The Chincoteague Pony Swim and Auction is always the last week in July.It is sponsored by the caretakers of these wild and free spirited ponies, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department. Wednesday July 28, 2021 will mark the 96th year of Chincoteague's annual Pony Swim.
The views were barely visible, when out of the mist they walked into view, these beautiful ponies. Rounded up and paraded down the beach.
We grow wild, running in the sun. Cast your shadow and keep company with the shine of the day. There were hundreds of us, making our way down the beach, finding our piece of it, where we can sit and watch as the ponies parade by. Oh, it is not such a grand event, but, it is a tradition of sorts and I have been going and supporting the cause for ten years now. Incidentally, my Henry ( my Chincoteague Pony) was born here on this island, and I bought him at auction, so perhaps that is why it is near and dear to me. Or perhaps, it is just that kind of thing that makes my heart sing. Man and nature working together for a better outcome. I'd like to think that is the one.
This is our Henry at home. He was kind of a surprise buy at the auction. He was a pony, but, he grew to horse size, so I ask you, does it really matter if he is a horse or a pony? The auction is normally held inside the fairgrounds. It was a hard adjustment last year with Covid to swap over to the online auction, as the Fire Department uses these funds from the annual Pony Swim and Auction to assit in the care of the wild ponies throughout the year, but, especially in the winter. They don't eat grain but, they graze on the salt grass that is found in the marshes. Easy keepers. Whenever I am out there, I grab a couple of handfuls of it for him. Below is a shot of the ponies right after they beached,in the salt marshes. This is the salt grass that I bring home to Henry, sort of a sweet memory for him.
Today is #MarketFriday initiated by @dswigle (Denise, that's me!!) Join me as we share our markets across the globe. I always look forward to seeing what you send me! It is amazing to see the different markets and cultures of our friends here on Hive.
Tradition has it that this is Pony Week on Chincoteague Island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. This year's swim would have marked the 96th year, but, organizers of the event made a very painful decision to cancel due to Covid-19 - for the second year in a row. My family loves this event, the traditions involved and the love this island has for its four legged inhabitants.
The auction will still be held, but the event will be entirely online, but still hosted by the regular Chincoteague Pony auctioneer, Tim. We love Tim and his wife, who helps him out. Happy to see they kept their Chincoteague family together.
Online Auction Rules
The bidding opens today, July 22nd at 7:00pm and ends on July 29th at 7:00pm. To keep as much continuity as possible, they tried to keep the same timeline with the date of the live auction being the final hurrah! Prospective buyers should go to the auction website, where you can create an account. Don't forget to request a bidder’s number, so that you can bid. Please visit the website at https://sporthorseauctions.com/ for more information. Good luck to all you bidders!! Below are the ponies for sale and a few pictures on them. Scroll down a few pictures to view the foals See here.
The auction is being held by sporthorseauctions.com. and you MUST register with them!! Once you register with them you will also be able to see the rules and regulations of the auction. The photos of the foals are already on the website and there WILL BE A CLEAR DESGINATION of buybacks on the listings. Payment due date is Friday, July 30th NO EXCEPTIONS. Final Foal Pick up date is August 1st. NO EXCEPTIONS. ALL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ONLINE AUCTION WILL BE ON sporthorseauctions.com.
The Saltwater Cowboys will round up the northern herd on Sunday, July 25th, close to daybreak. They allow them to rest for a short while, then the mares and foals will be seperated and brought to the carnival fairgrounds. This is where the auction usually takes place and the foals stay here until their pick up day. The remaining herd will be released back into the wild.
The southern herd will be rounded up on Monday, July 26th, with much the same process.
Many people have asked if they can go watch the round up. Restrictions are lifted as of July 1, so, I am going to guess that you won't be chased off. If you haven't been vaccinated, you know the drill. Wear a mask when in a crowd and maintain social distancing. If anything changes, it will be posted with the Chamber of Commerce, Chincoteague and Now, big question... can the public view the round ups? We haven't been told that you can't and now that most restrictions have been lifted we assume its ok for you all to come watch. If you haven't been vaccinated we respectfully ask that you maintain social distancing and wear a mask if in the crowd. If anything were to change with any of this information it will be posted ASAP.
The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) is already working on next year's carnival and pony penning. You know I will have to be there! carnival and Swim will remain cancelled for 2021. The CVFC is already working on details for next year and it's going to be one heck of a 2022 carnival and pony penning event! We hope you will come and join us!!
Here, let me get that tag for you. When they are rounding up the ponies, a tag is put on them to identidying purposes. They must have felt funny, a few of the ponies were having a go at it.
Rules of the Road
Go to the market, or anywhere that you pay money for a service.
Take pictures! Be creative (or not, we don't judge!)
Tell us a little bit about the market, what brought you here?
Post the picture(s)
Use the MarketFriday Community Platform to post #hive-196308 (optional)
You must put #MarketFriday by @dswigle somewhere on your post
Drop the link on the MarketFriday post so I can find it
Have fun!
Please leave the link to your post here so it can easily be found by others. It helps you and me to have them in one place. Where else can you take such a quick trip around the globe? Thank you so much for joining us!! ❤
This shop is at the corner of Pony Swim Lane in Chincoteague. This is the road that leads to the unmarked beach that the ponies swim to, more directed to, in my opinion. The owner of this what-not shop has made quite the splash with the pony decor. Yet, I cannot come to the island without snapping a shot of it, it changes, season to season, and as she finds a home for a new piece of decor. Oh, yes. Just part of the charm.
This was the end of the line with the Pony Walk on Asseteague Island, from when they do the round up. They separate them into groups, mother and babies and the return to the island, getting them ready for the pony auction. This will be one of the last nights the babies will be with their mamas. The next day will be a whole new life for them.The last Pony Walk was in 2019. Seems like forever ago.
It is so hard to accessorize your ponies properly. The beauty is not so much in the way they frolic in the tidewaters, but more the loveliness of their locks, many growing long enough to touch the ground.
And just like that, this post is done. I hope you had a good time and learned a little something new. As always, I want to thank you for taking the time to visit, and just remember, #MarketFriday loves you! Thank you for supporting the challenge! Have a most fabulous day! Cheers!!
As always, there must be flowers to color my world. #alwaysaflower
I have been discovering new places, every day! I love to share and be shared with by you! I am intrigued by different cultures. It is exciting and yes! I would love to see you! Don't forget to take photos wherever you happen to be shopping - whether it be the grocery store, the local marketplace, or even an art gallery, a kite festival! Wherever money is exchanged for a service or for merchandise. Be different if you wish! It does not have to be a traditional market! We will love it anyway!
A Saltwater Cowboy waves goodbye as the ponies swim back home.
A pony hoof, Just a faint memory, only to live in the minds of those who witnessed it. A quick tide rolling in washes away all the evidence.
Thank you for visiting my post 💖 Don't ever forget what an amazing world we live in, people. Some days, it is not so easy to see, how truly wonderful it really is. Always remember,kindness counts. Wherever you go, whatever you do.
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