Auctioned Foals Bring In $271,700.00 for CVFC

I somehow missed the passing of two foals - Destiny's Feathering Spirit and Surfin' Chantel's foals both died in June.  That left fifty-nine foals out of the sixty-one that survived more than one day.  I am puzzled by the non-accounting for yet another foal - but am hoping things will be cleared up within the next few days so i can post where/how the foal "disappeared."  ...  Fifty-seven foals were auctioned off this morning at the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company's annual Pony Auction during Pony Penning Week.  One foal from the group born this spring and summer had been raffled off yesterday - that was Queen Neptune, the first foal to swim the Channel yesterday between Assateague and Chincoteague Islands.  That makes 58 foals, so there is one missing from my count - somewhere.
   I don't know how much the raffle tickets brought in for Queen Neptune - who turned out to be the filly of Doc Amrien and Effie's Papa Bear (aka Hoppy).  However, the 57 foals that were auctioned off today brought in a total of $271,700 - an average winning bid of  $4,767.   Of course, several of the designated Buy Back foals really skewed the average prices.  The highest bid on a Buy Back (filly) today was $17,500; the lowest winning bid on a foal was $1,400.  There were three Feather Fund foals, and I know that two of them were purchased at $4,500 each.
   Listed are the prices that I know were paid for 21 of the 57 foals sold.  First, the two Feather Fund foal purchases:
 Dreamer's Gift and Ajax (or Puzzle) filly  for $4,500
 Got Milk and Surfer's Riptide colt   for  $4,500
There were 10 designated Buy Back foals - I have prices for nine; missing A Splash of Freckles's filly:
 Anne Bonny and Legacy  filly  for  $12,500
 Black Pearl and Maverick filly  for  $17,500
 Danny's Girl Splash and Hoppy  filly for  $16,000
 May's Grand Slam and Ken  filly  for $ 10,000
 Miracle's Natural Beauty and Legacy  colt  for $16,500  (to the Chincoteague Legacy Group)
 WH Winter Moon and Don Leonard Stud2  filly for  $15,000  (to the CLG)
 Skylark and Ajax filly  for  $6,400
 Two Teague's Taco and Ace filly  for $10,500
 Thunderstorm Skies and Puzzle filly  for $7,500
The other foals sold to be taken home immediately, or picked up at the Fall Round-Up:
  Zustan and Legacy colt (perlino/cremello)  for $2,300
  Randy and Riptide colt  for $4,800
  Lorna Dune and Prince colt  for $3,000
  CLG Blue Moon and Prince colt  for $3,900
  Smooch and Legacy filly  for $3,700
  Surfer's Gidget and Puzzle colt  for $4,000
  Poco's Starry Night and Riptide colt  for  $5,900
  Too Grand and Ajax filly  for  $6,300
  Leah's Bayside Angel and Wild Thing filly for $10,000
  WH Wildfire and Riptide colt   for $3,500

Photos of the four highest priced foals of 2019:

$17,500

$16,500

$16,000

$15,000 (filly in foreground)

Southern Herds In Corral; Northern Herds To Be Rounded Up This Morning

All Chincoteague Ponies in the southern compartment of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island were successfully rounded-up and corralled Saturday morning.  Each and every pony living in the southern area was gathered in by the Saltwater Cowboys, made up of Volunteer Firemen from Chincoteague Island and other horsemen from other Volunteer Fire Companies (both near by, and from as far away as Ohio). 
  Due to the extreme heat the east coast is experiencing, the southern herds round-up was moved from the usual afternoon gathering, to one beginning at 7 a.m. yesterday.  Some visitors were unhappy with the time change, but the Pony Committee does what is best for the ponies, and for the horses the round-up men ride.  Veterinarians recommended an earlier and cooler time of day, and even so, it was hot.
  The yearlings look a bit peaked, due to the heat.  It is also their first summer grazing for themselves, and they were on the Carnival Grounds, with both hay and pasture provided up until mid-April.  It's not unusual to see ribs and backbones in feral yearlings, especially as they are busy growing, as well as playing - which doesn't work well in this extraordinary heat wave.  On the whole, the majority of the ponies look very good, weight-wise.  But the yearlings and nursing mares could use some more weight...

