Island Colonial Mustangs: Chincoteague Ponies And Pony Penning Challenge Painting #149

When I was doing research for tonight's blog I found a really cool video that could tell you everything you want to know about Chincoteague Ponies and the Annual Pony Penning. It was produced by the Thoroughbred Racing Net work and The Volunteer Fire Department in Chincoteague Virginia.  The video is about 24 minutes long and well worth the information contained in it. You can see it here: http://www.chincoteague.com/ponyswimvideo.html

"Biding Their Time"
Two Chincoteague pony mares heavy in foal graze with a two year old
on the sand dunes of Assagteague Island, Virginia
8 by 10 inch Waterolor
$200.00
by Linda L Marin, Artist

This year the Auction will take place on Thursday July 28th. Over 50,000 people will be on the Island of Chincoteague for the week of carnival and pony penning leading up to the auction.  But don't expect to find a hotel room at the last minute. Most accommodations are booked up In January or February preceding the Summer's activities.

I think the Chicoteague ponies are some of the best managed wild horses in the country. They are fenced off from tourists on the National Sea Shore to protect the horses. Round ups are done twice a year. Horses that are old  or barren mares are gathered, given medical care as needed then released back into the wild until then next round up and are not part of the swim.  Horses that are too young to make the swim or if a mare is weak  after foaling they are treated to a trailer ride to the pony penning sight. Each "pony" is treated as though it is unique, special and highly valued. Everyone of the Animals has a name.

Horses that are old and no longer breeding sound are replaced by buy back foals and retired from the herd on Assateague Island to  live on Chincoteague in the care of the Fire Department or special pony foster care. 

 And something I didn't know is that the horses are rounded up not once a year but twice a year for routine medical care and to wean late foals.

To read more about the Chincoteague Ponies of Assateague Island  go to  http://www.chincoteague.com/ponies.html

Just a side note:
For those of you who keep up with such things. The auctioneer for the Chincoteague Pony Auction, Tim  Jennings, is the brother to the director of Teens Opposing Poverty.org. If you will remember I did a special fundraising painting for that organization which is now on Tour through out the State of Virginia and will be auctioned off sometime in 2012.

Reference photos for this painting are by Artist Jean Walter who spends a few weeks on on Chincoteague each year.