Posts Tagged ‘misty of chincoteague
Blizzard Number 2
Ammo looks longingly at what used to be his yard
Yes, 5 days later and Eastern Pa finds itself in another massive Blizzard. We already had 24″ of snow, now we’re at an additional 20″ and its still snowing outside. Thats a lot of snow. But the good news is I got another snowday. The shop is closed, but the ponies must still be fed. I made the treacherous journey out to the farm with my parents and husband and we were able to get the horses out for a few hours. The bad news is we lost power while we were out there. So needless to say the automatic waterers my dad had installed in all the stalls were not going to function. So we were resourceful and filled water buckets with snow hoping it would melt into drinking water until power is restored. We generously hayed all of the horses and tucked them in for the night at 1pm – hoping they could make it until our return tomorrow morning, whenever that may be.
Not sure what tomorrow will entail, hopefully I can dig myself out. And I am shocked to see they are predicting that we may be getting MORE snow on Monday. I’m starting to think we’re entering into the ice age.
But despite this bout of bad weather, I do still enjoy the snow – maybe I’m crazy. Get back to me after a few more weeks of more snow and maybe I will have changed my mind.
So for your viewing pleasure….here are some of my snowday photos:
Ammo is thrilled to wake up and find more snow outside
Blitz struts his stuff in the snow
Boomerang is only concerned with what yummy treats await him outside
Blitz
Minnow bounds through the snow
Chincoteague Minnow
Iron Horse Farm
My husband, Mike, giving my dad a thumbs up for good work
My dad and his trusty "snowplow"
Ammo begging to be let outside
Ammo convinced there are badgers hiding in the snow
Alex of Jandelo
Meet Alex of Jandelo, Misty of Chincoteague’s trusty Dachshund side-kick. It seems as if all the great Chincoteague ponies have Dachshund side-kicks! Alex’s likeness was even featured on the cover of “Wagging Tales” – an album of dogs by author Marguerite Henry.
A friend sent me a link to photos of Misty of Chincoteague that appeared in LIFE magazine, June 10, 1957. The photos were taken as Misty was loading up and leaving her Illinois home as Author and owner, Marguerite Henry, said good bye. Misty was headed to Chincoteague in order to have her colt.
Of course I was immediately drawn to the photos of Misty and her pal Alex, as it reminds me so much of the special friendship that my own Chincoteague Minnow and Ammo the Dachshund share. (and just to be clear I did not become a Dachshund owner because of Misty – purely a coincidence). 
As I leafed through all of the LIFE magazine photos I fantasized how neat it would be to recreate many of Misty’s old photographs with Minnow (and Ammo too) for a book. Although when I showed my husband the photos of Misty inside of Marguerite Henry’s house (she apparently was only allowed in on Holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas) – he didn’t seem to like my idea of recreating the photos so much!
Anyway, enjoy these photos of Misty and Alex (with a few of Ammo and Minnow thrown in there too).
For more Misty of Chincoteague fun check out my post on the similarities that Misty and Minnow share!
Photos from LIFE Magazine
Chincoteague Minnow and Ammo the Dachshund
Why Chincoteague Ponies?
Stuffed Misty of Chincoteague
True, as a child I read the book, Misty of Chincoteague, but I did not “want” a Chincoteague Pony. I don’t think I ever really thought to be that specific – other than just wanting a pony. In fact, I really didn’t know much about the breed until 2008. So you may be wondering then, why do I now own 3 Chincoteague Ponies?
Chincoteague Minnow is why. He appeared into my life (sort of by chance) one Summer day in 2003. I didn’t know then, but I would soon fall in love with him and his breed – if only because I am constantly seeking his “mythical” clone.