 Above: foal 26, out of Got Milk, by Riptide

Below: foal 27, out of Loveland's Secret Feather, by Riptide

   Today's northern round-up will cover a lot more territory, and there are 12 distinct herds to gather in, rather than just 3 down south.  (I was "screamed at" on Facebook fro listed two mares as deceased last week - both have been declared deceased by the Chincoteague Pony Pedigree Database, in keeping with the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company's records.  However, a group of pony enthusiasts insists that until a pony has been missing for more than a year, it should be considered alive, stating that other ponies have reappeared after a year long disappearance.  I still completely disagree with this.)  Two mares have been missing since March and April - Carol's Little Freedom has been missing since the first week of March, and Cody's Little Jigsaw Puzzle was last seen the first week of April.  Freedom was in Hoppy's herd and was 20 years old; Jigsaw was in Legacy's herd, and looked about ready to foal when she disappeared at the age of 6.  I expect everyone to come in except these two mares in the northern compartment.
   I am still trying to figure out the comments regarding ponies missing for a year that suddenly make a reappearance. The only one I can think of is Pirate, who was best known as "Broken Jaw."  He did evade being rounded three times immediately after his jaw was broken by a kick from an older stallion - but he was also seen many times in between the Fall, Spring, and Pony Penning round-ups where he was absent.  And then, after a couple of years once he had his own herd, the cowboys left him on Assateague, because he kept going over and through the fences at the Carnival Grounds, and leading his mares and other herds all over the island...

Pirate, also known as Broken Jaw

   When Walt Clark was alive, I used to sit at his side and ask questions about all the Pony Pennings he remembered - then I'd go home and write all of what he told me down.  Since he was a true Teaguer, raised on Piney Island, a World War II veteran, a hunter, poacher, Round-Up man, and absolutely wonderful person, I take his word on what has happened with the ponies in the past (may he rest in peace).  He was a fantastic teller of tales, both of the times when his family lived on Assateague, and his own years in the Army and on Chincoteague....  He was the one who gave me the background information on Pirate.

Saturday: $1 Million Haskell Invitational & CVFC Southern Round-Up

Saturday, 20 July, will see the running of the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.  The race is over a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs), and the post time is 5:45.  There are seven entries, with Maximum Security chosen as the morning-line betting favorite at odds of 8 to 5.   Here are the post positions, the names of the entries, and the betting odds:
 1.   King for a Day       5 to 2
 2.   Joevia                   10 to 1
 3.   Spun to Run          15 to 1
 4.   Bethlehem Road   20 to 1
 5.   Mucho Gusto          2 to 1
 6.   Everfast                  10 to1
 7.   Maximum Security    8 to 5

Maximum Security, morning line betting favorite for the Haskell

At 7 a.m., the Saltwater Cowboys will convene at the main corrals on Beach Road in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island, Virginia.  The southern herd round-up is usually conducted in the afternoon, but this year, with the heat index projected to be 115° in the afternoon, the herd-gathering will take place before the heat of the day strikes.   The souhern herds consist of three groups - one led by Surfer's Riptide, one led by the Don Leonard Stud II (DLS2), and the 2018s (last year's group of Buy Back foals).  The northern herds will be rounded up Sunday morning.

Stallion Surfer's Riptide

Stallion DLS2

Four of the 2018 yearlings

Happy June!

