Chincoteague
‘Tis The Season To Give
Chincoteague Minnow - Head Painter
Since 2007 Chincoteague Minnow has been creating paintings. What started off as a fun project to do with my spunky little Chincoteague Pony turned into a way to give back to my community and evolved into not just one painting pony, but a herd of painting ponies. Since Minnow’s very first painting was created I have been donating some of his profits to some of my favorite Charities. This year we raised enough money to donate $150 to the Chincoteague Pony Association. All proceeds generated by the Chincoteague Pony Association goes directly to the care, maintenance, and support of the wild ponies of Assateague Island, VA for items such as – Feeding, Veterinary Bills, Farriers, Inoculations, etc. The wild ponies of Assateague have been on the island for over 300 years, and my very own Chincoteague Minnow was born on the island in 1993. I choose to donate to this organization because they use the money to help continue on a 300 year old legacy and preserve a breed that likely would have otherwise been extinct. Each year volunteers from the Chincoteague Fire Company visit the island to provide medical care to ponies in need, they also provide hay for the ponies when food is scarce and they bore holes in the ice so that the ponies have water to drink in freezing conditions.
Myself and Minnow with one of his paintings
I am thankful for those who care enough for this wild and ancient breed to donate their time to keep them happy and healthy. It warms my heart to know that Minnow (and the other trick ponies’) works of art can go towards helping their own kind, and their wild ancestors.
This year I have also decided to donate to one of my local animal shelters, Main Line Animal Rescue. Rescues are extra special to me, because Chincoteague Minnow was once a victim of irresponsible horse care. It took me a long time to regain his trust again, and I am thankful everyday that there are those out there that rescue and give love to animals just like Minnow.
To raise money for the Main Line Animal Rescue Minnow painted 2 Holiday Christmas Ornaments on November 29th. We will be giving away these ornaments on the blog to whomever bids the highest. 100% of the sales will be donated to the Main Line Animal Rescue.
In order to be the highest bidder simply comment on this post with how much you are willing to donate. The two highest bidders will each get one of Minnow’s custom painted Christmas Ornaments along with a 4×6 photo of Minnow painting. So get into the Holiday Spirit – help a worthy charity – and get something unique for your holiday tree!
"horse-painted" ornaments by Chincoteague Minnow
HOW TO WIN:
Comment: Place a comment on this post with the total amount that you are willing to donate. You may comment as many times as you like – your highest bid will be used in the contest.
Prize: The two highest bidders will each receive a custom ORIGINAL painted glass Christmas Ornament by Chincoteague Minnow along with a 4×6 photo of Minnow painting. Payment will be accepted by paypal at the close of the contest.
Deadline: The deadline to bid is December 12th at 10am EST
100% of the sale of Minnow’s Holiday Christmas Ornaments will be donated to the Main Line Animal Rescue.
Don’t forget that there are lots of great paintings still available in the Ponies online shop. With each purchase you are helping to raise money to help feed and care for the wild ponies of Assateague Island. Several new paintings will be going up for sale soon!
-KD & The Trick Ponies
www.ponypaintings.com
A Death in the Misty Line
Smoke ‘N Mist – a descendant of the late Misty of Chincoteague – (Tuffer Than Leather x Misty’s Desert Sun) passed away suddenly on October 25th of a very rare non-genetic heart condition. Smokey’s eulogy written by his owner Kendy Allen can be found on his page: http://www.mistysheaven.com/smokenmist.html
(May 24 – October 25, 2009)
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
excerpt taken from Misty’s Heaven
Sunshine on this Cloudy Day
Day 2 of the Nor’easter here in Eastern Pa. Its not really riding weather and the Trick Ponies have been a bit chilly during this sudden change in weather – but have no fear, they are bundled up in the barn keeping warm. But there is some sunshine on this very dreary day.
