Chincoteague
Trick Pony Friends
I’ve discussed most of the happenings at Pony Penning 2009, and as the week of re-caps is now coming to an end, I figured I’d go over the last few things about our trip to Chincoteague Island. Minnow attended the Pony Center shows as a guest Trick Pony, but did you know that the Chincoteague Pony Center is already home to another talented trick pony? Thats right, Teaguer, official mascot of the Chincoteague Pony Center, had to take a week long vacation from his tricks while Minnow was visiting. But, I was lucky enough to be able to watch his adorable skit, even if he didn’t perform it during the shows that week. Watch our special viewing below.
Talented Bowing foals at the Pony Center
Not only is the Chincoteague Pony Center a place to go to watch performances of what the amazing Chincoteague Pony breed can do, but its also a place to buy foals. Now these foals aren’t wild born like the Assateague Ponies, they are instead bred in captivity, many of which have parents that started off life on the island as a wild pony. There can be great benefits to buying a foal that has already been handled since birth – it can be a lot easier to train. Anyway, I was able to get some photos of some of the foals at the Center, many of which have already sold and will go to new homes as soon as they are able to be weaned from their moms.
Once of the foals, Calypso Blue, is actually a half brother to my own Boomerang and Blitz. All 3 ponies share the same father, Chesapeake Powhattan’s Promise. In getting to watch this foal, I can tell he’s related to my boys – he’s got the same quirky personality and facial expressions. This foal has already been sold, and I’m sure whoever bought him will be taking home a very special baby.
Calypso Blue, half brother to Boomer and Blitz
And finally, who can forget the imfamous Misty of Chincoteague. Thats right, I even got to visit with Misty (and her last foal, Stormy). The stuffed versions of them that is. Now I know a lot of people are thrilled that they can still visit with the horse that made the book “Misty of Chincoteague” so famous, but is it just me, or are they just totally creepy? I don’t know about you, but as much as I LOVE Minnow, I definitely don’t think I would ever want to have him stuffed and displayed in my living room. Talk about nightmares! But either way, Misty and Stormy are on display at the Beebe Ranch for all to see.
Stuffed Misty of Chincoteague
Stuffed Stormy
So thus completes my trip to Chincoteague with Minnow. We had a wonderful time, and we’re very hopeful to return next year for Pony Penning 2010.
For more photos from the week please visit www.greenhorsestudios.com
The Auction – Pony Penning 2009
So yesterday I talked about the Chincoteague Pony Swim which was part of Pony Penning 2009, but there is another element to this annual event. The Auction! For days before the swim people line the auction arena with chairs, many tied together with reserved seating signs in the hopes of gaining front row access to the event. Some come for the pure enjoyment to watch the ponies being paraded into the spotlight, while others have the agenda of buying a foal. I wish I was the latter of the two, but sadly it will be several years before I can afford to add another Chincoteague to my brood.
Nightmist Legend and Tommie Turvey
The auction begins early on Thursday morning with opening announcement and performances by local equine groups. This year the Beebe Ranch and NightMist Legend made an appearance. Nightmist Legend is the son to the late Nightmist who died earlier this year due to complications of colic. It is clamied that Nightmist was one of the last living direct decendents of Misty of Chincoteague. Nightmist Legend is owned by Mike Pryor of Pennsylvania and is now being trained by the famous Tommie Turvey as well as several other trainers. Tommie Turvey is known as the equine etremeist as he trains horses to perform tricks as well as roman riding, he even trains horses for movies (a local gypsy vanner farm in my area is having Tommie train their horses for an upcoming movie to be filmed next summer). I have been following Tommie’s training methods some this year, as I now own several of his dvds. I still prefer to clicker train my horses, but some of his techniques are useful to combine with my method of clicker training. I had the privledge of talking with Tommie at the Beebe Ranch during my trip and I even invited him to come to my performance at the Chincoteague Pony Centre, but sadly he didn’t seem able to make it. But anyway, below is a clip of Tommie working with Nightmist Legend at the Auction. I believe the horse has only been in training for a few months, so I’m sure with further training by Tommie he will be a master of tricks!
