Saturday, October 22, 2011

Chincoteague Ponies

I am linking up with Scenic Sunday   and  Camera Critters

I am sure a lot of bloggers have read the book Misty Of Chincoteague, it was my favorite book as a child. The Chincoteague volunteer fire dept auctions off the ponies in July every year to raise money. They are also doing what is called buy-backs. The buy-backs are foals that the firemen had picked to stay in the herd. The foals are auctioned off  at the pony penning to give people a chance to "own" a Chincoteague pony without having to take it home. The new owners will get the foals official registry name and a certificate but the foal will stay on the island with the rest of the Chincoteague herd.



On Friday evening the cowboys were rounding up the 40-50 of the Chincoteague ponies for a vet check and to get their worming medicine. This happens three times a year in April, October and July.



One of my YouTube videos of the Chincoteague horses all gathered for their worming medicine. I captured some of the horses making sounds after getting their medicine, probably something similiar to the sounds I would make if I was given some icky tasting medicine. Well maybe not the same sound I would make but you know what I mean..








A shot of the horses penned waiting for their turn of the worming shot.  The Pintos are my favorite I love the multi colors.


The horses have numbers on their thighs, which are actually the number showing the year they were born. This one above was born in 2006


In the background the Palomino  stallion Chief( the white one)  is fighting again with another stallion. They do not like being penned up in a small area. They get jealous over their groups of mares.





I would not want to be the one trying to hold this gate shut.  The Chief was being a bad boy while penned up, fighting and kicking other horses.



Above you can see the vet shooting the worming medicine into Chiefs mouth.



The two dominant stallions Prince born in 2007 is off white with white spots and the other off white horse is the Chief born in 2008. They are all beautiful horses and I took so many photos. It is was hard to choose which one to add to my post.


To see more scenic photos check out Scenic Sunday  and to see more cute and wonderful critters check out Camera Critters.  Thanks to the Holley's  and to Misty Dawn for hosting these fun memes. Thank you also for stopping by to see my post. I hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend.

39 comments:

  1. Those photos were beautiful, the first look very cute and sweet couple.

    Have a nice weekend.

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  2. hi eileen,

    terrific shots! gotta love these!
    those horses are really handsome!

    have a great weekend!

    betty

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  3. Awesome photos of very charming and elegant horses! Love them!thanks and namaste, Carol (A Creative Harbor) linked w/Camera Critters ^_^

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  4. They are a beauty! I live so close to the Burbank Equestrian Center, but I have never seen these beauties so close. The brown and white spotted ones are pretty.

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  5. Oh my - so many gorgeous horses! Just adorable.

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  6. I never did read Misty Of Chincoteague but really love her Brighty of the Grand Canyon book.

    These ponies are all amazing. Hard to believe they can all be rounded up like this three times a year. Yet glad they get their medicine.

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  7. An informative post with great shots Eileen!
    Who didn't read Misty. :)
    Carletta@Round The Bend

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  8. Most of them are gorgeous, Eileen. I do wonder, though, about the brown one in the last photo, with its ribs showing. It looks so swaybacked it must be painful, but maybe I'm just projecting because I have a bad back today. (Certainly my ribs don't show. LOL)
    I enjoyed this post very much. I didn't know about these ponies before.

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  9. How fortunate you are to have seen and been around the ponies. This is a fine series with lots of information about them. Nicely done.

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  10. The photos are lovely, especially the one of the two horses "necking". They look so sweet.

    Found you on Camera Critters.

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  11. You took some amazing pictures of these wonderful ponies. I wondered too about the swaybacked horse.

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  12. I did some checking up on what causes the swayback on horses like the Unci one one of the Chincoteague horses I have pictured on my post. What I read was that swayback is not life threatening, which is good news. There are multiple reasons why she could have this swayback but she is healthy in every other way.

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  13. They are beautiful. My daughter loves so much horses and I showed to her your photos.

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  14. oh, love those horses, so adorable.

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  15. You have chosen some wonderful shots of those beautiful animals. It is interesting info too. Love the one of the chief getting his medicine

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  16. cute ponies and a great post, but I adore that header shot. :)

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  17. I enjoyed this post so much. I had heard something about those other wild ponies and the auction when we were at Assateague, but I didn't know how the auction worked. I like this and your pictures and photo essay are great.

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  18. They are beautiful ponies, and your photos are amazing.

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  19. Yes, I read Misty Of Chincoteague! Every time you say you've been there I think of it! :) They are such handsome ponies.

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  20. Wow ! these horses are so beautiful !

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  21. Beautiful pictures of beautiful creatures. I love that first..."I'll scratch your back if ya scratch mine" but what this Ozark Farm Chick truly wants to do is feed that red gal in the bottom pic! Heeehehe!!!

    Thanks for sharin' sweetie :o)

    From the sunny hills and hollers of the windy Ponderosa, ya'll have a blessed and beautiful day!!!

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  22. Eileen you got some terrific shots! (I can imagine they'd be hard to choose. Your header pony is quite expressive and I think the background was soft and captures the feel. I love the colors too and can see the Stallion fighting (woe), guess I could understand how they must feel! (better them than me ha ha)Thanks for a great share..wishing you a relaxing afternoon~

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  23. Hi, Eileen...Good Morning.
    At first: thank you for your visit and your kind words.
    I liked the ponies: so lovely! - but those shots...oh my...disgusting!!!
    It's funny : the warnig "Keep out" is upside down...LOL!!!

    Well, I like your photps and the video.

    I wanted to come yesterday but there was a storm here. Rain and thunders(?): terrible!

    Now I'm going to work.

    See you..

    BShell

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  24. lovely horses! - btw, it´s not a mushroom :) you can see the hint and you will know! http://tinaspicstory.blogspot.com/2011/10/31-days-23.html

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  25. Fabulous photos! I love that story, too.

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  26. gosh! agree.... the hourses are beautiful and your pics are great. we dont get many horses here and the only time we get to see is either at the zoo or equestrian.

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  27. A very nice and informative post with wonderful shots!
    Thanks for sharing. And thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment;o)

    ***
    Have a nice and happy weekend****

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  28. Love that first shot of mutual scratching...

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  29. Great pictures! I love the stories about these horses and would like very much the opportunity to see them someday.

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  30. They are such beautiful ponies! I love them all!

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  31. It is so wonderful that these Chincoteague horses are being so well cared for. They are so beautiful!

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  32. What a lovely bunch of ponies! Love the white and brown patterns.

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  33. What little beauties! Love them. :)

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  34. What utterly delightful horses and fabulous pics!

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  35. this was so cool to read this post... my 8 year old daughter is reading the misty books right now.
    how awesome to get to see the herd!!

    we were looking for the phantom in the pictures :)

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  36. Hi, Eileen...I was missing you...so I came to pay a visit...

    I'll come later, OK?

    XO
    BShell

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  37. Beautiful ponies. Oh how i would have loved to have owned one as a child!

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Hello, Thanks for stopping by my blog. I appreciate all your visits.

BTW, I will not publish anonymous comments, unless I recognize the name. Sorry!

Have a great day, Eileen

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