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

Foal 58, Out of Wildfire Is a Colt

WH Wildfire, the Misty of Chincoteague descendant who is the dam of foal 58, produced a colt for Surfer's Riptide on 27 June.  There is a small possibility that the sire is the Don Leonard Stud II, but the markings look very similar to foal 27, which is definitely Riptide's get.  (And I don't believe that Wildfire was ever covered by DLSII, myself...)   Here are much better photos of colt 58, taken, as always, by DSC Photography...

And another look at the other definite Misty-descended foal on Assateague, foal 4, a filly out of WH Winter Moon and sired by the Don Leonard Stud II.

Two More Chincoteague Pony Foals

On Saturday afternoon, Randy was spotted with a new black pinto foal, which is foal number 45.  The sire is Surfer's Riptide; sex is yet unknown:

This morning, Milly Sue, a two-year-old filly, out of Leah's Bayside Angel and sired by Riptide, had a bay pinto colt at her side.  (This is foal number 46.)  The probable sire is the Dons Leonard Stud II, but the sire could also be Beach Boy (Saltwater Renegade), CLG ToMorrow's Tidewater Twist, or Henry's Hidalgo...

*** All four photos posted today are the property of DSC Photography ***

Surfer's Riptide Returned to Assateague - Two of His Mares Foal

Riptide was removed for Pony Jail at the Carnival Grounds on Chincoteague yesterday morning and placed inside the corral on Assateague's southern end.  By late afternoon, all of his mares had converged to the corral, so the men from the CVFC Pony Committee opened the gates, and let the ladies  rejoin their man.  (Summer was the only mare who didn't appear, and it's possible that the two lead mares have driven her away during Riptide's absence.)  Early morning visitors to the corral today found a brand new foal with Got Milk - a handsome bay colt with four socks, a large blaze (like Riptide's) and a blue eye on the right.  Not long after, Loveland's Secret Feather gave birth to a filly - a bay pinto with two blue eyes.  She is minimally marked with color - her right side is white and the outer side of her right ear is brown; she has a black forelock and a teeny strip of black mane between her ears, and a brown left ear, and a tiny brown spot near her left flank.  There is a break in the color between her ears, so she is not a Medicine Hat....
The following photos of the foals were taken by DSC Photography, and are copyrighted by them.

Foal #26 - 8 May    colt, out of Got Milk, sired by Riptide

Foal #27  -  8 May    filly, out of Loveland's Secret Feather, sired by Riptide

These photos were taken by Captain Dan Davis of Captain Dan's Around the Island Tours.

Foal # 16 -  filly out of Doc Amrien, by Hoppy

Foals 9 and 13, sired by Wild Thing; colt out of Summer's Gentle Sea Breeze on left;

filly out of Tuleta Star on right

Fifth Chincoteague Pony Foal & Spring Round-Up

My apologies for missing a post yesterday - I was spending the evening/night with Tuppurr and didn't have access to my photo file.....
   This afternoon is this beginning of the annual Spring Round-Up on Assateague in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.  Riptide and his band are already in the corral, so only the Don Leonard Stud II and his mares need to be brought in.  Tomorrow, the Saltwater Cowboys will be rounding up all of the northern herds, which can be a drawn out process - lots of area to cover and lots of places for the ponies to hide.  Vet checks, worming, and vaccinations will take place tomorrow for all ponies.  And tomorrow, the 2018 buy back yearlings and the donated mares should be turned loose on Assateague, too.  It'll be a full day for the Cowboys, the veterinarians, and for photographers, too.  Today the weather forecast is gorgeous.  Tomorrow, the forecast says 60% chance of rain - but the Round-Up will occur no matter what the weather does.
   Yesterday morning, people visiting Riptide and his ladies were able to witness the birth of a foal.  Sonny's Legacy, a six-year-old chestnut pinto mare, sired by the Don Leonard Stud and out of the mare Shy Anne (aka Half  'n' Half), had her third foal.  The Dad is Surfer's Riptide, and he was watching, as were all of the mares.  The baby is a chestnut pinto colt, and has War Bonnet markings.  Soon after the birth, the mare and new foal were moved into a smaller paddock; later, both were trailered over to the Carnival Grounds, where they are being watched, as it seemed the foal was not nursing as much as is normal for a newborn.  Currently, all reports say both mom and baby are doing well.
   These photos were taken by Steve Cole of DSC Photography; they are copyrighted by DSC Photography.  If you wish to look at, or purchase, any of their photographs, please visit their website at:  http://www.dscphotography.net   

Almost Time For the Spring Round-Up & Three New Foals!