Next up to perform were my friends at the Chincoteague Pony Center, and the world famous Chincoteague Pony Drill Team. I have never seen them perform in person, and I thought it was great! Some of the patterns they did in their drill were really complex – gave me chills! Anyway you can watch for yourself below!
Now on to the main event! The Pony auction! It really is quite a show, a group of two men bring out a feisty wild foal and parade it around the ring for all to see while the auctioneer does his thing. Some they have to muscle as the foals rear up and buck, but most of the time the foal quickly subsides to being led around. Its very humane I think, much better than being roped or let to race around an arena at the risk of spectators and the foals. The excitement lasts for several hours until all foals are either purchased or bought as buy-back foals to be sent back to the island. The foals are then penned up for the night to rest until they either make long journeys to their new homes on friday or are sent back to the island with their herds. Many that are too young to leave their mothers are sent back to the island as fall pickups and will be ready for their new homes come October.
All of the auction fun makes me dream of the day that I can take home a foal. Yes, I do have 3 very wonderful Chincoteague Ponies at home, but I dream of the day that I can train a foal from the beginning. I just know we will create a very special bond together. Several lucky children this year had their dream of owning a foal come true with the help of the feather fund, an organization that chooses children each year that they will help to buy a foal. You can read all about them on their website.
more photos of the auction can be see at www.greenhorsestudios.com
Braving the Swamp – 2009 Pony Swim
Specators brave the swamp for the 2009 Pony Swim
So the main event involved with Pony Penning is the Chincoteague Pony Swim across the channel. Specators wake up early to get a front row seat to this exciting event that only lasts a few minutes. Many wade through the swamp and muck and stand for hours with cameras posed waiting for the coast guard to set off his flare that signals the start of the swim. Last year was the first time I attended the swim, and after waking up at 4am, wading the swamp, and standing for four hours while crabs nibbled at my feet just to see the ponies cross the water, you may be thinking….did I dare do it again this year? Heck yes I did! And it was just as awesome the second time!
The salwater cowboys make their way through the swamp
This year though, I decided not to wake up at the crack of dawn. Instead I woke up around 7am, stopped by the Pony Center to feed and check on Minnow, and then proceeded on to the swim site with my mom around 7:30am. We walked a few blocks to Pony Swim Lane (where the horses come ashore) and then proceeded to treck across the swamp to the landing area. And when I say swamp, I mean swamp. You sometimes fall in the muddy, mucky water up to your knees and you better wear sneakers because the crabs are all around ready to prey on unsuspecting victims. So after braving the swamp I was able to squeeze my way under the food bridge for a pretty good spot to view the swim. Luckily I have a telephoto lense on my camera, so even though I had to stand behind several people I was still able to get some nice shots.
2009 Chincoteague Pony Swim
Seeing the ponies cross the water is such a beautiful site to me. I invision Minnow as a tiny foal braving the water to come ashore. I so wish I could have been there in 1993 when he was a tiny little thing. I believe he was one of the smallest of the herd that year (hence the name Chincoteague Minnow).
Surfer Dude 1992 Stallion
Anyway so with the herd ashore I had no time zeroing in on my favorite stallion, Surfer Dude. He is the favorite to many with his stunning silver dapple coat color and his blonde mane and tail. I’m lucky to own a Sufer Dude grandson, Boomerang. I have developed this theory that Minnow and Surfer Dude are full bothers. Surfer Dude being a 1992 buy-back foal and Minnow being born a year later in 1993 its certainly plausable. Both boys have the same build and body type, and their matching muscle necks are unmistakable! So since there is no way for me to know who Minnow’s dam and sire are, because they didn’t start keeping accurate records until 1994, I have determined in my own little fantsy world that Minnow and Surfer Dude are full brothers! 🙂
Riptide looks for his mom
So as I watched the combined herds grazing on shore I notice a lively colt making his way through the crowd, obviously looking for his mom. As he got closer, my mouth dropped, Surfer Dude had a look-alike son! This stunning cold dawned his father’s blonde locks and silver dapple coat as well as a beautiful blaze. I was in love! I watched as Surfer’s son found his mother, a chestnut named Southern Belle, and the pair stuck close to Surfer Dude’s side. Now I know I was not the only one with eyes for the Surfer Dude colt, as word quickly spread around the island of the new beauty. “Surfer Dude’s Riptide” as he was later named ended up fetching the highest price tag at the auction as a last minute buy-back (meaning he would never have to leave the island again) of $11,700. Yeah I definitely didn’t have that in pocket change. But the good news is that Riptide returned to the island. Which means in a few years he will be producing beautiful foals just like his predessesor father, Surfer Dude. Which also means that possibly in 4-5 years I may have the chance to buy a Riptide colt! (I say colt because I’ve never been good with mares/fillies). That news is very exciting to me, I think Riptide will be sure to produce some wonderful offspring and I hope that I maybe one day I will own one of them!
