Can you ride chincoteague ponies

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March 2, Equitrekking: What kind of temperament is this breed best known? Equitrekking: What style of rider best suits the Chincoteague Pony?

Equitrekking: Has the Chincoteague Pony changed over time? Equitrekking: Are there any famous historical Chincoteague Ponies? Equitrekking: What makes the Chincoteague Pony unique as a breed?

Are you a good match for the Chincoteague Pony? Tobiano - white base with colored irregular patches of solid color or roan.

Below are resources to learn more. Share on:. Hot Travel Deals. However, the swim generally takes place some time between 7am and 1pm. The specific time will be announced at the carnival grounds the week of the swim.

The best way to see the pony swim up close is on a Charter Boat. However, spots on these boats for the pony swim are in very high demand, so be sure to reserve your spot at least several months in advance.

The first foal to come ashore will be named King or Queen Neptune and will be given away in a raffle drawing at the carnival grounds later in the day time to be announced. Tickets are sold each night at the carnival and amongst the crowd while waiting for the swim to occur. You must have a ticket and you must be present to win. After the swim, the ponies rest for about 45 minutes.

Then the Saltwater Cowboys will "parade" the ponies down Main Street, to the carnival grounds where the auction will be held Thursday morning. The parade route is shown in blue on the map below.

The purpose of the pony swim on Wednesday is to move the ponies from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island so that the foals can be auctioned. The auction takes place the following day. The auction serves two purposes. First, the auction helps to control the overall size of the herd, keeping it from growing too large. Secondly, the auction is a fundraiser for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company.

The Fire Company uses some of the proceeds from the auction to provide veterinary care for the ponies through out the year. Auction winners will receive a certificate saying that they purchased a Chincoteague Pony from the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company.

The auction begins at 8 am. The auction is typically very crowded. We suggest you get there early to get a seat. The south herd is best seen from the Beach Road, from the observation decks at the Woodland and Pony Trails, and by scenic boat tour. The other hundred adult ponies are kept in an area further north which is only accessible by scenic tour boat or wildlife bus tour.

The wild ponies on Assateague Island congregate in small groups, called "bands". Each band has one dominate stallion and the rest are mares that the stallion breeds with. The number of mares a particular stallion has in his band is dependent upon how dominate the stallion is. The stronger the stallion the more mares he is able to win when fighting other stallions on the Island. The dominate stallion will kick his male offspring out of the band after a couple of years, once the colt has reached sexual maturity.

Young bachelor males tend to form their own small band, until they become big and strong enough to begin fighting for and winning mares from other stallions. Likewise, female offspring are eventually chased off by their mother to prevent inbreeding. Assateague Island is a harsh habitat for the Chincoteague Ponies and they have adapted to life there over hundreds of years. Spring brings cool, rainy weather and fresh plant growth to the Island. The ponies tend to stay near the marshes, close to their best food sources.

Summer brings heat, humidity, and insects. The ponies tend to congregate near the water at the perimeter of the Island to catch a breeze and escape mosquitoes and flies. The ponies prefer to browse in shrub thickets during the damp, chilly, winter season. They grow thick furry coats that protect them from the ferocious winter winds and occasional snow storms.

Marguerite Henry wanted to buy Misty to take back with her to be the model for her book. Clarence Beebe at first refused, but sold her after Mrs. Henry promised to include his grandchildren Maureen and Paul Beebe in the book.

Misty stayed with Mrs. Currently, they stand over 14 hands. They are small horses that both adults and children can ride. What do Chincoteague ponies drink? Where do the Chincoteague Ponies find fresh water? The Chincoteague Ponies find fresh, or brackish, water in low lying areas of Assateague Island that collect rain water.

What's the difference between Assateague and Chincoteague? Most people explore both islands in a single trip. Assateague, 37 miles long, is prized for its beaches and ponies, and Chincoteague, seven miles long, is known for its wildlife refuge, dunes, forests, and marshes.

Can you touch the horses at Assateague Island? During your visit to Assateague, you will most likely encounter at least a few of the island's most popular residents. For your safety and the safety of the horses, please obey park regulations and do not approach, touch or feed the Assateague horses.

Are the wild horses at Chincoteague and Assateague? Chincoteague Ponies. Two herds of wild horses make their home on Assateague Island, separated by a fence at the Maryland-Virginia line. The Maryland herd is managed by the National Park Service.