My apologies for my disappearance (again) from blogging.  The current political administration in the White House causes me great mental and physical stress because my parents brought me up to be a caring person who truly loves my country.  I suffer from recurring Shingles flare-ups due to stress - on my face and inside my nose (of all places!  My MD was so excited because he was writing a paper about my case...) - and these are excruciatingly painful.  I don't get much done when the rash decides to appear.  - Yes, I know about the vaccine, but one must be clear from an outbreak for 6 months before the vaccine can be administered.  I never last that long, unfortunately.   -  Anyway.... That's why I have been absent.   
    Now.   Down to the meat of the matter.
  The annual Chincoteague Pony Spring Round-Up will be held this Friday and Saturday, the 12th and 13th of April.  Riptide and his mares are already in the South, main corral; so the only herd for the Saltwater Cowboys to chase on Friday afternoon will be the Don Leonard Stud II's.  Riptide has been taking his ladies through, over, and around the fencing for the last six weeks.  They have been appearing on the roadways on Assateague, as well as many of the trails, and on and near the beach.  The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company cowboys have been rounding the escapees up and putting them back behind the fences almost every other day.  At the end of March, however, Riptide and his ladies were "imprisoned" in the corral due to their interactions with some very foolish tourists.  This group of people were on foot and on bicycles and had a child in a baby stroller.  They approached Riptide and his mares.  They petted and fed the ponies.  They posted video and photos on most of the social media sites.  So now, the ponies are in lock-up because the tourists were STUPID.
  **These ponies are used to being near people.  But they are feral animals.  They are "wild."  They bite and kick without apparent warning.  Equines are prey animals.  They eat vegetation.  They have a choice when they feel threatened - fight or flight.  They will try to protect themselves and then run.  There are signs and warnings posted about the ponies on Chincoteague and Assateague.  Do not feed the ponies.  Stay at least 40 feet away from the ponies.  Stallions will do anything to protect their mares and babies.  People have been severely injured by ignoring these common warnings.**
   Early on Saturday, while the veterinarians will check out the penned southern herds, while the Saltwater Cowboys round up the northern herds, who are many, and are spread over a much larger area.  After the herds are gathered, they, too will be checked by the vets.  And, while the northern herds are being checked, the 2018 buy back fillies will be returned to run wild on Assateague, along with the three donated mares.  I don't know if Ajax and Heidi's Sky, who are at the Carnival Grounds being treated for injuries, will be released on the 13th or not.  That decision is, of course, up to our veterinarians and the Pony Committee.

   It's after 10 p.m. where I live, on Sunday, April 7th.  So far, three new foals have been born this year to the CVFC herd.  In 2018, we had five foals on the ground, on this date; and in 2017, there were six babies bounding about.
   The first two foals born are pintos, and their dams have been keeping them pretty far away from people.  So the parents and colors of the foals are known, but whether the babies are boys or girls is a mystery.  The third foal is a solid palomino, and he looks like a "Mini-Me" edition of his sire, Chief Golden Eagle.  The photos of the first foal, a chestnut pinto born on 22 March, are copyrighted by DSC Photography.  The dam is Catwalk Chaos, and the sire is Tornado's Prince of Tides.  Using a huge telephoto lens, these are the closest of the photos.

The second foal is a bay pinto,sired by Hoppy (aka Effie's Papa Bear), and out of the mare Danny's Girl Splash.  The foal was first spotted by Captain Dan Davis, and he took the first photos as well, on 1 April.

Captain Dan, he of "The Foal Patrol" and owner and operator of Captain Dan's Around the Island Tours, also spotted and took the first photos of our third arrival on 4 April.  This colt is out of the mare JABATAA, and sired by Chief Golden Eagle.  The photos used here are copyrighted by Darcy and Steve Cole of DSC Photography, and were taken today, when the foal was 3 days old.

Pony Swims Between Islands Seeking Weaned Baby - Photos

Pappy's Pony gave birth to a chestnut filly on 9 October, well after the annual Swim and Auction of the Chincoteague ponies in July.  At the fall Round-Up, the mare and filly were taken to the Carnival grounds on Chincoteague with the foals to be picked up, as well as some of the late-born foals and mares.  The baby was purchased by a local lady, who has given the barn name of  "Cassie"  to the pretty little girl with the crooked blaze, and who is the daughter of Riptide.

Since Cassie has been doing so well - eating baby-formula grain, grass, and hay -the veterinarian decided she could be weaned early, so as not to cause the mare to loose condition during the winter.  A really nasty winter could cause the loss of both mare and foal.  So Cassie's new owner was contacted, and on Monday, the foal was taken by trailer to her new home, and Pappy's Pony, the mare, was returned (via trailer, also) to Assateague, and her stallion, Riptide.

  After Cassie was at her new home, and had met the other pony, burro, and horses she will be living with, she began learning - and had a great lesson in leading two hours after her arrival.

