Posts Tagged ‘equine extremeist
The Auction – Pony Penning 2009
So yesterday I talked about the Chincoteague Pony Swim which was part of Pony Penning 2009, but there is another element to this annual event. The Auction! For days before the swim people line the auction arena with chairs, many tied together with reserved seating signs in the hopes of gaining front row access to the event. Some come for the pure enjoyment to watch the ponies being paraded into the spotlight, while others have the agenda of buying a foal. I wish I was the latter of the two, but sadly it will be several years before I can afford to add another Chincoteague to my brood.
Nightmist Legend and Tommie Turvey
The auction begins early on Thursday morning with opening announcement and performances by local equine groups. This year the Beebe Ranch and NightMist Legend made an appearance. Nightmist Legend is the son to the late Nightmist who died earlier this year due to complications of colic. It is clamied that Nightmist was one of the last living direct decendents of Misty of Chincoteague. Nightmist Legend is owned by Mike Pryor of Pennsylvania and is now being trained by the famous Tommie Turvey as well as several other trainers. Tommie Turvey is known as the equine etremeist as he trains horses to perform tricks as well as roman riding, he even trains horses for movies (a local gypsy vanner farm in my area is having Tommie train their horses for an upcoming movie to be filmed next summer). I have been following Tommie’s training methods some this year, as I now own several of his dvds. I still prefer to clicker train my horses, but some of his techniques are useful to combine with my method of clicker training. I had the privledge of talking with Tommie at the Beebe Ranch during my trip and I even invited him to come to my performance at the Chincoteague Pony Centre, but sadly he didn’t seem able to make it. But anyway, below is a clip of Tommie working with Nightmist Legend at the Auction. I believe the horse has only been in training for a few months, so I’m sure with further training by Tommie he will be a master of tricks!
Next up to perform were my friends at the Chincoteague Pony Center, and the world famous Chincoteague Pony Drill Team. I have never seen them perform in person, and I thought it was great! Some of the patterns they did in their drill were really complex – gave me chills! Anyway you can watch for yourself below!
Now on to the main event! The Pony auction! It really is quite a show, a group of two men bring out a feisty wild foal and parade it around the ring for all to see while the auctioneer does his thing. Some they have to muscle as the foals rear up and buck, but most of the time the foal quickly subsides to being led around. Its very humane I think, much better than being roped or let to race around an arena at the risk of spectators and the foals. The excitement lasts for several hours until all foals are either purchased or bought as buy-back foals to be sent back to the island. The foals are then penned up for the night to rest until they either make long journeys to their new homes on friday or are sent back to the island with their herds. Many that are too young to leave their mothers are sent back to the island as fall pickups and will be ready for their new homes come October.
All of the auction fun makes me dream of the day that I can take home a foal. Yes, I do have 3 very wonderful Chincoteague Ponies at home, but I dream of the day that I can train a foal from the beginning. I just know we will create a very special bond together. Several lucky children this year had their dream of owning a foal come true with the help of the feather fund, an organization that chooses children each year that they will help to buy a foal. You can read all about them on their website.
more photos of the auction can be see at www.greenhorsestudios.com
