I can't keep track on my ponies...

[Artemesia's Garden]

I get that it's a nice problem to have. I have found certain solutions too simplistic and then I try to do it myself and end up massively over complicating everything. And then it feels like work rather than a hobby! Do you keep a record and what do you do?

[Beth3346]

i keep a spreadsheet but it's out of date because i sold off a large part of my collection. after we move and i unpack my ponies i'll update it. the main issue that i have with tracking my collection is i find that it makes me want to buy more. seeing the names of ponies that i don't have makes my collector brain want to fill in the gaps. it's the same reason i stopped working on my pony tracking site.

[honor_h]

When I get a new pony I note it down in a journal and then moved to using a spreadsheet. I don't have a huge collection though. The columns I have are for name, body colour, mane colour, symbol, type (eg unicorn, dog, sea pony), sub-type (eg sweetheart sister, baby), gen/make (eg Basic Fun, remco, G1), when I acquired the pony.

[Eskara1862]

I refuse to keep track. Do I like it? Is it under $30 in value or was it one I badly wanted as a child? Do I have space to display it? Into the collection it goes! Once I get my shelves up, I will be limiting myself to only what can fit and be on display. No hiding them away in boxes like a crazy hoarder!

[BlackCurtains]

I need to start keeping track too, since I've decided to have an Applejack army. I have a bunch of G4s but I can't remember which ones. My ponies are packed away right now but even when they were on display I had to always check to see what I had. I also forget what Argie sparkle ponies I have... Flutterby and someone else...

I would probably just keep a typed list on my PC.

[Carrehz]

I just keep them all in one big Excel spreadsheet. Name, type (earth, unicorn, pegasus, etc), generation, notes (stuff like "Funko POP figure", "free w/ November 2015 magazine", "Diva pose version" etc). Mine's really unorganized (no categories or anything, everything's all lumped in together) but it serves its purpose!

[SpacePinto]

I just have them sorted by purchase date, the oldest to the latest

[Artemesia's Garden]

This is all so curious!

I refuse to keep track. Do I like it? Is it under $30 in value or was it one I badly wanted as a child? Do I have space to display it? Into the collection it goes! Once I get my shelves up, I will be limiting myself to only what can fit and be on display. No hiding them away in boxes like a crazy hoarder!

Lol and

[Taffeta]

I have a spreadsheet...but I admit most of whagt I have in terms of G1 is in my head. Sometimes I misremember whether I have a pony, but usually only with ones that were originallly on my sister's list, thus in her collection. I have some of these but not others.

G2-3-4 I need the spreadsheet as I have no clue on about 75% of what I have with them. Especially G3.

But G1 has always been a brain-held list. Which is not always efficient but generally works for the most part.

[Gator]

I try to mark off ponies in my collector's books, but I sometimes forget.  And then there are so many ponies, I forget who I have.  And for many years, my collection has been hidden away in boxes.  The last few years I've been getting display cases and putting the ponies out, but now I have ponies missing.  Baby Hopscotch, Baby NBBE Gusty and Rosette are missing, and I know I bought them and have them.

[Artemesia's Garden]

I try to mark off ponies in my collector's books, but I sometimes forget.  And then there are so many ponies, I forget who I have.  And for many years, my collection has been hidden away in boxes.  The last few years I've been getting display cases and putting the ponies out, but now I have ponies missing.  Baby Hopscotch, Baby NBBE Gusty and Rosette are missing, and I know I bought them and have them.

Awh, I'd be sad if I thought I'd lost those ponies too  I hope they turn up!

[Leave a Whisper]

Name
Species
Set
Generation

I have over 100, but still not that many.

[goddessofpeep]

I have a massive collection, and being disorganized became a huge issue.  Due to the size of the collection, and the lack of a laptop(I have a desktop, but nothing portable, and dragging the ponies to the computer is not feasible), I scoured the internet for checklists years ago, and I keep a binder of printouts.  I hope to get a laptop someday so I can being things into the current century.  Until then, it’s my binder. 

The binder has the number owned of each pony, a general description of the conditions of each pony(scored 0-5 with major flaws listed), the location of each pony(many ponies are in labeled bins, and I have several display cabinets), and a reference to the page number of the reference books I have(I sometimes get names confused for sets I’m less familiar with).

The idea behind the system is to reduce the need to crack open bins since it’s such a pain to check for random ponies, and to make finding them much easier when I do want to do something with them.  Should I ever move into a house with a decent sized pony room, I won’t need any of this.  Until I move into a house with some space, I’m stuck with bins and my binder.

It’s not perfect.  The checklists are incomplete - I have very little for non-USA ponies. The reference books have a few mistakes in them.  The odd pony slips through the cracks.  I’ve got nothing at all for my accessories.  It’s a work in progress.  I hope to upgrade it sometime soon, but for now it’s cut down on collection mistakes(re-buying, mixing trade items with collection, etc).  It’s also made checking things a lot less painful to have the locations listed out and confirmed.  I used to have to tear the entire house apart to find things.  Now I have a list! 

[Artemesia's Garden]

I had not thought about cataloguing my G3s. I rely on the remains of my wishlist on the Arena for G3. G4 is a tough one because of all the versions. I don't think I have it in me.

[Purpleglasses]

The MLPmerch.com database is really helpful for keeping track of which ponies you have, because it’s picture based and you can just put a check mark next to ones you have and a heart next to ones you don’t have/want. No need for excel! It might make keeping track of your collection feel less like a chore. It’s not great for tracking doubles, though there is also a notes section for each pony, so you could put that info there, as well as details on condition if you like.