Chincoteague Pony Swim 2017, Yesterday - Photos

It seems to me that in the past 15 years or so, slack tide between Chincoteague and Assateague Islands for the Pony Swim has occurred between 9:30 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon.  This year slack tide happened at 7 o'clock, in the middle the Coast Guard's predicted time of 6 and 8 a.m.  People were lining up along the fencing of the ashore area and the Chincoteague shore line well before sunrise, and boats, Ski-Dos, kayaks, canoes and paddle boards lined the marked swim lane.
   The ponies left the holding pens on Beach Road in the dark and were herded across Black Duck Drain, along the marsh, and over to the area opposite Pony Swim Lane.  There, they grazed and rested, and a few stallions bickered, until the Coast Guard sent up the red smoke flares indicating slack tide.  The Saltwater Cowboys then drove the herds into the Channel, and two designated boats herded them through the water.
    The first foal to arrive on the Chincoteague shore was a dark chestnut colt with a star, sired by Riptide and the dam is Bay Girl.  He was spotted and then marked with an orange neck cord, and was raffled off as King Neptune in the afternoon.  (Chances were being sold at the swim area in the morning, also.)  After a rest of 45 to 50 minutes, the Cowboys surrounded the herds and paraded them from Pony Swim Lane to the Carnival Grounds on South Main Street.  There the ponies were turned loose to return to their own herds and settle in for 48 hours.
   The Pony Auction began at 8 a.m. this morning.  I'll report on it tomorrow....   Here are a few photos from yesterday:

 

Pony Penning 2017 - Buy-Back Foals Chosen - Photos

During and after today's veterinarian checkup on all of the Chincoteague ponies that belong to the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, the CVFC had the vet mark nine foals with a dye that will wash away.  These foals are the ones that are designated "Buy Back" foals.  You bid on the foal in the regular auction - and all Buy-Backs are announced as they step into the sales area - if you make the highest, winning bid, you pay the full price that you made the bid for, either by a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card, by cash, or by Travelers Checks.  A buy back foal will return to the island and live out the rest of it's natural life living wild on Assateague Island.  You will be able to have your photo taken with the foal once you purchase it, and you also name the foal.  You can visit it, or try to see it, each time you visit the island thereafter - but it will stay running free on Assateague except during the Fall and Spring Round-ups and during the week of Pony Penning.
    This year, seven fillies and two colts have been chosen by the Pony Committee as buy-backs.  They are chosen for their breeding (blood lines), conformation, and markings.   The foals, in order of birth this year are:

Tornado's Legacy - Sweetheart colt     born 13 March 2017

Chief Golden Eagle - Pony Lady's Sweet Surprise filly     born  7 April 2017

Ajax - Dream Catcher filly      born 23 April 2017

Filly, dam, sire

Wild Bill (aka Cinnamon Hologram) - Landrie's Georgia Peach filly

born 26 April 2017

[one of last two foals sired by Wild Bill, the other is JABATTA's colt]

Surfer's Riptide - Leah's Bayside Angel filly     born 29 April 2017

(filly will shed out black or extremely dark bay)

Wild Thing - Thetis colt      born 14 May 2017

Ajax - Miracle's Natural Beauty filly      born 19 May 2017

Maverick - Surfin' Chantel filly      born 21 May 2017

Hoppy (aka Effie's Papa Bear) - Isle Treasure filly      born 14 June 2017