I'm so happy it's June; for me, it marks the beginning of summer.  (I know that we've got three more weeks of Spring, but still....)  We had a rain shower about 2:30 this morning, as I heard the drops hitting my window.  And, even though it's June 1, it was 50 degrees (F) at 5:30, when I arose - we're expecting a high of 70 today.  There are some lowering clouds on Green and Bear Mountains, with clouds in the low spots behind the Flatirons.  It looks odd, but it happens frequently when we have moisture in the air.
  Nedi is upset that we're restricting his time outside on the balcony.  There are several groups of house finch fledglings that visit the balcony, and we have a swallow's nest in one of the exhaust vents about six feet away from the south railing.  The babies like to congregate there, and Nedi is a mighty hunter; not that we want him to be.  I re-potted the catnip yesterday and fertilized all the plants; then we had the rain this morning, so I can breathe easy until tomorrow.  With a breeze and humidity at less than 10%, the plants dry quickly!
  Besides being the first day of June, it also marks seven weeks to my departure on vacation - back to Chincoteague and Assateague Islands.  After last summer's fiasco at Washington National, I'm flying in and out of Baltimore Washington International this year...  At least I arrive before noon, so I can hopefully beat the afternoon rush across the Bay Bridge.  And I plan on visiting the Maryland end of Assateague - I have never done so, to my knowledge, other than walking up to the state line from the Virginia side.
  The Maryland NPS got a surprise when it was noted that they have two babies on the ground (Carol's Girl and Jojo have foaled), but still have two, not one, pregnant mares.  Charmed and Gokey Go Bones are still waiting to deliver.  The first two had solid chestnut foals - waiting to see who delivers what color now...
   On the Virginia end of Assateague, the ponies owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company have produced 46 babies so far.  Currently, Diamond Jewel and her colt sired by Riptide are on Chincoteague.  The colt (whom I call Ford) has a cut on his leg and was limping.  He is now on a farm with his dam and is receiving care from the veterinarian.  I have to admit that I love the solid color foals as much as the pinto babies.  I love the wild and crazy markings that our pinto ponies produce, but I also appreciate the chestnuts, bays, browns, palominos and buckskins that hit the ground.  I guess I like the solid colors because it's easier for my eye to just conformation without all the patches of color.  The CVFC ponies have produced an outstanding crop of foals so far - and I can't wait to see the rest.  I have a feeling that we'll have one to three foals born during Pony Penning week - July 25 through 29.
  One of the best places to see photos of the new foals - and all the ponies on the Virginia end of Assateague Island -is on the DSC Photography website.  For the 2016 foals, the dam and probable sire are listed, as well as color and sex, and the date they were first seen.  You can then look at the adult sections, and see photos of the parents.  Their URL is: https://www.dscphotography.net  I hope you enjoy the photos - I do, every day.

Bits and Pieces

I admitted to signing a petition on Facebook: one that fans sign to, hopefully, get the Denver Broncos to bring Tim Tebow back, to try out as the new starting quarterback.   Believe me, I know all of the pro and con arguments regarding Tebow as an NFL quarterback.  I just happen to like the young man, and he's always been extremely polite when we've met.  -  He reminds me a great deal of Steve Spurrier, and I still love the "ol' ball coach," too.  -  Some folks have commented in support, and others have been blatant in their dislike.  Unless someone starts cursing, I'll let all comments stand…  As I said to a friend, if we all had the same opinion about everything, life would be very boring.

    As of this moment, as far as I know, there are six new foals for 2016 on the southern end of Assateague - the ponies that get sold at the Chincoteague Pony Penning and Auction in July.  Of the six, four are definitely boys, one is definitely a girl, and one hasn't presented any body parts to identify. Wild Island Orchid has the filly; Wildest Dream's bay foal is not yet known, but the other four are boys.  I know that the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company has a long-term plan for continuing the herds - each year the foals' bloodlines and conformation are examined.  That decides which foals are designated as "Buy Back" ponies and which are sold to new homes on the mainland, and in other countries.
   I admit that I'm a sucker for baby horses.  I love all of them.  I find all of them cute.  Some foals that other people consider plain, or even ugly, always have some type of beauty.  SO far, I'm in love with all six of the CVFC foals.  I think that Wildest Dream's bay is a filly - and I would love to have her for her size and conformation - not to mention how her strip wiggles like a snake's tail.  But I also really love the other five foals.  Tunie's pinto colt is rugged; and I'd  think the guys would want to keep Lady's buckskin as a replacement for Copper Moose; Lyra's Vega's colt and Wild Island Orchid's filly are beautiful chestnuts.  But, for some reason, I have the feeling that out of the foals born so far, Diamond's Jewel's pinto colt by Riptide will bring the most bidders.  Unless another truly magnificently marked foal arrives - which is always a possibility with our ponies!
   And I've been informed that the (so far) single foal up on the Maryland end of Assateague is also a colt - by Yankee, out of Carol's Girl.

    After the 18.3 inches of soggy snow that fell for four days, most has since melted.  The apple tree in Lynn's yard lost a large limb, and a few willow withies came down, but there was no other damage here.  Most of the snow that was pushed up under the bird feeder tree at my apartment has also melted - I put out 3 pounds of sunflower seeds for the birds and a pound of walnuts, almonds and Brazil nuts for the squirrels today.  I had to clear my throat for Bertrando to realize that I was standing two feet away from him while he was stuffing his face at the feeder….  He looked very surprised, so I was glad it was just me.

