Pony Penning
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Free Weekly Summer Paper Exclusively for Chincoteague July 21, 2017 Free Eastern Shore HITCHING THE SHORE’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED NEWSPAPER 92nd Pony Penning is the Island’s ‘Mane’ Event Staff Report For those born and raised in Chin- coteague, the 92nd Annual Pony Pen- ning will be a time to see family and reconnect with old friends. For others, friendships that were forged around a common interest will be renewed and reinforced. For newcomers, it will be a chance to see the event made famous by Marguerite Henry’s book, “Misty of Chincoteague,” and later immortalized in the 1961 Hollywood movie by the same name, filmed mostly on location on and around Chincoteague. For everyone, the Hitching Post has rounded up the schedules of this year’s activities into a Pony Penning/Pony Swim guide. Thanks to contributors Chincoteague Island Volunteer Fire Department and the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce & Certified Vis- itor Center. This guide pertains only to Pony Penning and related activities. Please peruse the rest of the paper for other family fun and equine encounter activities this week on Chincoteague. June 22 and June 23 July 22 is the south-end roundup at 4 p.m.; the north-end roundup is 7 a.m. on July 23 (the public is not permit- Photo by Angie H. Crutchley ted at the north-end roundup). During Wildlife Refuge, to await the June 26 sateague canal. For the first time, this ter the swim, the ponies are given a these two days, the veterinarian will swim and auction July 27. year those who assemble in Veteran’s few minutes of rest before the Saltwa- check the ponies to determine if they This year, there will be 22 stallions, Memorial Park will be able to view the ter Cowboys begin to nudge them up are healthy enough to make the swim. and 110 mares, and approximately 60 swim from a Jumbotron. The first foal Pony Swim Lane and onto the roadway June 24 foals making the swim from Assateague to come ashore will be named King or for the parade to the fairgrounds. The Beach Walk on Assateague Is- Island to Chincoteague Island. Queen Neptune and given away in a With an announced swim time be- land is at 6 a.m. The Saltwater Cow- June 26 raffle drawing. Tickets are sold during tween 6 and 8 a.m., the shuttle bus boys will accompany the north herd The ponies will swim from As- the carnival. will begin to run around 4 a.m. See ponies to join the south herd at the sateague to Chincoteague, with char- The swim will take place at slack- page 8 – 9 for full shuttle details. Or- corral in the Chincoteague National ter boats lining both sides of the As- tide (the period in between tides). Af- (Continued on Page 2) 2 • EASTERN SHORE HITCHING POST • JULY 21, 2017 Weekly Summer Paper Exclusively for Chincoteague ~ Pony Penning ~ (Continued From Front Page) ganizers are asking riders to pay close company the diminished herd to Pony attention to details, as day-tripping, Swim Lane, where they are nudged handicap parking locations and pick- back into the water for their swim back up points have changed from recent to Assateague for another year. years. For more information about the July 27 Chincoteague ponies and schedule up- Pony auction begins at 8 a.m., at dates, go to the Chincoteague Volun- the carnival grounds on Main Street. teer Fire Company’s webpage, http:// July 28 cvfc3.com/ or to the Chamber of Com- July 28, the ponies will return to As- merce website at www.chincoteague- sateague. The Saltwater Cowboys ac- chamber.com Photo by Angie H. Crutchley Photo by Angie H. Crutchley Photo by Georgia Allen JULY 21, 2017 • EASTERN SHORE HITCHING POST • 3 Did You Fun Facts About the Island Know? oyster grown in a salt pond … Environ- involves the world’s First Chincoteague Of course, Misty has friends. Join the By Linda Cicoira mental characteristics can influence an Pony Registry, a non-profit organization group at http://www.mistyofchincote- Part of the fun of visiting the island oyster’s flavor such as the minerals in that has been around for more than 30 ague.org/ or read even more about her. or living on Chincoteague is learning the sediment of the growing area, the years. The Chincoteague Natural History and knowing about the place. It has a amount of seaweed nearby, or even the Another site is one called “The In- Association has a website too. http:// rich history, interesting sights to see, type of algae the oyster may be filter- ternational Museum of the Horse” at www.piping-plover.org/ is about sup- the famous wild ponies, of course, and ing.” http://www.imh.org/exhibits/online/ porting efforts of the Chincoteague internet sites that inform