Riptide finds his mother, Southern Belle
To see all of my photos from the swim and auction visit www.greenhorsestudios.com
Surfer Dude's Riptide
"Passing of the Torch" Father, Son, Mom
Minnow in the News
Yesterday afternoon Chincoteague Minnow and I arrived in Chincoteague, Virginia. We’re to spend all week of the 2009 Pony Penning performing at the Chincoteague Pony Center. Upon arriving I found an article about Minnow and I in the Chinctoeague Beach Comber. You can tell that they pulled excerpts from my local paper in Pennsylvania (apparently I still attended the Univesity of Delaware instead of Kutztown University). Oh well, any press is good press!
So Minnow and I were scheduled to do our first performance at 4pm yesterday at the Pony Center. A horrific thunderstorm loomed through the area with lightning and thunder on top of us. Being that the show requires the Pony Center workers to bring horses in and out of the ring from outside, it was too dangerous to do so in the lightning. So we adlibbed a little – having Minnow start the show with his painting. Minnow was a bit nervous as the flash of the crowds cameras reminded him of lightning. But he eventually settled enough to create a wonderful painting called “Chincoteague Light Storm” which was sold to the highest bidder. As the storm was not passing we improvised on the show and I brought Minnow back in the ring to perform his tricks. We very poorly mad it through his act, as he was still very shaken up by the storm brewing outside. I was proud of him though, it took a lot for him to even do the few tricks that he managed.
We ended up having to cancel the 8pm show due to more storms approaching, but hopefully tonight we will be back on schedule.
I may not be able to post updates on Minnow’s trip each day, but be sure to follow us on Twitter @trickponies for the most current updates on our trip.
(sorry for the lack of photos in this post – we’re having technical issues with spotty hotel internet connection!)
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
Sharing the Gift
Next Monday I leave for Chincoteague Island, Virginia – with my best friend, Chincoteague Minnow, in tow! I’ve been looking forward to this trip all year. Minnow and I will spend our evenings doing 2 shows each night at the Chincoteague Pony Centre. Now this is my kind of vacation!
You may be thinking, vacation? sounds more like work. Well it sorta is, but thats what I love about it. I like that I’ll have something to do, and my favorite thing about the whole experience is that I get to watch people enjoying my pony. I love to see Minnow bring a smile to a young child’s face. I love the fact that he might start the spark of a life-long obsession in horses for some lucky kid. Afterall thats what happened to me!
Minnow has a special gift and I am greatful that I am able to be the one to help him share his gift with the world. Its never been about making money (although I do sell his paintings for a profit – more out of neccesity). For me it has always been about sharing the joy of horses with others.
Horses have been a part of my life since the day I was born. I was lucky to have a mom that was also passionate about our large equine friends. I am greatful everyday that I have grown up and been able to learn from some of the most amazing equines.
So now is your chance to experience Minnow’s gift! Stop by the Chincoteague Pony Centre all next week to visit Minnow and I! (sadly my Dachshund, Ammo, will not be tagging along).
To celebrate our upcoming trip I’d like to share two articles about my friends at the Chincoteague Pony Centre:
Horses, Like People, Have Their Bad Days
Chincoteague Pony Drill Team Makes it Look Easy
My favorite part in the Drill Team article is a quote given by the Pony Centre Manager, Kendy Allen:
Mrs. Allen can easily relate to these feelings. You cannot spend time with her and fail to see that as much of a business as pony centre operations have become, her goals go far beyond the commercial undertaking.
Hope to see you all soon at the Pony Centre!
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
