Posts Tagged ‘pony penning
Countdown to Pony Penning
Minnow at the Chincoteague Pony Centre 2009
In 17 days it will be time once again. Time to pack up a culmination of years worth of work (and a very fat pony) and make the trip down to the Eastern Shore for Pony Penning.
I taught Chincoteague Minnow his very first trick in 2005 – never thinking that it would lead to this. I taught him because I wanted to, because I wanted to have fun with him, because I loved him. What happened after that was just luck.
Minnow at the Pony Centre 2008
Luck, because my desire to connect with my pony led us to do something that we both love. When Minnow was diagnosed with Ringbone in 2008 and I found out I would never be able to ride him again I was crushed. As Minnow sat around day after day watching the comings and goings around the farm his eyes got sadder and sadder. I missed my pony and he missed me.
Then, as luck would have it, I was contacted by Kendy Allen from the Chincoteague Pony Centre. She had heard that Minnow (who once resided at the Chincoteague Pony Centre) had learned to paint. She invited me to meet up with her at a small event in PA – demonstrating what Chincoteague Ponies could do at a feed store.
Minnow at Pony Centre 2009
I was excited, Minnow and I now had something to work towards. We spent a few weeks practicing tricks, and readying our “props”. I had no idea what I was doing. We had a collection of tricks – none of which made sense together – and I didn’t know what to expect. But when we showed up and Minnow painted, crowds started to form around him. Little girls and boys wanted to pet him, and parents snapped pictures of him. I was proud and Minnow was happy. Minnow’s eyes sparkled and right then I knew this is what he was born to do.
Impressed with Minnow’s performance Kendy invited us to come down for Pony Penning week. I obliged, but honestly I was scared. What should I bring? What should we do? Will Minnow be too nervous to perform? What if I fail miserably?
I headed down early for the 4th of July weekend with Minnow so we could have a little “warm-up”. I had never been to Chincoteague Island, nor the Pony Centre, and I was only armed with my bag of tricks, and my painting pony. Looking back, I didn’t need to worry, because Minnow performed like he had been doing so for years!
Our first Pony Penning in 2008 was full of excitement. I fell inlove with the breed all over again when I watched the wild ponies make their annual swim. My heart ached for one of the newborn foals, even Minnow nickered at each one that trotted by him at the Pony Centre. Minnow performed all week and loved it.
In 2009 we spent all year learning new tricks, and even developing a skit to debut at Pony Penning 2009. Minnow’s fans returned at the end of July and even I was impressed at all he had learned in a year.
Upon our return home last year Minnow started to get fan mail. Letters, pictures, and even emails poured in. Minnow was igniting a spark in children for a life-long passion in horses, and he was helping adults fulfill their dreams of meeting a Chincoteague Pony.
As we ready ourselves once again for the 2010 Pony Penning I am reminded of all of Minnow’s fans who have helped him to discover his purpose. We have begun getting emails and messages asking if Minnow will be back at the Pony Centre again. I wonder if Minnow knows how much he is loved? Does he know that his paintings bring joy and happiness to people all around the World?
We both look forward to spreading the joy of horses in a few weeks. Hopefully you can join us, and if not, I’m sure a full recap will follow on the blog!
For a schedule of events check out our website.
A Pictorial Life Story of Misty
Recently I just finished reading the book, “A Pictorial Life Story of Misty” by Marguerite Henry, which is a must read for anyone who is a fan of Misty or Chincoteague for that matter. I had a lot of fun learning about Misty’s true life – in fact a lot of things I didn’t even know about her! Along with the wonderful photos of Misty and her friends, it also detailed Misty’s life from the day she met Marguerite Henry, author to the famous children’s book, Misty of Chincoteague.
I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite facts from the book.
– Misty was not born wild on the island of Assateague (as I’m sure many think), her parents (Phantom and Pied Piper) were island bred ponies.
-Misty was purchased from the Beebe’s by Marguerite Henry when she was just a few days old. Since she was too young to leave her mother at the time, the Beebe’s had Misty shipped in a wooden crate no bigger than a dog kennel to Illinois to live with Marguerite.
Misty in her shipping crate
-Misty’s most famous trick was standing on her stool and shaking hands (just like Chincoteague Minnow)
-Misty shared her home at Mole Meadow in Illinois with Friday, a morgan horse, Brighty, a donkey, Alex, a Dachshund, and Mom-cat, the farm cat.
