Photo credit DSC Photography
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 information. 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.”
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 - really research the amount of time and effort it takes to manage a new foal. Really understand how much time you have to invest in the baby,” she said.
Christine Goldbeck agreed. This York, PA resident bought her first Chincoteague Pony foal last year, and she plans to buy again this year.
“I purchased foal #68 last year, a filly of Legacy and Splash,” Goldbeck said. “[My husband] Keith and I met her mama and daddy when we were hiking in northern herd territory last spring. Splash was still pregnant with our [foal] Destiny. As soon as auction opened online, we started bidding and we got her.”
Goldbeck sought guidance from Tipson Myers of Stoney Creek Chincoteagues in Hughesville, PA.
“Tipson took [the foal] to her place for about a month for halter and beginning ground training,” Goldbeck said. “It was the best decision we made because I had zero foal experience at that point.”
Myers is known in the pony community.
“Once people purchase a foal from the auction, I offer hauling from Chincoteague to my farm in Pennsylvania,” she said. “Foals can then be boarded short or long term. I first work on transitioning them to top quality hay and grain. As they become more comfortable, they will be halter broke and taught to lead.”
According to Myers, some foals are quick to adapt to humans while others take months.
“What I’ve learned most from these ponies is lots of patience. It's important to remember that each foal is an individual and they learn at different rates,” she said. “Some come around very easily. For others it takes months to get comfortable with people.”
Twelve years ago, Myers purchased her first foal and was surprised at how long it took to build his trust.
“Since I am a horse trainer, I could see how a non-horse trainer might struggle handling some of these foals,” she said. That’s why she started Stoney Creek Chincoteagues.
Equine veterinarian Allison Dotzel of Laurel Highland Veterinary Clinic in Williamsport, PA works with Myers and owns a Chincoteague Pony of her own.
“I would recommend someone looking to purchase a pony have contact with their vet ahead of time so their vet can guide them on things like vaccinations and deworming,” Dotzel said. “They should also be prepared for what they will need to feed their new foal and have milk-based foal pellets or foal foundation on hand prior to picking up the foal.”
Goldbeck has fallen in love with the breed, even though Destiny was “a bit of a challenge.”
“She hated the halter and lead,” she said. “She would follow me like a puppy, then bolt as soon as I tried to get her on lead, but pony people are the best!”
Goldbeck put a call out on Facebook for help and a friend shot a video on hacks for haltering a foal. Then, Chincoteague Pony owner, Christine Kline Gelnett brought her 2021 Chincoteague Pony foal, Rocky to help her gentle Destiny.
“If you are on Facebook, follow groups like I Love Chincoteague Ponies, 2022 Foals of the Wild Chincoteague Pony Herds and Chincoteague Pony Class of 2022 to learn as much as you can about the foals,” Darcy Cole suggested. “If you are not an experienced horse person, don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions. There are great experts who follow these pages and are willing to share their knowledge. Also, if you’ve never trained a foal before, consider transitioning your new foal from the wild to your home through trainers like Stoney Creek Chincoteagues who have transitioned hundreds of foals to their new homes.”
Horse owner Amanda O’Bryan is coming to pony penning from Kentucky. Her husband surprised her with a trip to Chincoteague last July. She fell in love with the ponies and now plans to buy two in July.
“My plan was to use the pony to create a literacy program and visit schools after I retire from teaching,” she said. “I can tie the ponies to many books and stories to encourage reading.”
O’Bryan has been studying to learn more about the ponies. She now feels called to share them in more ways.
“I feel they can help adults deal with issues and [offer] an outlet to get away and connect with an animal that will make them forget their problems for a while. They’ll be great for kids with disabilities to touch and feel and make movements to help their motions. With [their] smaller stature, they are perfect for this job and are less intimidating for children and adults.”
Some look for conformation, others for color, or athletic ability. O’Bryan wants a gentle temperament, but how do you figure out temperament?
Enthusiasts like Myers and Dotzel can help. They’ve tracked the temperament of foals produced by specific pairings, a good predictor of the future.
“The best I can do is talk with veteran enthusiasts that have seen many of these foals grow up,” O’Bryan added.
Kaitlyn Miller of Dushore, PA worked for Myers in early 2021. Watching the foals at Stoney Creek made her fall in love with the breed. Now, she plans to buy.
“I loved seeing the wide variety of colors and personalities,” she said. “I’m looking for a foal that has lots of personality and good looks. Working at Tipson's has allowed me to have access to the different personalities that each mare and sire can pass onto the foal. As the foals left for their forever homes, I made a list of every foal that I liked, whether it was color or personality.”
Miller recommends talking to others with knowledge of the offspring of different crosses.
Research is key but sometimes, after all the research, a sign comes out of the blue. This May, Goldbeck took a trip to Chincoteague. On a hike, she found a newborn foal. Now that foal is on the top of her list.
If you come, Bowden said, bring a credit card or cash. The fire company does not accept checks.
Resources:
Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company - cvfc3.com
Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce – chincoteaguechamber.com
Chincoteague Ponies - Chincoteague.com/ponies
DSC Photography’s Pony Info – dscphotography.net
Bands of the Wild Chincoteague Ponies on Facebook
Stoney Creek Chincoteagues on Facebook
I Love Chincoteague Ponies on Facebook
Class of 2020 Chincoteague Ponies on Facebook
"Your Chincoteague Pony Foal's First Year: Feeding, Healthcare, Training & More" – Book by Lois Szymanski