Conference noted::equitation

    Hi Linda,
    
    Its right around the 3rd week in July, friends of mine went last year
    and said it was great.
    
    Linda
    
    

    This note just brought back lots of memories of horse books I used to
    read..."Misty of Chincoteague"... (and the Breyer model horse of Misty
    that I cherished -- Any Breyer collectors out there?)
    Though I cannot remember who the author was -- she/he wrote other horse
    novels for children such as "Justin Morgan had a Horse". Can anyone
    help me?
    
    Ellen

    
    Yes, didn't you LOVE those books?? That's what gave me the idea,
    actually! If I hadn't read that book, I never would have known about
    the roundups...I even had a little Shetland pony that I named "Misty" after the
    equine heroine....I don't remember the author, though. I also collected
    models as a child, but I only have one left (God only knows what
    happened to the rest). And didn't Misty have a foal named Stormy??
    I in later years had a 1/2 Morgan, also a pinto, that I called Stormy
    because his markings were so much like my little ponies had been!
    

    
    
    The author was/is Marguerite Henry.  I have all of her books and read
    them over and over until the covers about fell off.  I still have all 
    of them on my bookshelf.  I especially like the on she did titled King
    of the Eind about the Godolphin Arabian.  My TB mare Jinx goes back to
    him through War Admiral and Man O' War.  A nostalgic tie from past to
    present.
    
    Pat

    
    Pat,
    
    Our TB's are related! Mine also had War Admiral in his pedigree...but
    I did not know that would link him to the Godolphin Arabian...I
    remember that story too! That is pretty interesting! 
    

    We have a Chincoteague pony that we bought at auction in 1987 at the 
    Pony Penning Day (3rd Thursday in July... I believe).
    
    I wrote a brief description of our situation in note # 12.19 in this
    notesfile.
    
    The events occur over the whole week with a round-up on Assateague,
    corraling on Assateague, channel swim, auction, and return swim.  The
    firemen who manage the Virginia herd (there is also a Maryland herd)
    run a Carnival during the same week.  All the events are well
    publicized locally and would be readily available by calling the
    Chincoteague firehouse or the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce.
    
    Nothing is done to manage or maintain the Maryland herd.  These events
    only pertain to the Virginia herd which is maintained at around 150
    head. (Assateague is in Maryland and Virginia... Chincoteague is in
    Virginia and the herds are separated by fencing.
    
    I hope you get to enjoy this year's fun-filled week.
    
    Best wishes,
    
    John Wood
    GRANMA::JWOOD
    John Wood @ DCo 

    We are lucky enough to have a great little Chincoteague pony that's
    almost horse size.  He will be three years old in April and stands 14
    hands high.  As far as I can tell, he has grown only from 13.3 to 14
    hands in the past six months.
    
    Does anyone have any idea how much more he might grow?  Could he have
    reached his full height by 3 years or can we expect him to grow for
    another year or two?
    
    I am conerned about his size because of the following situation.
    
    I have been training him myself; he is good on the lunge line, is fine
    for trail rides, has a nice trot, but has a canter that resembles a
    bronco.  I am the only one who will ride him because of this minor
    fault.  I'm a little heavy for him.  I'd like my children to ride him.
    I'm hoping that he will grow big enough that I can continue to ride
    him when he's better trained.  I'm also afraid that I may be too heavy
    for him for cantering.
    
    He currently wears a martingale that attaches to his bridle rather than
    to his reins.  This helps a great deal, but not enough to calm my kids
    as prospective riders.  If I don't get him settled down soon, he may be
    my horse forever, but he may not be big enough for me to ride
    regularly since I weigh around 180 lbs.
    
    Please offer any advice that you think could help.
    
    John Wood
    
    PS... My kids weigh 75, 85, and 115 lbs; my wife weighs 130 lbs.
         Our other horses are 14.1 hands and 15.2 hands.

    To me it is more the structure of the horse and not the height.  Small
    horses can carry weight if they are built for it.
                          There are probably a number of folks in the notes
    file who can verbally explain the specs...I usually have to see the
    animal to tell.
    
    Good luck
    

    I had a friend who had such a pony that finished at 4.2 and did some
    growing in her 4th year. As to weight carrying capacity of a horse a
    standard rule of thumb I heard some years ago was "a horse can carry
    one fourth of his own weight all day". A weight tape might help ease
    or justify your fears. Also I would not be too concerned that a 3 year
    old pony is not good for kids, mental maturity comes at 6 to 7 years.
    Given time the pony could be perfect, its still very much a baby.
    Sandy
    PS the first line should say 14.2....oops..