Minnow has received another fan letter today. It always makes me so happy to receive letters from people who have met and fallen in love with Minnow just like I have. My whole goal in traveling, performing and painting with Minnow is to be able to touch people. Perhaps Minnow will spark a lifelong love of horses in a child or even just brighten someone’s day. As I’ve said before, what I do with Minnow and the other trick ponies has never been about making money. Its always been about spreading the joy of horses, Chincoteague Ponies something special. Horses are amazing creatures and sometimes we get lost in the need to pursue a goal instead of just having fun with them. I hope that when people watch Minnow and I perform they can see how much fun we are having together, and how much Minnow enjoys it. He wouldn’t stand by my side if he didn’t love it.
So when I received this letter today it really touched me. I’d like to share some of it with you.
Its hard to believe that Pony Swim has been 3 months ago. As a first time visitor to Chincoteague, and a 50 year old fan of “Misty” I can’t find words to express what a delight the Pony Show was. Minnow (and you) ruled! The show was the highlight of the week, hands down!
A strange thing happened on this vacation. Its the first joy I experienced since my husband passed away a year ago. I felt his spirit so close in Chincoteague (we had planned an anniversary trip someday). Its as if I left part of my heart there. I shall return next year.
Minnow’s painting that I brought home, “All the Pretty Horses of Chincoteague” has caused quite a buzz around here – especially with the children. It is like a rainbow that shines in my life every day.
I think thats one of the best letters I’ve ever gotten! I could have never imagined that Minnow would touch so many people’s lives. It seems that Minnow really has found his calling – he may have been an exceptional mounted games pony back in the day- but I think that he was always meant to be a trick pony. It makes me so happy that I get to be the one to share this with him. Minnow could have ended up anywhere in the world, but I was the lucky one to have him fall into my lap. To think that at one point in his life Minnow was an unwanted/neglected pony living in a forgotten pasture. Now he’s King of the Barn and my best friend. Tonight he will get a very big hug from his #1 fan, me!
Fan Mail
Chincoteague Minnow recieved his first fan mail letter today. I have to say it put a big smile on my face to know that people are really enjoying Minnow’s artwork.
I bought a picture your pony, Minnow, painted at the pony show on Tuesday, July 28th at the 8pm show! The painting is great! I ended up giving it to my nieces because I couldn’t buy them their own pony, so I got them the next best thing! (haha) They really love it!
It was then requested that I kindly sign a newspaper cliping of an article that Minnow and I had published in the Chincoteague, VA paper 2 weeks ago, and mail it back. Of course I was happy to ablige!
This simple little letter really has brightened my day, because I know that Minnow’s paintings are out there, scattered all over the country, putting smiles on people’s faces. I was asked in a newspaper interview last month, if Minnow were to leave behind a legacy, what would it be? I’d like to change my original answer now. I’d hope that Minnow’s legacy would be that he was able to touch each and every person that either owns one of his paintings or has seen Minnow paint/perform. I hope that he’s able to put the sparkle of a life-long love of horses and Chincoteague Ponies in a child’s eyes.
Big kisses to my Chincoteague Minnow today!
Brothers?
So last week I talked about the famous 1992 Stallion on Assateague Island known as Surfer Dude. I also mentioned the fact that I’m chosing to believe in my own fantsy world that Surfer Dude is either a full or half brother to my own 1993 Chincoteague Minnow. To support my theory, I dug out some old photos of Minnow to compare against the ones I took of Surfer Dude this year. So have a look for yourself why I think that the two boys must be related!
Chincoteague Minnow
Surfer Dude
Both ponies have a similar blaze on their face, and their snips are almost identical.
Chincoteague Minnow
Surfer Dude
The neck on both ponies is MASSIVE – although short.
Chincoteague Minnow
Surfer Dude
Both Ponies also have a similar build. Large head and body, but short legs. They are also around the same height, 13.1 hands.
Chincoteague Minnow
Surfer Dude
I was able to find out that Surfer Dude’s Sire is Broken Jaw (my guess is he had a broken Jaw).
So thus is my comparisons and why I believe that they are of similar lineage. I guess I’ll never know for sure, unless I find someone that remembers my colt from the 1993 swim and can perhaps shed light on his bloodlines. Until then this is my best guess!
