Pony Penning - and Anger in Denver

Today's Salisbury Daily Times says that 68 foals were auctioned yesterday for a total of $93,725 at the annual Pony Auction on Chincoteague.  (Having been there many years myself, and taking notes of foals and prices, my numbers have never added up to what the CVFC announces - I've always wondered about that.)  I do know that the purchase price of one of the buy back foals is being donated by the CVFC to the Ronald McDonald House charities.  I will post auction photos at the end of today's blog.  Today, again at slack tide, the stallions and mares, the buy back foals and the foals too young to be weaned from their mothers, will swim back across the Assateague Channel.  There will be very few people on hand to watch this swim, as opposed to Wednesday's.  Most gates on Assateague Island will be left open, and the herds will be allowed to drift and graze their way back to their usual territories.  Then the gates will be closed once more.  I'll continue to post Pony Penning photos from this year as I receive them from friends.

My kits and the doggies are all doing well.  We're on our 15th day (in a row) of temperatures in the 90s for Boulder, and I'm so happy that we haven't been as hot as Wichita, Kansas.  (My heart and love goes out to you, Sarah!)  ....  I am very upset with some children in Denver.  A 10-year-old girl saw some other children abusing a 4-month-old kitten (now named Marvell); she ran to the group, yelled and threatened them, and was able to rescue the little grey tabby.  She had observed the kitten being swung in circles by it's tail, as hard and fast as the other kids were able to spin it.  The kitten spent more than 4 hours in surgery - it had a broken tail, internal damages to it's lungs and kidneys, it was bleeding from the eyes, and has suffered some brain damage.  Marvell had also had his whiskers burnt off with a lighter, as well as having the tips of his ears burnt.  The vets don't know how well the kitten will recover from the brain damage, nor just how severe that damage is.  The kitten was named "Marvell" because the vets were so amazed that he was still alive after all the trauma that had been done to him.  -  The Denver and Aurora Police Departments are seeking the group of children that tortured the poor little guy.  -  The vets hope that Marvell will be able to be adopted into a loving home, once he recovers.

In the horse racing world, Versus TV will show The Diana Stakes and the Jim Dandy Stakes from Saratoga live tomorrow (5 -6 p.m. EDT).  ....  The $1 million Haskell Invitational for 3-year-olds will be run Sunday at Monmouth Park.  There is a field of 8 running, and Shackleford, the only colt to run in all three Triple Crown races and come out without injury, is the betting favorite, breaking from post position 5.  The race is 1 and 1/8 miles on the dirt.  ....  Uncle Mo has now had two work-outs over the track at Saratoga for his return to racing.  Folks say that he is looking and running well.

Nick Raymond (l) and Tyler Marks  hold onto a rearing foal during it's auction

William Webb (l) and Bryce Hurry try to get this foal's feet on the ground

John Wayne Rhodes (l) and son Cody handle a bay foal

Justin Lappin (l) and Alex Tucker hold a palomino pinto foal

Shy foals huddle together before being put on the auction block

Sarah Sickels (r) pets the buy back foal that she purchased.  The monies from this foal will be given to the Ronald McDonald House charities.