A Bit Of History Up In Smoke

         Picture courtesy Eastern Shore Fire. Info from shoredailynews.com  .

Fire this week destroyed the barn that was home to the famed pony "Misty" at Beebe Ranch in Chincoteague.  No ponies were injured in the fire.

87th Chincoteague Island Pony Penning ~ 2012

The first foal to step ashore during the 2012 Chincogeague Island Pony Penning was crowned King Neptune.  He wore the number 53 on the tag around his neck.  I couldn't find him in penned area on the Chincoteague grounds.  But that little guy raised over $5,800 for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company.

Not only could I not find him the firemen and Saltwater Cowboys  couldn't seem to get him to appear on stage at the carnival grounds. But lucky KaylaJo McDanolds didn't seem to care when Denise called the winning number.  So, unless KaylaJo  decides to give King Neptune back to the fire department this little foal will travel to Bangor, Pennsylvania to live.

Chincoteague Pony Penning began 87 years ago (1925) as a way to raise money for new firefighting equipment.  It is part of the tradition to hold the auction of the ponies the following day of their arrival to the carnival grounds.


Pony Penning auction for 2012 raised over $90,000 for the Chincoteague Vol. Fire Company.  Of the sixtyseven ponies bought Thursday morning at the auction eight were "buy-back" ponies.  These ponies are re-released to live with the herd on Assateague.

Finally, today, following tradition, the Saltwater Cowboys will round up the remaining ponies from the carnival grounds and herd them down the streets to Assateague Channel where they make their swim back to their home. 

I've lived on the Eastern Shore all my life and have never witnessed a Pony Penning but I have been to their return.  I'm sure there's less hoopla and fanfare on returning day  but nonetheless exciting to see.  Whether you want to see the actual swim back or just The Saltwater Cowboys herd them down Main Street and around the corner to the channel it's still awesome.  In fact, you can sit right across the street from the carnival grounds and watch them leave. 

The pony return will be today around 10:00 a.m. - depending on slack tide.

Even though the ponies are gone from the carnival grounds until next year there is still another tradition in full swing on Chincoteague Island!  The carnival!

There's still a few more days left!!

Chincoteague Island Pony Penning

There is not a more exciting week on Chincoteague Island than Pony Penning!  Sources say to be ON the island by 5:30 a.m. if you want to catch the shuttle to the swim site.  Keep an eye out for the first foal to come ashore.



Photo/Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce



Pony Swim Day

Wednesday July 25, 2012 At "slack tide", sometime between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., the Chincoteague Ponies will swim across the Assateague Channel just south of Memorial Park (7427 Memorial Park Dr,  Chincoteague Island, VA  23336) on the east side of Chincoteague Island.  There is no charge by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company for parking or seeing the ponies swim.  The ONLY parking at Memorial Park, however, is designated for handicap use.  All other folks coming in just for the day are encouraged to go to Chincoteague Combined School (4586 Main St. Chincoteague Island, VA  23336) and catch the free shuttle. There is also a handicap accessible bus for your convenience (click here for shuttle information).  Those staying on the island may catch a shuttle bus near their lodging. The first foal to come ashore will be named King or Queen Neptune and will be given away in a raffle drawing at the carnival grounds later in the day (time to be announced).  Tickets are sold each night at the carnival and amongst the crowd while waiting for the swim to occur.  You must have a ticket and you must be present to win. After swimming the short distance across the channel, the ponies will rest for approximately 45 minutes to an hour before “parading” to the carnival grounds on Main Street. See shuttle bus map for parade route.  The carnival will open at 7:00 p.m. with rides, games, and lots of good food. Note: Pets are not permitted in Memorial Park or the Carnival Grounds.Coast Guard on Alert for Illegal Charter Boats During Chincoteague Pony Swim (The Coast Guard is cautioning tourists attending the pony swim to avoid boats that do not have licensed captains, and in some cases have not been inspected by the Coast Guard.) 7:00 p.m. - Carnival attractions. Click here for detailed map of event

Source:

Nightmist's Colt To Make Pony Penning Appearance

CHINCOTEAGUE --This year's Pony Penning week will be the first appearance of Nightmist's colt, named Paul Merritt's Mountain Mist after local businessman and past supervisor, Paul B. Merritt.