    Cupid, the betting favorite for the Arkansas Derby (who finished tenth of eleven), has been diagnosed with a "breathing disorder" and will not participate in the Kentucky Derby.  I wonder if he had an entrapped epiglottis?  I believe that the current betting favorite for the Derby is Nyquist.

Spring Round-Up for Chincoteague Ponies Last Weekend

Last Friday and Saturday, the Saltwater Cowboys of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company rounded up the herds of wild ponies on the southern end of the island of Assateague Island.  The ponies have free range over the Virginia part of Assateague Island, which contains the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and the southern section of Assateague National Seashore.  The ponies are considered to be "wild" as they receive the least amount of human handling as possible - but they are rounded up and penned three times each year. This is for health care and medical purposes.  The ponies are looked over daily by members of the CVFC Pony Committee, and if any pony is ill, or appears to be injured, the on-call veterinarian is called immediately, while the pony is isolated and cared for.  Since the foals are auctioned off each July, each pony must be up-to-date on their vaccinations and blood-testing - that way new owners can take their foals home without any hold-up for paperwork necessary for the ponies to cross state lines.
  From the 1700s on, livestock was taxed on the island of Chincoteague; therefore, most residents turned their livestock loose on Assateague, the island farther east, after notching or branding their stock.  And, of course, ponies were running already running wild on Assateague Island, when the first settlers arrived on Chincoteague.  Every two or three years, the men of Chincoteague would gather all the loose livestock on Assateague, having a huge "penning" event.  Sheep were gathered, ponies, were gathered, hogs and pigs were gathered, and so were the horses and ponies.  Owners travelled over to Assateague several times each year, and, when checking on their adult stock, they notched or branded the young that had been recently born.  Most of the critters were branded and known to the owners.  Over the years, as the horse and ponies were allowed to breed, there were quite a few "wild" ponies that weren't actually owned by anyone - these ponies were apportioned out to the men who had horses running on the island.
  It was soon realized that these ponies and horses, raised on Assateague, were extremely versatile in use, and were also extremely hardy.  They would eat greenery that cattle, sheep, and goats would ignore, and they had adapted to drinking the brackish water on the islands. They were very intelligent, and, once gentled, were great for usage by women and children.  At that point in time, most of the ponies were solid colors - there were bays, blacks, browns, chestnuts, and sorrels.  Any pony with an unusual coat, a palomino or grey or pinto, was quickly claimed and trained.  With the advent of motion pictures, people became convinced that Native Americans rode only pinto or Appaloosa horses.  Most children wanted a pinto, or painted, pony.  By this time, several men were breeding Chincoteague ponies, and keeping them on Assateague Island.  Pinto ponies were introduced as stallions and mares and the rest is ... history.
  In 1946, Marguerite Henry visited Miss Molly's Inn on Main Street, to observe the now annual Pony Penning.  She met Clarence Beebe, a pony breeder and seller, and his grandchildren, Paul and Maureen.  She bought a pretty little palomino pinto filly, who was still nursing on her dam; Grandpa Beebe shipped the foal to the author in October, and Ms. Henry was convinced that this hugely hairy critter could not actually be her beautiful Misty.  But it was.  Marguerite's book was published in 1947, and won the Newberry Award for Children's Book for that year.  In 1961, 20th Century Fox made Ms Henry's book, Misty of Chincoteague, into a movie.  Grandma and Grandpa Beebe and Paul and Maureen were portrayed by professional actors.  Otherwise, the movie stars are the native Chincoteaguers and some wonderful trained ponies.
  In any event, this year, 2015, is the 90th Annual Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company's Pony Penning and Carnival.  I'll be there for the first time in 14 years.  I'm really looking forward to seeing ponies that I know, people that I know, buildings and trails that I know.  A lot of changes have taken place since I was last there.  But, with a family history going back to 1643 on Chincoteague itself - I'll be going home.

Running....

