September 2025 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN September 2025 10 Record-Breaking 100th Pony Penning Draws Crowds, Milestones, and Miracles Lois Szymanski CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. — The 100th anniversary of Pony Penning is now history — and it may go down as the most memora- ble yet. The century mark came with a flur- ry of fitting coincidences: 100 foals born for the 100th year, shattering last year’s record of 97; more than $1 million raised at auc- tion; and the highest-priced buyback foal ever, fetching $100,000. Festivities began Friday, July 25, with the south herd roundup. Saltwater cowboys and cowgirls drove the ponies into the pens as cheering spectators lined the fences. It was the first year for Dr. Allison Dotzel as lead veterinarian for the wild herds, work- ing alongside veteran horsewoman Tipson Myers and a team of vets, techs, and vol- unteers. The north herd roundup on Saturday brought high drama. All eyes were on Twist, the elusive stallion notorious for evading capture. As a rainstorm rolled in, cowboy Hunter Leonard and his brother Ayden came upon multiple cowboys trying to save a buckskin mare stuck in a mudhole. She turned out to be Rory, Tipson’s prized buyback mare. In minutes, two dozen cowboys were digging and strategizing. A cooler lid was wedged under Rory’s head to keep her breathing clear. “If anybody ever says they don’t care about these horses, I will tell them different,” Tipson said. Using a fire hose and tow strap to avoid injury, the crew pulled Rory free. She stood, shaken but sound, and walked out with a makeshift halter. “They’ve done a lot of mud rescues,” Dr. Dotzel said, “and they knew exactly how to do it without harm.” In another turn of events, cowgirl Ra- chel Reed Harley brought in the last three bands —Ajax, Ace, and even Twist himself — without repeated chases. “Everything came in quickly and we didn’t have to go back eight times in search of Twist,” she said. A fourth-generation participant, Rachel said the roundups were extra special this year because her grandfa- ther, Billy Reed Sr., returned to ride in the Monday Beachwalk and Wednesday pa- rade after a four-year absence due to health issues. “Having him there with us again meant a lot,” she said. Monday’s Beachwalk brought its own challenges. As the north herd traveled down the beach to the south pens, a chestnut colt bolted. After a brief chase, cowboys backed off to prevent overheating the foal, but it vanished into thick brush. That evening, they tried using his dam, Taco, to lure him out — without success. The next morning, a sighting led to a re- union. Taco was released, and the colt fol- lowed her into the pens to cheers from on- lookers. When the colt acted up in the chute for vetting, they decided to trailer him to the Chincoteague pens. “We don’t swim the troublemakers,” Hunter said with a grin. Wednesday’s swim went smoothly until cowboys spotted a filly showing signs of de- hydration. In the muddy scramble to catch The 100th anniversary auction rewrote the record books, with both “take- home” and “buyback” foals bringing in unprec- edented bids. Highest-Priced Take- Home Foals • $50,000—Black Pinto Filly (out of Tasi by Twist) Sold to Virginia First Lady Suzanne Youngkin, whose family championed making the Chincoteague Pony the official state pony. The First Lady even joined the saltwater cow- boys on the swim escort. • $25,000—Black Pinto Colt (out of Molly’s Rose- bud by Hidalgo or Ajax) A striking colt with two blue eyes — and one of the two runaways during Monday’s Beachwalk. Record-Breaking Buy- back Foals • $100,000—Bay Pinto Filly (out of Marguerite by Henry’s Hidalgo) Purchased by Darcy and Steve Cole’s Buyback Friends of the Wild Chin- coteague Herds. The cou- ple, known for hiking nearly 100 miles a week to monitor and document the ponies, rallied over 550 donors for the bid. Each supporter received a com- memorative “100 Years” Pony Penning button. This sale doubled last year’s $50,000 record, also set by the group. • $78,000 — Flower’s Filly (by Beach Boy) • $50,000 — Moon’s Filly (by Don Leonard Stud II) – tied last year’s record. • $50,000—Badabing’s Filly (by Ajax) – tied last year’s record. Born on the carnival grounds after her dam was brought in for medical treatment, the pair was released back onto the refuge before Pony Penning. Record- Smashing Sales at the 100th Pony Penning Auction (Continued on page 42)