Posts Tagged ‘trick pony
My Favorite Chincoteague Links
I’ve decided that what will get me past my winter blues is thinking about the Summer ahead. In particular, my yearly trip to Chincoteague Island. This will be the third year that I attend with Chincoteague Minnow to paint and perform at the Chincoteague Pony Centre. I look forward to this every year and we start planning months in advance. So to sort of get my out of my funk, I’ve decided to post some of my favorite Chincoteague Pony and Misty of Chincoteague links. So check them out, and if you’ve never been to the magic that is the Chincoteague Pony Penning….maybe this is your year to go!
Pony Paintings
The website for the Trick Ponies of Chincoteague and an outlet for their creative endeavors. See videos, photos, and shop for paintings. Discover the magic of Chincoteague Ponies!
The Colorful Chincoteague
This website details all of the wide array of coat colors that Chincoteague ponies can come in. Run by fellow pony enthusiast, Amanda Geci, this website even features some of the Trick Ponies of Chincoteague. Chincoteague Minnow is under the Tobiano link and Chesapeake Lightning is under the Sabino link.
Misty’s Heaven
Everything you ever wanted to know about Misty of Chincoteague! This website is run by Matt DesJardins and Amanda Geci, and it is evident by their website that they really are Chincoteague Pony Lovers. Misty’s Heaven documents Misty’s life as well as the Misty Family Ponies and bloodlines. Be sure to check out the Misty’s Heaven Blog too!
The Chincoteague Pony Association
A must for any Chincoteague Pony lover. Registering your Chincoteague pony helps to keep track of all the ponies that left the island. The money they earn also goes to help feed and care for the wild ponies of Assateague Island. All three of the trick ponies are registered with the Chincoteague Pony Associations, we also make yearly donations to help their cause.
Thousand Welcomes Farm
A Chincoteague Pony Breeding farm located in Chapel Hill, NC. This is also where my own Blitz and Boomer were bred and raised. A wonderful family run farm that produces an excellent herd of ponies, I highly recommend if you are on the market for a new pony.
The Feather Fund
A wonderful non-profit group that continues the work of Carollyn Suplee by helping deserving children to purchase their very of own Chincoteague Pony. I think its a wonderful organization that brings the magic of the Chincoteague Ponies into a child’s home.
The Chincoteague Pony Centre
The oldest established breeder of Misty Family Ponies, also the once home to Chincoteague Minnow. During the summer season they put on a wonderful pony show at the Pony Centre, Minnow also performs here during Pony Penning week. They also have a gift shop and during the summer months the foals can be seen playing outfront. During the off season the ponies reside off the island on the Allen Family Farm.
Winter Blues
Iron Horse Farm
I disappeared for a little while. Honestly I’ve got a case of the winter blues and I’ve sort of been hiding out inside instead of the farm. Instead of hanging around after my daily barn chores to play with the ponies I’ve been hightailing it home to get a cup of hot chocolate. I’m ready for summer – but as I look at our weather forecasts dotted with snow, I’m starting to think its never going to come. I knew I’d regret my love of snow and snowdays eventually.
But I’m going to have to start riding again soon. I have a show I plan to take Boomerang (and maybe Blitz) to on March 28th…which doesn’t leave me much time to get him back in shape after 3 months off. Perhaps I will start this weekend…if I can get a ride to the farm! My husband’s car broke down on the highway only for us to find out his 2002 Toyota Corolla needs a whole new engine. Poof, there goes the fund for getting me a new truck to pull the horse trailer. Guess I will have to wait a little longer, hopefully my Tahoe can hang in there a few more months.
So anyway since I’ve been neglecting the blog I’m going to do another post today…..so check back to see what is in store!
Happy Valentines Day
Valentines Day – you either love it or you hate it, but if you are like me, you know that no matter what day it is the love of your furry companions will always be there. They love you unconditionally and always stand by your side. I’m thankful that I have always been able to have my animals in my life. From the guinea pigs I played dress up with as a kid to the white rat my dad found in our basement and let us keep as a pet….I have loved them all. So here’s my little tribute to the ones that always love us back. Happy Valentines Day!
2008 Trooper and Ammo - best friends forever
2008 Trooper and Ammo
1999 My little sister and Oopsie Daisy
2007 Me and Minnow
2006 Kissing Minnow
2004 The late Big Jack Attack playing dress-up for me
2004 Nitro always knows how to make me laugh
2003 Me and the Late Oopsie Daisy
2008 Me with Minnow and Blitz
2009 Ammo and Minnow
2009 Boomer and Minnow give eachother a scratch
2009 Kisses from Boomer
The Wild Stallion
Here are some photos taken on January 31, 2010 of Minnow and I. Minnow is showing off his wild stallion rear. With each day he’s getting higher and higher – as he’s building more muscle and getting stronger. Enjoy!
Minnow in the News
A few days ago a fellow Chincoteague Pony lover like myself sent me an article from the July 20, 2001 Chincoteague Beachcomber newspaper. I was especially excited to receive this because it mentioned my Chincoteague Minnow!
In 2001 Minnow had just begun living (and earning his keep) at the Chincoteague Pony Center, this was 3 years before I ever met him.
Here’s the excerpt from the article that mentions Minnow:
Making his debut at the Centre and one of everyone’s favorites is Chincoteague Minnow, who was bought at the pony auction seven years ago. He was named Minnow because he was the “smallest, wimpiest, shrimpiest” pony sold that year, according to his former owner and buyer. Today he stands 13.1 hands tall, and is a “stout” pony, ready to carry any load. His gentle disposition makes him a favorite at riding lessons and pony rides alike.
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I was especially intrigued by the terms “wimpiest” and “gentle disposition”. When Minnow came to live with me in 2003 I would probably have to say he WAS wimpy, but not in the normal sense. Minnow was fearful of a lot of things, sounds, strange objects, cameras – but he didn’t react the way a normal fearful horse would. Instead of spooking or acting out, he pretended his fears didn’t exist. He ignored them – turned his head, avoided contact. Hence where “gentle disposition” comes in to play. He was plodding through life complying to everyone’s wishes, giving pony rides, performing, being ridden, but I can only suspect he was living in fear – and he was very good at hiding it. I didn’t discover this extreme fear until Minnow developed a “runaway” behavior after I deem he likely just reached a point in his life where the fear got too great. Granted when he first lived at the Chincoteague Pony Centre he had not yet gone to the home in Harrisburg, Pa where lived in a neglectful home – so his “fear” may not have really been evident (or even noticeable) while he lived at the Pony Centre. But seeing that he was deemed “wimpy” even as a foal coming off the island in 1993, makes me believe that Minnow always had some sort of fear hidden away. I can envision him a tiny frightened foal, trying to hide from the mass of people. Who can blame him, wouldn’t you have some fear if you were suddenly plucked from your mom as a baby? Some foals at the auction rebel, put on a show of bucking and rearing, while others internalize their fear and stand motionless, unable to move. I think Minnow was one of the latter – for most of his life.
Minnow at the Chincoteague Pony Centre 2001 with Chris Nelson
I like to believe that now he’s no longer consumed by his fear. Minnow is curious, he’s bright eyed, and he trusts me to keep him safe. I think a little bit of fear will always be with him, its in his nature, but I think he now knows that he doesn’t have to internalize it. Its ok to be scared, but confronting them is the only way to make them less “scary”.
I’m ever so grateful to have a copy of this article, I love learning more about Minnow’s past and where he was before me. I love how his life has circled back again and now we take yearly trips to the Chincoteague Pony Centre where he was and always will be a beloved favorite.
Read more about Minnow’s journey to find me here!