Still running around like a maniac, but I've added two more client families to my list - one is a block away from Githens Acres, my usual stomping ground, and one is 3.5 miles east-northeast from there.  One family has two cats, one has two dogs, and both are referrals from long-time clients.  How nice.  Meeting the cats, I asked if either of the owners knew that Pounce had an abscess on his back - they were horrified, and the vet saw the cat in the afternoon, drained the spot and put the cat on antibiotics.  (Both neutered male cats are indoor/outdoor cats and are territorial regarding their yard.)  The dogs are female Brittany Spaniels and are very loving and human-oriented. And I found a new place for the dogs I care for to be able to swim freely - Twin Lakes has one on-leash lake and one off-leash lake, so all doggies and owners can be happy.
  I miss my kits terribly. Even though I'm seeing them twice a day for the next couple of weeks.  Lovey climbs up on my shoulder as soon as I enter the house and spends at least 15 minutes there, marking me and drooling.  Nedi comes when I'm working on the computer and wants to be scratched and snuggled with.  I've been home for 90 minutes and Nedi is out in the back yard, while Lovey is lying in her chair, watching me, and occasionally talking to me and kneading her towel.  Yesterday we managed a 70 minute nap with Lovey on my left and Nedi on my right... It certainly was refreshing!
  I still have a lot of Pony Penning photos that I need to down-load and sort through - and I finally received the three inter-library loan books I requested a week ago.  I also have C J Cherryh's latest Foreigner series book on order - it should arrive on Tuesday at the latest.   ....   The thoroughbred racing folks are beginning to concentrate on the Breeders Cup Races, that will be held on the first weekend in November.
  And I certainly enjoyed the Broncos-Seahawks game last night.  I know that it was only a pre-season game, but it was nice to beat the team that whipped our butts in the Superbowl.  It made the game just that much sweeter...  Even though I do miss seeing Champ Bailey and Eric Decker.  I wish them both the best of luck with their new teams.

Busy, I Am

Do any of you remember the lyrics the White Rabbit sand in Disney's Alice in Wonderland?  "...I run, and then I hop, hop, hop; I wish that I could fly.  There's danger if I dare to stop,...." That's why I haven't written anything in the blog lately - I'm in a frantic stew....  Lynn asked me to care for her critters and house "in late August" when she went to New York City, but didn't give me a specific date.     Turns out, it starts today - although I don't consider this "late" August.  So instead of going home tonight and sleeping with my kits when Steve returns to be with Tugger, I'll be heading over to Tessa, Lily and Lyra.  I just looked at my calendar and realized that I won't sleep in my own bed again until the 26th of this month....  Rats.   If you're a friend, and are trying to reach me, e-mail is the best way until I get back home....
  Tugger has adjusted to the loss of his littermate - he pestered me, crying constantly, and searching, for the first 36 hours I was here.  The vet had told his folks to put Sasquatch's beds, etc, away, where Tugger wouldn't be able to smell them.  It turned out that what Tugger wanted was his brother's beds, so he could lie in them and remember his brother.  He's spent the last week sleeping under my hand, in his brother's bed.  He's a sweetie.
  SInce I'll be with Tessa, Rosie will enjoy our walks tremendously, because she'll be able to take a swim in the koi pond on a daily basis.  Rosie certainly loves the water!  Tessa will step onto the waterfall, but she doesn't like to swim.
  I've been so caught up with business and with Pony Penning that I hadn't realized that pre-season pro football was starting.  I watched the Giants and Bills Sunday night, and I'm looking forward to the Broncos and Seahawks tomorrow night.  I hope that the outcome of this game will be slightly different than the Superbowl!  And I found out that my satellite TV provider will have the SEC Network available, so I can revel in the best college football in the world - even though I'm in Colorado!  (Sorry, CU!)
   I have a doctor's appointment this morning, then will walk Rosie over to see Tessa; back to Tugger's and then off to meet new clients who are leaving for France on the 12th; then back to Tugger's and over to Tessa's.  Have to fit in a visit to the library, and home to my kits, as well. Then feed Tugger at 5, and Tessa and the kits at 6; give Tugger his meds at 7:30; and then go spend the night with Tessa, et al...  I feel like I've been running in place for the past three weeks -  
   But at least I have plenty of reservations, all the way through next April.  I think I'll be able to afford my week in Chincoteague next summer!

Northern Herds Round-Up - Photos

Today, the Dawn Beach walk occurred - wish I had been there!  Photos tomorrow...
These photos were taken yesterday by Denise Bowman, with the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company.  Thank you, Denise!

