Critter Sitter's Blog

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!

I'm pretty sure this is the $7,200 high bid filly

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Pony Auction Photos

I'm frustrated this afternoon - I have a few photos from today's Chincoteague Pony Auction, but I don't have any information about how many foals (and/or yearlings) were sold; and no information regarding prices - except on two foals. Anna Beer of Clarkston, Michigan made the winning bid on a buy-back foal for $4,300; and two ladies purchased the buckskin buy-back foal (with the proceeds being donated to the Wounded Warriors Project, headed by Joe Lewis) for $5,300.
The first foal to reach the shore of Chincoteague yesterday was, according to the Salisbury Daily Times, "a chestnut stallion with white spots" - the first foal that finishes the swim is deemed King (or Queen) Neptune and is then raffled off at the Carnival Grounds on Wednesday afternoon. A lot of hopes to buy a specific pony die each year when that pony is the first to step on the shore of Chincoteague. I am not positive, but I think that yesterday's King Neptune is in the following photo:

Possibly King Neptune 2012... (see above)

Anna Beer kisses her $4,300 buy-back foal

Denise Bowden (left) presents Joe Lewis with a check for $5,300 - the amount that Bonnie Seeley and Carol Dennis (far right) spent on their buy-back pony - the funds went to the Wounded Warriors Program

A buckskin paint doesn't want to appear for the bidding crowd

Who wouldn't want such a refined face?

Why These Three Songs?

The 2012 Chincoteague Pony Auction is beginning as I type this; I have reports and photos to post later today. In the meantime, I wish to tip my hat to those entertainers who have recently passed away - Celeste Holme, Sherman Helmsley, and Chad Everett. All three of these fine actors filled my childhood with drama and laughter. They will be missed.
And can anyone tell me why I have been "plagued" with three extremely different songs stuck in my head for the last 72 hours? Somehow, they seem to magically segue into one another, even in the middle of a verse... The songs? Roger Miller's recording of King of the Road; a rendition of Turkey in the Straw with fiddle, accordion, mouth harp, and comb; and - weird - Gracie Slick singing Jefferson Airplane's original White Rabbit. Anyone want to guess why such an odd assortment of songs? (Besides the fact that I'm a little odd, myself....)
On my way to walk Rosie and Remy this morning, once I corral Lovey and Nedi...

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Photos from Today's Pony Swim

Waiting for the Swim to begin

Also waiting for the Swim to begin

Into the water of the Assateague Channel

Swimming

Taking the easy way - foal has chin on mother's rump

Reaching the Chincoteague shore

Time for a milk break!

Taking a breather before going down Main Street

Grab grass while you can..

There isn't any on Main Street.

On the Carnival Grounds, awaiting tomorrow's auction

Chincoteague Ponies Now on Carnival Grounds

Slack tide occurred about 9 a.m. (EDT) this morning, and the US Coast Guard Cutter in the Assateague Channel sent up a red flare. Seeing this, the Saltwater Cowboys of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company began to drive the combined herds of Chincoteague ponies into the Channel, to swim the 1/8 mile of water between the islands. Taking approximately 3 minutes, all of the stallions, mares and foals that swam this year made it across safely. After a rest on the east side of Chincoteague, near Memorial Park, the ponies were then herded down the streets of the island to the Carnival Grounds on south Main Street. The ponies will stay in the pens at the Carnival until Friday morning, when they will swim back to Assateague.
Tomorrow morning, starting at 8 a.m. (EDT), the annual auction of foals will begin. Normally, only foals born this year, and a few yearlings (late arriving foals from last year), are auctioned. Most of the ponies go home with their new families Thursday afternoon or Friday. A few very young foals will return to Assateague with their herds until the fall round-up, when they can be safely weaned from their mothers milk. (Buyers of these foals will have to return in October to take their ponies home.) Some of the ponies will be designated as "buy back" ponies - these are ponies with excellent bloodlines, confirmation, and, sometimes, unusual markings, that the Pony Committee wishes to keep as bloodstock (for breeding purposes). If you purchase a "buy back" pony tomorrow, you can name it and have your photo taken with it, but then it is returned to roam free on Assateague ...

Here are some photos of my favorite foals this year:

This colt is impressive from both sides:

He's from one of the northern herds.

I also like this splashy paint...

I'd take this bay with a star in a heartbeat...

This snazzy colt will probably get a lot of bidding - he'll be dark brown, almost black, with those white splashes

This little heart-breaker will a a dark-tipped tail

Any takers for a chestnut or sorrel?

Besides the nice buckskin and the chestnut paint foal, this palomino pinto is sure to draw heavy bidding, as most children (and grown-ups, too) will say that it's Misty reborn...

Rumors have it that 67 foals will be auctioned off tomorrow....