For First Time Buyers of a Chincoteague Pony...

Were I on the islands, today, I would have been at the holding pens at dawn watching the foals and deciding which one I wanted to buy.  I'd be looking at the size of their parents, and deciding whether or not the foal would grow to be a good size for what I need.  I'd also be looking at how the foal interacted with others in its band - the other mares and foals, and the stallion.  I really wouldn't care whether it was a filly or a colt - as long as it has a good disposition and good confirmation.  Foals that are solid colors - bays and chestnuts - usually sell for less than the palominos and buckskins; and generally much less than a "pretty marked" paint.  Of course, if I fell for a good-looking paint or buckskin, that's what I'd want to purchase.  
   Here are a few things first time buyers and owners should know/realize when they purchase their wild Chincoteague pony:
    The foal is not used to being around people; it will be very frightened.
    The foal will be taken away from it's mother, and the only comfort it has known, by you.
    If the foal has not yet shed its' baby coat, it might turn out to be a different color than you thought it was; and pony coat colors can vary a lot with the seasons - both in color and in coat lengths.
     The foal hasn't had the new type of food you'll be feeding it - ever. Feed small amounts, with plenty of water.
     Handle you new foal for at least an hour every day.  Start teaching it to lead in a halter the day you make the purchase.  Get the foal used to you placing your hands on every part of its body while it's still a youngster. 
     Teach your foal manners from day number one.  While the foal is less than a year old, remember that it's concentration and attention span is like that of a human child under the age of 5 years.  Being restless and playful is normal - biting or kicking is not.
     If you purchase a male foal, unless you are a knowledgeable horseman, plan on having the colt gelded as soon as both of  his testicles descend.  This should be done by a licensed veterinarian only.
    If you purchase a Chincoteague Pony at the auction on Thursday, be certain that you get all of your paperwork after you pay.  Know that you can not take a pony home in the backseat of your car, station wagon, van or SUV.  Ponies must leave the grounds in an approved livestock or horse trailer only - and you generally have to pay by the mile to have your new pony delivered.
     Horses and ponies need daily care - that is something that most children and parents forget.  They need to be fed and watered daily. They need to be brushed and combed. Their feet need to be cleaned daily.  They need exercise and they need company.  The blacksmith needs to trim their hooves every 5 to 8 weeks; there are semi-annual and annual inoculations and vaccinations
    And, one of the most important things to remember is that your horse or pony can not throw up and feel better like a human can. What goes in a horses stomach must come out through his rectum or his urinary tract.  If your pony keeps looking at its sides, looks distressed, starts to sweat, and wants to start rolling from side to side - keep it walking and have the veterinarian make an emergency call.  Colic kills a lot of ponies and horses.
  Owning and caring for a horse or pony is a lot of work - but your mount will appreciate you, love you, and respect you.  Having an equine best friend is one of the happiest things in a life time.