Chincoteague Spring Round-Up, Part Two

After working hard with the ponies Friday afternoon and all day Saturday, the Saltwater Cowboys spent Sunday morning and the early afternoon repairing, rebuilding and strengthening fences around the southern compartment.  This was done in hope of keeping Surfer's  Riptide and his mares away from people and vehicles.  The three groups that had been held in the southern corrals were then freed to spread out as they wish.  Riptide's herd, the Don Leonard Stud II's herd, and the 2018 buy back yearlings  were released.  The 2018 ponies are all fillies, with the exception of Thunderbolt, the bay colt.
   Left at the Carnival Grounds on Chincoteague are Ajax, still recovering from his face, head and neck injuries; the latest three mares that were donated back to CVFC, Oreo, Treasure and Star; and Sonny's Legacy and her war bonnet colt sired by Riptide.
  According to reports, all ponies on the northern end of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge were rounded up and accounted for.  Legacy's herd was the last to be found and brought in.  Every pony within the CVFC's care, on both Chincoteague and Assateague, received a full vet check, received their annual vaccinations, and bi-annual worming.  They were checked to see if they needed hoof care, or if they needed dental care.  -  And, this year, every single pony received the first injection of a series, against equine pythiosis (aka "swamp cancer") that took the lives of seven ponies in 2018, two in 2017, and one in 2016.  A lot of veterinarians and laboratory technicians have been involved in seeking a vaccine to stop, ward off, and/or kill this colonizing infection.  We are all hoping this new series of serums will work.
   It was a very rainy day Saturday for the second part of the round-up.  Shared photos are very slowly being posted - and most are from the southern corral, where Riptide was flirting with the yearlings.  The first two photos are the property of Deb Iddings Noll; the last  three belong to DSC Photography.  If you wish to re-use these photos, or to purchase them, please contact the owners.

Beach Boy - the only Misty family stallion on Assateague.

He turns 4 years old this spring.

Tornado's Prince of Tides emerging from the mist.

Rainbow Warrior is at least 23 years old now.

He's a lover and not a fighter.  He's usually near

the soon-to-be two year olds.

A family photo:  JABATAA, her palomino son, and sire

Chief Golden Eagle behind her.

Prince's herd coming in.  From left to right: Catwalk Chaos followed

by her colt; Gracey is the black face over the foal's back; Dakota Sky;

Ella of Assateague; a break to CLG Surfer's Blue Moon; the pale head

behind Moon is Lorna Dune; Prince of Tides; and Baybe in the rear.