What's your favorite part of collecting?

[Elisto]

I'm curious to see what draws people to collecting ponies of any generation. What do you love about it?

For me, I love the surprise of not knowing what I'm going to find, and I actually really enjoy cleaning them. I rarely buy ponies online because it's just not as satisfying to me to know exactly what I'm going to get and have it arrive all (or partially) cleaned up and ready to display. Today, for example, I just found the Perfume Puff Lavender Lace, and she's so much more gorgeous than I expected from the pictures. I think she may be one of my favorites now, and for me, that's so much fun.

What about everyone else? Do you like completing sets? Playing with or displaying them? Getting all your favorites from whichever show? Finding something rare or unusual? Something else?

[Eternia]

the hunt, taking photos, opening new ponies, these are all lovely things <3

[SkyCakes]

Honestly I just love not knowing what I will find when I do get a chance to look. I have fun cleaning them and updating my lists. I admit I am a set completer person. So I always try to keep my eye open for something good. I also like finding rare ponies that doesn't happen very often but when it does its great.

[keylimepony]

I really surprised myself when I learned how much fun it can be to clean up ponies that just need a little love. I bought a lot of four intending to keep two but I kept all four because I had so much fun cleaning them all up. All they needed was a nice wash and brush and they became lovely again.

I thought it was odd because I don't like to clean but I guess i don't mind sprucing up ponies.

[Gingerbread]

The thrill of the hunt! I love bootsaling/charity shopping, you never know if you'll find a pony  

I enjoy my pony shelves, looking at them all just makes me so happy

[Sonata]

I usually buy them on Ebay, so they are sometimes a bit dirty and their hair is messed up. I LOVE opening them and getting them cleaned, as well as displaying them Sometimes, I just stop whatever I am doing and go stare at the ponies~

[jupiternwndrlnd]

set competing! finding an old pony in amazing condition. and the smell --- omg the smell of a ton of clean/good condition ponies....amazing

[lovesbabysquirmy]

Definitely the hunt!  Also, rearranging them is very soothing. 

[Catlein]

I love the hunt! And cleaning is such a calm thing for me to do and destress

[pukunui]

I had an epiphany recently that it's the thrill of the hunt that keeps me going. Not so much in terms of not knowing what I'm going to find, because I generally know what I want and have a pretty good idea of where to find it. But it's still the act of acquiring the things I want to collect (be it D&D miniatures, MLPs, Monster High dolls, books, or whatever else) that is more enjoyable than the mere possessing of those things.

[Desert Rose]

Oh there's so many things I love about pony collecting. Looking through pages after pages of ponies on ebay for sale, taking in all their lovely colours and adorable faces, getting new ponies (it feels like xmas every time hehe), watching the shows because they bring a smile to my face (the old and the new show), and I know for sure I will LOVE to arrange and display them once I get the ponyroom started. Always loved that kinda stuff xD
 
Im sure there's more, but it's late here and for now I can't think of it

[BeverlysLittlePony2012]

I love finding a pony in a flea market and giving her new life. I found the Sweet Celebrations Family in a flea market. It was wonderful to buy the whole family, restore them, and love them!

[michelle53]

Great question!!  For me, I love the thrill of the hunt!  Hunting down a new pony is beyond exciting; whether it's a winger for me or a new G4 for my daughters, I am in love with the hunt.  I also enjoy the knowledge that a pony is on its way to my house, and that anytime I open my mailbox, it could be waiting for me.  Ahhhh, the feel of a newly acquired pony is divine!!!  Not to mention giving her a much needed bath and hair do.  Let's not forget giving a pony new hair or new wings...*sigh*!!!!   Yes my dears, there are so many things I love about collecting.  You know what the best part is...being able to share my pony love with all of you here at the Arena:).  Oh, and seeing your pony collections are another thing I just adore about collecting. 

[hyenacub]

Finding!  : D  I like taking pics, too.

[scarletjul]

I, too, love hunting for them.  It's just so much fun to discover a pony hiding in the midst of a bunch of unwanted McDonald's toys in the back of a thrift store (just found a g4 AJ yesterday.) 

I also love cleaning them up, taking photos and just looking at them and completing sets.  I also love all of their little accessories.  They're just so cute!    And I love mint ponies as well; to see a pony that's stayed pristine for the past twenty or thirty years makes me happy, too.