Pony Penning 2013: Chincoteague Pony Swim
The highlight for many who attend Chincoteague Pony Penning is the annual Pony Swim. I love watching the swim and taking photos and with this being my 6th year attending – I pretty much have a system down for getting a great spot for photos.
So on Wednesday morning my mom and I hiked down to Pony Swim Lane and into the swamp to find a spot to stand in the bay. As we were waiting for slack tide for the ponies to swim across a dark storm cloud began to approach behind us.
Just as the dark cloud was upon us the coast guard set off the flare to let us know that it was slack tide and the ponies were ready to swim.
Within minutes it was POURING rain, I was drenched and I was worried my camera would be damaged. Most people ran to hide under a nearby dock, while others left the pony swim site with crying children all together. But the diehards rode out the storm and cheered as the ponies dove into the water. I was among those diehards.
Once the ponies were safely ashore they evacuated the area pretty quickly. So I didn’t get to stick around too long to take photos of them.
Eventually we made the soggy wet walk back to the fairgrounds to see the saltwater cowboys herd the ponies into the pen.
I watched the ponies in the pens for a while, it’s always fascinating to see the stallions round-up their mares and try to keep the other stallions away.
This year’s swim was definitely one for the record books and I’m sure I will always remember it!
Tomorrow I’ll be back with photos from the auction. You can read our other posts on the beach walk HERE, and our painting ponies HERE.
You can check out all the photos from the beach walk, pony swim and auction HERE. They are also available for purchase!
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