Riptide, Surfer Dude's son

Pony Penning Is Underway! - Photos

The Saltwater Cowboys of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company gathered yesterday and traveled to Assateague to round up the herds (including Surfer Dude's) on the southern end of the island...  Here are photos of the round-up men and the ponies.  Most photos were taken by Deb Iddings Noll of Pennsylvania. The photos were taken yesterday, Saturday, 26 July 2014 on Assateague Island, Virginia.
**The foals in the photos will be auctioned off on Thursday, 31 July**

Chincoteague Pony Round-Up Begins Today

At the time that Marguerite Henry wrote and published Misty of Chincoteague, the Pony Penning round-up happened the morning of the Pony Swim - these days, with all of the checks by the veterinarians and farriers, the actual round-up begins on the Saturday before the Swim.  Most people will tell you that "Pony Penning" encompasses two, or possibly three, days.  The two "main days" of Pony Penning are on the last Wednesday and Thursday in July - this year, those are 30 and 31 July - if Thursday is 1 August, then Pony Penning happens the week before...  The folks who say Pony Penning is three days long are counting the following Friday (1 August, this year), when the ponies will swim back to Assateague.  I think we should refer to Pony Penning Week, just because the Saltwater Cowboys start working on the Saturday before the Swim, and work through the following Friday.
   I did give wrong, or inaccurate, information in an earlier blog.  I wrote that the ponies on the northern side of the Virginia section of Assateague would be rounded-up today, Saturday.  That is wrong.  The ponies on the southern end of Assateague will be brought in to the Holding Pens by Tom's Cove today; the northern herds will be gathered tomorrow, Sunday.  I apologize for the mistake.
  Currently, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company owns the wild ponies that wander over the Virginia section of Assateague Island.  Assateague is owned by the United States government, and the Virginia part of the island is run by three US agencies - the National Park Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Department of Natural Resources.  The CVFC has a contract, negotiated with all three agencies, to keep the ponies on the Virginia end of Assateague.  This contract limits the number of ponies on the island, and calls for strict guidelines regarding the ponies' care - including veterinarian care, vaccinations, hoof care, emergency care, extra feed in times of grazing hardship, and a routine daily visual check of the herd members.
   All of the ponies have had standard blood tests run - including the foals. Most of the foals have already been "matched" with their mothers - notes are taken when they appear, and which mare had what foal.  This information will be carefully checked, and double-checked, so that dam and sire are recorded by the CVFC; their vaccination and blood records are available, and then - most importantly - the blood test results for the new foals are logged and recorded. If you visit Chincoteague for the express purpose of buying a pony and taking it home with you, having the foal's blood test records and vaccination records are extremely important.  You must produce these records at every state line that you cross, or your foal will be impounded.  If you don't bring a horse trailer of your own, you will either (a) need to rent one, or (b) be prepared to pay others to transport your foal to it's new home (the amount is usually charged per mile).
  If you buy a foal, please realize that it has not been handled daily, as a domesticated farm-raised foal would have been.  You will have to gentle the foal - gain it's trust, and make it want to be near you.  You will need to spend a lot of hours with the foal each day, to begin with. You will need to teach it it's name, to happily place it's head in the halter, to stand still and steady, to allow you to groom every inch of it, and to handle it's feet.
   And, I can happily assure you that ponies that are purchased and removed form the salt marsh diet of Assateague do not become ponies with sagging backs and huge bellies.  With a proper diet of grass, grain, and hay, these ponies will turn out to be one of the best-looking equines you've ever seen.  Feed them well, groom them well, and exercise them well, and you will have an outstanding pony to ride or drive!