-Alex the Dachshund entertained children with his ability to jump through a hoop, he also enjoyed pony rides on Misty, and had great fun with Mom-cat. (just like Ammo the Dachshund and his cat Cricket)
– Misty attended the American Library Association Convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was allowed to sit in on meetings and even rode the elevator to attend a party in her honor. Misty was the only four footed member of the American Library Association.
Alex the Dachshund and Mom-cat
– Misty had wonderful Birthday parties every year to celebrate her Birthday, July 20th. The children would get out of school, and the whole town would congregate to see Misty.
– Marguerite sadly returned Misty to Chincoteague (and the Beebe ranch) to have her foal, a promise she had made to Grandpa Beebe when she purchased Misty as a foal.
– Misty’s first foal was dubbed Wisp O’ Mist when the winning name was picked out of the many children that entered the contest to name Misty’s foal.
Misty shakes hands with Marguerite Henry
– When Misty was in foal to her third baby, a terrible storm swept over Chincoteague. Misty was pulled inside the Beebe’s house to help her weather the storm, as everyone evacuated the island. Homes were destroyed the the town was left in rubble. Misty survived the storm and soon after had her third and final foal, Stormy.
-As Chincoteague Island tried to recover from the storm Misty became a source of hope. She made appearances with her new colt to raise money so that the island could thrive again. Its because of Misty that the tradition of Pony Penning
All photos are from “A pictorial life story of misty”
Whiffle Ball Pro
So I promised there would be some more fun tricks as well as amazing tricks this year. I consider everything the ponies learn fun, but learning a new trick that makes people laugh is always the best.
Like I said, Minnow is the master at object manipulation. I can hand him anything and he just does the most amazing things with it! Most of the time I just grab random objects to place in front of him and just wait to see what he will come up with on his own. This was the case on Monday.
I was trying to think of something new to teach Minnow, so we ended up just wandering aimlessly around the arena. I was pulling random things out of our equipment shed, handing them to Minnow, and just waiting to see what he would do. When Minnow gets into “trick mode” he’s hilarious. He almost goes a little crazy trying to come up with something exciting in order to get a treat. He was lifting alternating legs, shaking his head no, and backing up all at the same time. It makes me giggle just thinking about it.
So finally out of the shed popped something Minnow thought he could use, a whiffle ball bat. He immediately took it in his mouth and started swinging it around. The light bulb in my head went off and I grabbed a cone and a ball for him to swing at. A few seconds later and he was tapping the ball off the cone with the end of his bat. The cutest part was that if he missed the ball with the bat, he would then proceed to knock it off the cone with his nose. Gotta love a pony that just has to complete the skill.
Painting Pony Website Has New Look!
After months and months of hard work, mostly on my husband’s part, we have finally launched the new Painting Pony Website. The old website was outdated and drab, mostly because it was the product of my tinkering and teaching myself how to design a website on my own. And while I WAS thoroughly impressed with myself and my ability to at least create a functional website, it wasn’t a true representation of Painting Pony.
Painting Pony needed a brighter look that was playful and fun, just like the ponies. I also envisioned a beach-ier feel, after all the ponies do hail from an island, and I wanted the website to have more information about Misty of Chincoteague.
Enter my graphic designer husband. He unknowingly agreed to design me a new site, probably not realizing it would take up most of his free time for the next 6 months. He deserves a big pat on the back for putting up with all my changes and stipulations. I promised him the ponies would sell more paintings so I can take him out to dinner to celebrate!
So to help kick off the launch of the new website I’m offering a FREE 5×7 mini painting with EVERY purchase. Makes a great gift for your favorite horse lover, or simply keep it for yourself! Enter the coupon code NEWWEB in the notes to seller section during check out to get your free gift. This offer will expire on May 31, 2010.
May Paintings
On May 3rd the boys and I were able to paint again. Most of the new paintings created in April sold already, so it was due time to create some new works. I was even able to help Boomerang create two of his first paintings available on canvas. They turned out beautiful! Check out the new paintings below.
"Misty Dreams over Chincoteague by Chincoteague Minnow
"Spring Roundup" by Chesapeake Boomerang
"Waves of the Eastern Shore" by Chesapeake Lightning
"The Littlest Chincoteague" by Chesapeake Boomerang
So what do you think? Do you have a favorite? I think my favorite might have to be “Misty Dreams”, but I do love them all!
As always, don’t forget that we donate 10% of all canvas sales to the Chincoteague Pony Association to help care for the wild ponies on Assateague Island. Many don’t realize, but the volunteer fire department cares for the wild ponies all year round. Dropping hay on the island in the winter, giving inoculations and vet checks in the spring, and just generally making sure the Chincoteague Pony population survives on the island. Painting Pony is proud to support their efforts.