    Hi, I originally come from Salibury, Maryland which is about 30-40
    minutes away from Chincoteague/Assateaque Islands. I will give you all
    the information I have:
      The ponies came from Spain and the boat they came on was ship wrecked
    off the coast. They swam to the island and for many years people would
    come to the islands and just catch the wild ponies and take them home
    as pets. 
      Several years ago the Federal government decided to protect them and
    now these ponies are on Federal land (a reserve). They were starving
    and being abused by the locals. They do have a round up around late
    spring/early summer. The best thing to do is call (301)555-1212
    (Maryland's information number) and ask for the Chamber of Commerse
    on Assateague Island or the Dept. of Enviromental Protection. 
      Misty is the famous Chincoteague Pony that all the childrens's
    stories are about. She is the heroine who supposedly guidethe other
    horses to safety. 
      This spot is NOT to be missed. The entire Chesapeake Bay are is full
    of birds/deer/small cute animals and best of all beautiful wild horses!
    While you are there take RT 50 W to Blackwater Wildlike reserve. (It
    will take 1.5 hrs but in the Fall and spring there are more birds that
    come there in a marsh natural habitat than anywhere in the world.)
    Naturalists do not understand fully why the birds come and rest but
    they do.
    
    Write me (EVE STELZNER@DVO or DV780::STELZNER) if you need more
    information.
    
    Eve
    

    In reply to the owner of the 14 hand pony.  At three
    years old your pony may still be growing.  Most ponies
    and horses grow in spirts, i.e. hind end grows a few 
    inches, front catches up.  This may be the cause to 
    bucking like canter.  Stand your pony up on flat ground
    and get a good look at the topline.  It may actually
    appear that your pony is standing on a downhill slope 
    if it's hindquarters have just grown.  
    
    While your pony is doing this much growing, I would 
    suggest light riding work until all the joints in the 
    knees, etc have become solid enough to handle your 
    weight at the higher gaits.
    
    Sounds like a nice little pony.  I'm sure that as 
    the pony matures and the kids get a little older, they
    will all meet somewhere in the middle and really enjoy
    riding it.
    
    *Marti - used to camp on those islands & wakeup to big
             pony eyes and long pony wiskers peering into 	
             my tent*
    
                                                

    Thank you for your informative reply.  We are doing light riding only
    with him.  He is still doing well on trails, but needs more frequent
    work than I can give him alone.  Hopefully, time will resolve the kids
    reluctance to ride him.  They love to ride the other horses.
    
    John

    This may belong under brags and boasts, but I like it better here...
    
    For the past two years, my 13 year old daughter has been working with
    our Chincoteague Pony as her 4-H project due to a chronic laminitis
    problem with her regular pony (who is just recently shown signs of
    full? recovery).
    
    At first it was a real challenge for her since Dusty of Chincoteague
    was, and still is to some extent, green and very much a pony with a
    pony's attitude about work.  Elizabeth worked hard to get Dusty to
    perform satisfactorily on the 4-H drill team, to show at a few small
    shows, and as an entrant in the 4-H County Fair.  She made good
    progress and won a few ribbons last year, but she really missed the
    willing attitude and cooperative relationship that she had previously
    with her original pony.
    
    This year, Liz and Dusty continued to make progess.  They entered
    pleasure jumping for the first time, won several ribbons in equitation
    and pleasure classes and won a Blue Ribbon in the 4-H Horse Promotion
    Class by showing Dusty as a western pony and writing a speech about the
    versatility of Chincoteague Ponies.
    
    The 11th of September Liz entered Dusty in a State Dressage competition
    run by the State of Maryland 4-H; they won 6th place in the Junior
    Novice Rider class and won 1st place in Junior Novice Horse, Novice
    Rider.
    
    Her mother and I are very proud of her and she has totally accepted
    Dusty as her pony at this point.
    
    A proud parent,
    
    JW 8}

    If anyone is interested...
    
    The Chincoteague Fire Department have established a registry for
    Chincoteague Ponies.  Let me know if anyone wants details.
    
    JW 

    
    Congds' John to you and your daughter!  What a nice story!
    
    continued success.
    
    Louisa

see http://www-notes.lkg.dec.com/noted/equitation/%21ask? for the following
ad:

Registered Chincoteague Pony available for on-farm lease in Maryland. 
Dusty is suitable for 4-H and Pony Club use by 4-H aged riders. He has 
performed on the 4-H Drill Team of Montgomery County for 2 years and is 
used for lessons for small children. Full lease or half leases are negotiable.
                                       SEND ME EMAIL at [email protected]
                                       or call me 1-301-253-6362




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try this...

http://www.magicsearch.com/4D.ACGI$LAST_PAGE?2845

John Wood
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