and prepare “Oysters are full of nutritional ben- chincoteague-pony Wildlife Refuge, where all can visit the everyone for all of it. efits!” the Oysterologists said. “They “Chincoteague and Assateague Po- beach, see the wildlife and climb the The Hitching Post has been check- are low in calories and saturated fats, nies inhabit the 37-mile barrier island lighthouse. ing some websites and found several to and jam packed with vitamins and of Assateague off the coast of Maryland recommend. minerals. Oysters contain 2.5 times and Virginia,” it states. “Both herds Fascinating facts can be found at the amount of iron and 10 times the are essentially the same except for the pangeashellfish.com/chincoteague-oys- amount of zinc compared to beef. One area of the island on which they graze, ter/ After browsing through the pages serving of oysters provides more than divided only by a fence which is an ex- there, you will be an expert in the field the daily recommended value of copper tension of the border between the two of what the Panega Shellfish Company for adults. They’re a great source for vi- states. These small, hardy horses have calls “Oysterology.” tamin B-12, which is essential for the been the source of great intrigue and Chincoteague oysters are like no oth- function of the brain, nervous system, speculation throughout their history on er — salty and good. and blood formation.” the island, from how they arrived there “In North America, there are 5 spe- And here’s the information you’ve to the love affair created by Marguerite cies of edible oysters commercially been waiting for, “Oysters are safe to Henry’s children’s book, ‘Misty of Chin- available, Eastern (crassostrea virgi- eat year-round.” coteague’ and the annual Pony Penning nica), Pacific (crassostrea gigas), Kuma- “The ‘R’ rule, which singles out the event.” moto (crassostrea sikamea), European warmer months of summer (May to Au- And speaking of Misty, here’s ev- Flat (ostrea edulis) and Olympia (ostrea gust), is an outdated rule (that started) erything you ever wanted to know conchiphila/lurida),” the website tells. when refrigeration and scientific test- about that famous mare at http://www. Have you been checking for a pearl ing was not as prevalent,” the site stat- mistysheaven.com/historyofmisty.html in those mollusces? “Oysters that com- ed. “Since summer tends to be the time From links and articles to the tracing of mercially produce pearls are NOT in when there are algae blooms, red tides, her ancestors, there’s a lot to read. the same family as edible oysters,” the and higher counts of vibrio (a naturally “Misty was foaled July 20,1946, at website continues. “The edible varieties occurring bacteria in the ocean), there Beebe Ranch on Chincoteague.” of oysters can produce pearls, but it is are recommendations to avoid oysters Her father was the “chestnut pin- very rare.” during these months. However, the com- to, Pied Piper.” Her mother “was the “Oysters take on flavors influenced mercial shellfishing industry has strict smokey black pinto, Phantom.” by their surrounding waters and to- regulations like closing shellfishing ar- “Misty was a12-hand palomino pinto pography, very much like wine and eas to take precautions against poten- with the map of the United States on coffee,” the site also states. “This con- tial food-borne risks,” the site added. her side, and a blaze shaped like the cept is known as ‘merroir’ for oysters. If you want to learn more about po- state of Virginia. She was foaled into For example, an oyster grown closer to nies, we have that for you too. The web- the pony herd of Clarence (Grandpa) freshwater will taste less salty than an site, http://www.pony-chincoteague.com and Ida (Grandma) Beebe.” Captain Timothy Hill House $2.00 OFF Casually 5122 Main Street WITH THIS COUPON Come Visit Elegant Island’s Oldest LET’S GO FISHING Home • Open to the Public Dining Wednesday & Friday Aboard Specialties: Seafood, Hand Cut 1pm-3pm FISH TALES Steaks, Seafood Pastas & Lamb • Visit us We fish the bay & ocean for species of fish too numerous to list. Everything included. We even bait your hook, remove your catch & clean them for you. Dine inside or outside on our screened in porch online at: Trips starting at $35 adult/ $29 12 an under captaintimothyhillhouse.com 757-336-FISH (3474) 757-336-5888 Listed on the SHARK SPECIAL Virginia Landmarks Register & National $ 6585 Maddox Blvd. Chinteague Register of Historic Places 79 per person ONE COUPON PER PERSON www.ajsonthecreek.com 4 • EASTERN SHORE HITCHING POST • JULY 21, 2017 Weekly Summer Paper Exclusively for Chincoteague By Jasmine Foeman they could name the pony Sea Feather. felt drawn: children with a need and department.