Chincoteague Island - News, Happenings, Approximate Swim Time

You can't tell that I love my Mother's hometown, can you?  How can you find a better place?  It's an island; the local seafood and locally grown food is totally fresh; there is the National Seashore on the next island; there is a National Wildlife Refuge on the next island; one can easily use a bicycle to travel all over both islands, Chincoteague and Assateague;  there are museums, a library, bookstores and wonderful shops available; one can rent a bike, a boat, a kayak, a canoe, or a moped to get around; the island trolley service is available; one can bird-watch, pony-watch, or people-watch; one can camp out, or rent a house, condo, motel or hotel room, or stay at a bed and breakfast; swim at the beach, or at your motel/hotel....  read in the shade or the sun; listen to the waves or lap of water against a bulkhead and hear the cries of the seabirds; catch your own supper; eat in or eat out....  Your choices are endless.
   Besides being named the "Happiest Seaside Town" by Trip Advisor.com, Chincoteague can also claim, as of yesterday, to be the home of the Best Ice Cream in the United States - Kelly Conklin's Island Creamery has been named as having the best ice cream, again by TripAdvisor.com.  Of course, I highly recommend several businesses on the island, besides the Island Creamery...  The Horse With No Name Studio and Gallery on Main Street, The Purple Pony, each and every established restaurant, Captain Barry's Back Bay Tours (and Sunset Cruises), Pony Tails Salt Water Taffy, and Sundial Books, to name a few.  I usually stay with relatives, when I'm on the island, but having stayed at two establishments, I can highly recommend the Refuge Inn and Dove Winds.
  The Pony Auction will begin at 8 a.m. on Thursday, a week from today.  Consulting the tide charts, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company and the US Coast Guard are advising visitors that slack tide, the only time it's safe for the ponies to swim the Assateague Channel, will occur between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 30 July. That means a long wait in hot sun and high humidity for those waiting on the Chincoteague shore to see the Pony Swim.  If you decide to go early to get a good viewpoint, please remember to take plenty of sunscreen, mosquito and/or fly repellent, a shady hat, sun glasses, and plenty of water and/or Gatorade (or an equivalent) - drink frequently, and hopefully you won't need an ambulance ride due to heat exhaustion.
   The 27th Annual Chincoteague Blueberry Festival will begin tomorrow, 25 July, and will continue until Sunday evening.  Admission is $5 per day for adults, $8 for a two-day pass, or $10 for a three-day pass.  Children under 12 have an admission fee of $1.  Any thing and everything you can imagine that can be prepared and cooked with blueberries will be available.  There are also more than 100 artists who will be displaying their arts and crafts for sale, as well as day-long musical entertainment and the wandering Jamel the Magician.  The Festival is open from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and is held at the Chincoteague Community Center.
   With Pony Penning happening on July 30, 31 and August 1, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company's Carnival will be open every evening (except Sunday) from Friday, 25 July,  through Saturday, 2 August.  Most folk call our Carnival "quaint" - there are lots of  food booths (fries, hamburgers, clam and oyster fritters, pizza, hotdogs, pies, fried softcrab sandwiches) - and lots of booths with skill and chance games, there's a Bingo area, and the Carnival rides - a Ferris wheel, The Whip, a carousel, and many others.  There are also a lot of raffle items up for grabs - a quilt, a Chincoteague pony, usually a boat, motor and trailer, a motorcycle, riding lawn  mower, and more.  For many years, the Carnival was where cousins held reunions and caught up on family news, because it was regarded as "Homecoming Week."
  (Can you tell that I want to be there?)

Pony Penning Fever

I've already captured and released (and a medical check-up) another sparrow this morning.  Lovey brought the youngster in and let it go in the clothes hamper (it doesn't have a lid).  I was able to capture it inside a book bag, where it was trying to escape Lovey; the bird was unharmed, so I turned it loose in the front of the building.  That's six birds in three days - either the sparrows are getting slower (or younger?), or the kits are perfecting their catching skills.
    I called my friend Mary at our agreed time on Friday afternoon, but missed her.  I've called back multiple times, but still receive no answer.  I hope she's OK.   I called and left a message for my friend Carolyn in Vero Beach on Saturday, and she called me back yesterday morning, so we had a wonderful chat.  I spoke with my friend, Michele, in Illinois on both Saturday and Sunday evening...  I feel like my ear is a suction cup attached to the phone this morning.  And I go to Maggie May's this morning for 10 days...
  The Antares re-supply rocket launch from Wallop's Island to the International Space Station flew through the skies yesterday afternoon, stampeding a herd of Angus cattle on a farm in Atlantic, Virginia.  WBOC, the local ABC station from Salisbury, Maryland has an interesting video of the launch and stampede.  It was filmed by Jay Diem, who takes incredible photos of Chincoteague's annual Pony Penning for the Salisbury Daily Times newspaper.
    ...  Of course I led the blog back to Chincoteague and Pony Penning!  It's like a fever that I won't be able to be cured from until the first week of August...
     If you're still interested in articles and videos regarding Chincoteague, I have a few to recommend:

http://fathomaway.com/guides/usa/us-south/itineraries/what-to-do-in-chincoteague-virginia/
(a nice little article, with photos, that mentions Captain Barry)

http://www.hrtv.com/videos/inside-information-ponies-of-chincoteague/
(an HRTV presentation, including interviews with Chincoteaguers)