But on Assateague, Momma wasn't happy. - and, you know the saying - "If Momma ain't happy, nobody's happy!"  Pappy's Pony is 15 years old.  Every summer she swims the Assateague Channel between Assateague and Chincoteague and follows a specific route to the Carnival Grounds.  (They follow the same route in reverse for the swim back.)  She missed her baby.  She left her friends and stallion behind, and swam across the Channel by herself, then walked most of the way, through traffic, to the Carnival Grounds.  She was spotted about two blocks away from the Channel, and the Fire Company's Saltwater Cowboys were called and notified.  Hearing it was a solid bay mare, with a 03 brand on her hip, they knew it was Pappy's Pony on her way back to (she thought) her baby.

  The Cowboys took a truck and a lasso, roped the mare and took her to the Carnival Grounds.  They will probably keep her there for a day or two, letting her see that Cassie is no longer there.  Then they will trailer her back to Assateague.    -  Such is a mother's love!!

***  With very special thanks to Cassie's owner Sydney Murdock, and to Patty Vamvas for using their photographs!!!  ***

Chincoteague Pony Spring Round-Up Report

Well, I actually haven't heard much from most of my friends who were at the Spring Round-Up of the Chincoteague ponies on Assateague this weekend.  CLG Wild Star, a 2016 buy back filly purchased for $11,000, was not found or brought in.  She hasn't been seen for over 6 weeks, and is currently presumed dead.  On 11 April, Captain Dan and his boat tour saw a bay mare in Chief's herd that had a foal.  Neither was brought in with Chief's band on Saturday, and rumors are that a couple of the Saltwater Cowboys saw the bodies of a dark mare and foal on the north end.  None of this is a certainty.  DSC Photography has the foal listed as belonging to one of three mares - Two Teagues Taco, PonyLadies Sweet Surprise (Lady), or Bling Bling - the three bay mares in Chief's herd.
   There are quite a few photos of Ken's herd,  two photos of Ace, several of Prince and his ladies, but I have yet to see Chief or his mares, Ace's ladies, Hoppy's ladies, Rainbow Warrior and his girls, Ajax and his harem, or Phantom Mist and his ladies....  I don't know if the photographers were busy elsewhere, or if the ponies weren't that photogenic this weekend....  There are huge numbers of pictures of Riptide, and, yes, he is handsome.  However, I'd like to see photos of the other ponies, as well.
   There have been several comments on the looks of the mares - the stallions all look great, but most of the mares are too thin, even the ones that are not yet breeding.  Hopefully the worming they all received will work wonders, as well as the advent of spring grasses.  The only pony I am truly worried about is Bay Girl, at age 19 she isn't in any way the youngest of the mares, but she looked almost skeletal when brought in with Riptide...
   I'll update as facts become available.

Pony Penning 2017 with Photos - 1

Originally, Pony Penning (as well as Sheep Penning, Cattle Penning, and Hog Penning) was a one day affair that took place entirely on Assateague.  Chincoteague was too small to have livestock roaming at large, and, livestock on Chincoteague were taxed.  If you had livestock on Assateague, you didn't pay taxes on them. - It was like an early off-shore banking account.
    Pony Penning took place in mid- to late summer, after the mares had foaled.  The folks on Chincoteague boated or barged over the channel, and joined the villagers on Assateague in rounding up the livestock.  The women cooked and baked all day; children first helped the ladies, and then went and played; the men went out on horseback, and on foot, and brought in all the horses and ponies they could find.
     In the earliest years, branding wasn't done - the owner sliced, or nocked, his animal's ears in a specific pattern.  If a foal was with a specific mare, they marked the foal the same as the mare.  Each year, though, there were a few animals that had been missed previously.  It was decided to tally up who owned the most horses and on down the line of numerical ownership.  Those with the most horses got one more - and the rich became richer...  But that was the equitable agreement amongst the islanders - and some could not afford a horse, nor did they wish to have one.
    In the mid-1880s, with a new group of visitors to Chincoteague - those folks visiting for the salt air, fishing, and hunting - it was decided to add some more excitement to Pony Penning.  It had been noted for years that the ponies entered both the Channel and the ocean to escape flies, and that they occasionally swam between the islands.  And so, the Pony Swim began, across the narrowest part of the Assateague Channel between the two islands.
    People came to see the sight; and a one day affair turned into a two day affair; then a three day affair.  Now it's Pony Penning Week.  This year, it officially began at 4 p.m. yesterday, when the Saltwater Cowboys began rounding up the four herds that run on the southern compartment of Assateague.  Today, the northern herds will be rounded up.  Monday, the dawn beach walk will take place.  Tuesday all ponies will have their veterinarian check-up.  Wednesday is the swim across the channel at slack tide.  Thursday is the auction of foals. Friday is the swim back to Assateague at slack tide...   It's a very busy time for every member of the Volunteer Fire Company, their families, and for anyone who lives on Chincoteague.
   These are a few photos from yesterday's gathering of the southern herds.