The Mystery Foal of Assateague

On 11 May, Misty Mills, a Chincoteague pony mare, who has had foals previously, was seen consistently moving away from a new foal.  It was decided that, for some unknown reason, she was rejecting her baby.  The foal was taken off Assateague and over to the Carnival Grounds on Chincoteague for round-the-clock care.  The next day, Bay Girl's colt, which hadn't been thriving since birth, passed away.  In between bottle feedings for the rejected baby, it was put into Bay Girl's company.  That was a success, in that Bay Girl adopted the bay pinto colt, and began nursing him as her own baby.   Two tragedies were turned into a success story.
   But this morning, the story became a bit more odd...  Misty Mills was spotted early by Captain Dan Wilson.  She had obviously just foaled, as there was still blood on her hind legs, and she was hovering protectively over a brand-new chestnut pinto baby.   Surprise!!
   At the moment, we have no idea who the mother and sire of the abandoned and/or rejected baby of 11 May is/was.  At least he is safely being nursed by Bay Girl, and they are still at the Carnival Grounds.   So who was this stray foal's mother?  The only thing we can figure out is that a mare gave birth in the late (or early) hours of May 10 or 11; the foal went to sleep, and awakened later, and began to follow the first mare it saw - Misty Mills.  The foal had obviously nursed previously, as it was not totally dehydrated when the Saltwater Cowboys caught it and took it to Chincoteague for care that morning.  That day, there were five herds in the same area where Misty Mills was spotted, "running away" from the foal that wanted to attach to her.... 
   So the mystery is - who were/are the lost baby's parents?

The Mystery Foal

with Bay Girl

 

One day old, being bottle fed

 Misty Mills and Puzzle foal, born 10 June

These two bottom photos were taken by Captain Dan's Around the Island Tours