Michael Pryor and Paul became good friends in the late 1980s, which led to Pryor purchasing most of the ponies from the famous Chincoteague Miniature Farm, Inc., including most of the Misty family line.

(Paul Merritt)

Forward to the late 1990s, when Windy gave birth to NightMist. NightMist was a very special pony from the miracle of his birth to the day he died.

The history of the great stallion started with Marguerite Henry purchasing Misty from Grandpa Beebe, then making her famous with a story book titled "Misty of Chincoteague," which has been treasured from the time of its debut in 1947.

This brought Misty into the spotlight, making her famous and starting a legend and legacy to span the next 63 years.

Misty birthed three foals between 1960 and 1962: the first, Phantom Wings; the second, Wisp-o-Mist; and the third and final foal, Stormy.

Stormy was named after the great storm of 1962, which occurred just before her birth. Stormy would birth five foals: Thunder, born in 1967; Windy in 1969; Breezy in 1972; Rainy in 1973; and Misty II in 1974.

Windy would later adopt her sister, Misty II, due to Stormy's lack of interest in her.

Windy gave birth to seven foals: Sunshine in 1973; Cyclone in 1974; Gale in 1978; Hurricane in 1985; Tornado in 1987; Windstorm in 1988; and finally NightMist in 1998.

There are several books about the famous family. The latest editions were written about NightMist, including "NightMist the Miracle Pony," written by Jessie Friend, an understudy of Marguerite Henry and good friend of Pryor; and NightMist the Blue-eyed Pony, by Lois Szymanski, who has written several children's books about the famous ponies and is another good friend of Pryor's.

There is also a comic book featuring the pony and next year a biography about NightMist, titled "NightMist, the Foal, the Stallion, the Legend," by James Smith will be released.

NightMist, like his great-grandmother and grandmother, toured a lot, including with actor David Ladd, who was the child star in the film "Misty of Chincoteague."

NightMist, who was owned by Pryor, died in May 2009, leaving behind many new legacies -- one in particular, named in honor of Pryor's late friend, Merritt.

With the help of his friend Smith they came up with the name Paul Merritt's Mountain Mist. Mountain Mist is marked very similarly to his sire and father, NightMist -- having one blue eye, almost the same medicine cap and body markings and definitely a similar personality.

"He's almost the same as his father, but not exactly the same, because there can only be one NightMist," Pryor said.

Mountain Mist will also be going to train for six months with world-renowned equine trainer Tommy Turvey when he reaches the age of three next year.

Also traveling with Mountain Mist, who is known on the farm as Little Paul, will be Thunder II, the beautiful golden palomino and grand-foal of Misty.

Thunder II was one of the show ponies at the once-famous Chincoteague Miniature Pony Farm and has made appearances all over the East Coast. Thunder II was once the traveling buddy of NightMist.

Again this year Pryor and his Misty family of ponies will be at the famous Beebe Ranch on Ridge Road Monday through Friday from noon on. There will be pony rides all week and plenty of NightMist souvenirs.

The annual party, which was started to celebrate the birth of NightMist, now celebrates his life. It will be on Tuesday, July 27, starting at 6:30 p.m.

There will be free soda, pizza, subs, chicken, hushpuppies and cake, courtesy of the following sponsors: Pepsi, Pizza Hut, Subway, Woody's chicken, Captain Zaks and Sugarloaf Bakery.

During the week, Lois Szymanski's book will be available at the ranch and on Tuesday she will be there to autograph books.

Pryor also would like to think about preserving NightMist's legacy. In the near future there will be a statue erected of NightMist as a foal. The planned statue will be located on the Beebe Ranch, where the legacy began and the most fitting place to memorialize the famous NightMist.

Other appearances throughout the week will be at Pony Penning Enterprises on Maddox Boulevard, which is still run by Helen Merritt, on Thursday, July 29, from 6-8 p.m. Paul's spirit still lives on everyday with her.

This year will be a special year for the ponies that Pryor is offering for purchase. The four foals are grandchildren of NightMist and each one offers a unique trait.

There will be photos available all week at the Beebe Ranch. Come buy a piece of the legend and become part of the legacy.

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