Critter Sitter's Blog: 2012 Chincoteague Pony Penning

Showing posts with label 2012 Chincoteague Pony Penning. Show all posts

Saturday, July 28, 2012

2012 Pony Penning Officially Over

The 2012 Chincoteague Pony Penning annual celebration will officially end tonight, with the closing of the carnival. The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company's carnival will run for two more nights - next Friday and Saturday, with the proceeds going to the ambulance fund. Only a few hundred spectators watched the swim back to Assateague, and quite a few of them walked behind the herd of ponies from the carnival grounds to the designated swim point. Following are several photos from Friday's swim back...

Getting ready to leave the Carnival Grounds

There are always a few ponies who want to go their own way...

Then the returnees enter the water of Assateague Channel

And swim back to another year of freedom on Assateague Island in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

Friday, July 27, 2012

Ponies Swim Back to Assateague Today

This morning, the Chincoteague ponies will make the return swim to Assateague Island - minus quite a few foals and with a viewing crowd that will be one-eighth the size of Wednesday's swim. Once again, the US Coast Guard will determine the slack tide, and will shoot a flare gun to start the swim. I have received unofficial word that 67 foals were auctioned yesterday, with the highest price being paid for a palomino filly with a white blaze at $7,200 - and she was a buy-back pony. Reportedly, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company took in $92,150 from this year's auction; but don't forget the $5,300 donation that the CVFC made to the Wounded Warriors Program, which was money earned by the sale of a buy-back foal. (I don't know if that amount has already been subtracted from the gross auction dollars.) - And I have already made inquiries regarding reservations for two up-coming Pony Pennings. I will be there again!