And there is always both the Chincoteague website and the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company site:
http://www.chincoteague.com/

http://www.cvfc3.com/

Chincoteague Pony Swim   -  27 July 2011

A Horse-y Blog

Home again, for a few hours, before heading back to Boo's.  I'll grab Rosie this afternoon and we'll have a doggie day care afternoon while I read my book in the back yard....  And I hope to remember that Tuesday is Nedi's birthday; he and Lovey will get a nice dinner for a special day.
  The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company has announced that the Spring Round-up of ponies will be held April 11 and 12 on Assateague Island, as usual.  Pony Penning is held annually on the last Wednesday and Thursday in the month of July.  This year the Pony Swim from Assateague to Chincoteague will be held on 30 July, the Pony Auction will happen on 31 July, and the Swim Back to Assateague will occur on 1 August.
  It's only five weeks away from the Kentucky Derby... Time flies.  Most folks remember Barbaro, the gorgeous bay colt by Dynaformer, who won the 2006 Kentucky Derby, but who shattered a leg  in the 2006 Preakness, and was later euthanized.  Barbaro's full brother, Nicanor, became a father for the first time last week, when Kansas Kitty gave birth to a beautiful chestnut filly.  Nicanor stands at Shamrock Farm in Maryland for a fee of $2500.  Lentenor, Barbaro's 6 year-old full brother, began standing at the Indiana Stallion Station for a fee of $2000 in February of this year.  I'm looking forward to seeing their get on the track.
  There were three Derbies run yesterday - the United Arab Emirates, the Florida and the Louisiana - and two Oaks races - the Fair Grounds and Gulf Stream.  I wish I had been able to see all five races in person.
In the fillies races - the Oaks - both winners were superb.  In the Gulf Stream Oaks, In Tune out-dueled House Rules by a head, with Bobby Flay's home-bred America in third. At the Fair Grounds Oaks, Untapable was unstoppable under Rosie Napravnik, and will probably be the bettors top choice in the Kentucky Oaks.  Fiftyshadesofgold finished second, under Mike Smith, with Unbridled Forever in third and Mary Rita in fourth.  In the Louisiana Derby, Rosie Napravnik, again, rode the winner, a small dark bay/brown colt named Vicar's in Trouble.  Mike Smith rode the second-place finisher, Intense Holiday, with Commanding Curve running in third place.  In the Florida Derby, Constitution had a solid win over Wildcat Red.  Betting favorite Cairo Prince finished fourth behind General a Rod. And in the United Arab Emirates Derby, Toast of New York won handily over Asmar, with Emirate's Flyer in third and Giovanni Boldini in fourth.
  I guess I'll be starting out with a new case of Derby Fever soon....

Ponies Have Returned to Assateague Island

The wild ponies of Chincoteague have swum the Assateague Channel and are back on their wild island home for another year.  Some hearts were broken, and others were over-loaded with joy yesterday, once the auction came to an end.  I always had a broken heart because I could never afford to buy a pony - but 55 lucky families purchased the Chincoteague pony of their dreams yesterday.  Ten of those families gave the ponies back to the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company for breeding purposes, but they can visit their pony on Assateague year round.
  A smaller herd made the swim back across the channel this morning, at approximately 7:20 EDT.  A few of the aged ponies were trailered across the bridge, as were a few habitual "rowdies" who don't like to go where they should.  A much smaller crowd than on Wednesday saw the ponies off the Chincoteague shore - but they still had a surging hearts that viewed the swim Wednesday.  It's always a moving experience, no matter how many times you see it.
  The Firemen's Carnival will be open tonight and tomorrow night; then close until next Friday and Saturday nights, when all proceeds will go toward the EMS and ambulance funds.  Pony Penning is always an emotional time, and I can't wait until it's time for me to return to my island home again.   2015 - here I come!

                            

Heading back to Assateague...

2013 Pony Swim Photos

 

Crowds waiting for the swim before the storm blew in

View of the storm cloud bank before the rain 

Surfer's Riptide wants to lead his herd south, instead of swimming

Pony Committee member checking each pony after the swim