In 2008 when I learned that my beloved Minnow would have to be retired from all strenuous activity (mainly riding) I suddenly had the desire to know all there was to know about Chincoteague Ponies. I began combing online horse ads, articles, and stories – anything related to the Chincoteague Ponies. I think in a way it was how I grieved about losing something I shared with Minnow. Maybe I thought in finding a replacement just like him that I wouldn’t have to ride “just another pony” – it would be special again, like it was with Minnow. I knew deep down that there would never be another Minnow and probably I would spend the rest of my life searching for a connection like he and I share…but I searched anyway.
I attended my first Chincoteague Pony Penning in 2008 and by then I was utterly hooked on the breed. There is just something magical about the Chincoteague Ponies. I watched little girls beam as their parents placed bids on foals for them. I watched as the Saltwater Cowboys mingled safely among a docile herd of “wild” ponies AND Stallions. I watched as young foals instantly bonded with their new “people”, ready to start a new journey in life.
Blitz and Boomer watch as Minnow paints
That summer I brought home 2 Chincoteague Ponies, Chesapeake Lightning aka Blitz and Chesapeake Boomerang aka Boomer. They paled in comparison to my Minnow – but they were Chincoteague Ponies, and there was something special about them too. They have the same look in their eyes, the wanting to learn, the wanting to please, but no matter how hard they try to be truly connected to me, my pony will always be Minnow. Its because of him that I will now always hold a connection to the Chincoteague Ponies.
Every few weeks I plug “Chincoteague Pony” into the online horse classifieds. I really don’t know what I hope to find, I just have to look. I don’t need or want another Chincoteague Pony right now, but I search anyway. Maybe I’m hoping Minnow’s long lost twin brother is on there – his brother that I can ride. I miss galloping the fields with Minnow, I miss competing infront of thousands of spectators, I miss taking him to clinics – I just miss riding him. Minnow is still very much a part of my life but each of us is just missing a little piece. Ok, well maybe I can’t speak for him – he probably enjoys being “parked”, but I miss it.
Anyway, I got a little off topic there…..Minnow is very much the main reason I have fallen in love with the Chincoteague Ponies, if he had been a Welsh pony – I probably would have fallen in love with that breed instead. But the more research I did on the breed, the deeper I fell in love. Not only are they hardy and practically live off of air, but they build bonds with their people like a Labrador Retriever would (even the wild-born ones), they are easy to train (as far as horses go), they are relatively rare, they are colorful, and they seem to adapt well to nearly every equestrian discipline. To me they have just encompassed the overall package in a horse. I have yet to meet a Chincoteague Pony that didn’t hold the “lap dog” type personality, they genuinely just love people. They certainly aren’t for everyone – if you want an Olympic Show Jumper, the Chincoteague Pony probably won’t cut it….but I bet they would try if you asked.
So in conclusion (after my very long and draw-out/slightly off topic post) these are some of the MANY MANY reasons why I have chosen Chincoteague Ponies as my breed of choice.
If you’re looking for more information on Chincoteague Ponies you can check out these websites:
Chincoteague Pony Association
Misty’s Heaven
Chincoteague Pony on Wikipedia
The Colorful Chincoteague
Minnow of Chincoteague
Most of us grew up with the story “Misty of Chincoteague” by Marguerite Henry – myself included. Last year I took my first trip to Chincoteague (and pony penning) where I got my first inside look at the legacy that is Misty. Some have told me that my very own Minnow bears striking resemblance to Misty, not so much in appearance (well they do have some similar markings), but in personality. Perhaps Minnow is destined to continue Misty’s legacy. An interesting fact is Stormy, Misty’s last foal and most famous, passed away in 1993 – the same year that Minnow was born on Assateague Island.
Misty shakes hands with Marguerite Henry
Minnow shakes hands with Me
I’ve also learned that Marguerite Henry owned a Dachshund named Alex, that loved Misty and the donkey that lived with her, Brighty. So that being said, check out these videos of Minnow and my Dachshund, Ammo.
Chincoteague Minnow will be returing to Chincoteague Island this year to perform at the Chincoteague Pony Centre. Be sure to catch his performances nightly during Pony Penning!
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
