June 2022 Issue

Page 20 June 2022 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN By Lois Szymanski Foals are popping on the Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge, just over the Maryland line in Virginia. Have you ever thought about buying a wild foal at the annual Pony Penning auction? If you have, resources are available to help you know what to expect. According to Darcy Cole of DSC Photography, about 68 foals will hit the ground before Pony Penning. Cole should know. She hikes almost daily during foal season, sometimes as much as 100 miles a week, to track foal births and sire and dam infor- mation. The data she and her husband Steve collect includes who each mare is with on specific dates, so they can track back and know the likely sire as well. “Based on the last seven full years of data we’ve collected, 66 is the average number of foals born before Pony Penning, and 72 is the average for the whole year,” she said. “I’m expecting 74 for the [full] year.” Real Estate Looking to Buy a Chincoteague Pony Foal? Here’s Some Advice Last year, the pandemic forced an online auction, and the average price of a take home foal was $3,969. For those who want to ‘own’ a horse but can’t take care of one, there are buybacks, in which a sponsored foal is returned to the wild. Those who “purchase” a buyback foal sponsor its care by making a donation to the fire company but do not actually own the foal. They can name the foal and visit it in the wild for years to come. Sometimes people get together in groups to buyback a foal. The average price of a buyback foal in 2021 was $16,295 and the record donation was $25,000. Denise Bowden, Public Information Officer for the fire company who owns and manages the ponies, had advice to offer. “I would suggest that a new owner - before buying a foal - re- ally research the amount of time and effort it takes to manage a new foal. Really understand how Chincoteague mare Ann Bonnie and her 2022 colt. The colt is one of about 65 that will be rounded up and auctioned off on Pony Penning day, July 28. The auction raises money for the Chincoteague Fire Company and the herd’s veterinary care and controls the island’s pony population . (Continued on page 24) Photo credit: DSC Photography Get the news you need to know in your mailbox for as long as you want AND run FREE 35 word non-commercial classifieds in every issue – all for a one-time charge of $20! Did you know: Subscribe online at eastcoastequestrian.net/subscribe Print subscribers can run FREE classifieds in every issue?