I also like to think of it as preserving a bit of history.