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Description
Name: Assateague Wild Pony
Date: October 8th, 2012
Location: Assateague Island National Seashore near Berlin, MD
Conservation Status: Least Concern

Did you know? Resource management techniques are different in Maryland than in
Virginia when it comes to maintaining a healthy population of wild ponies. In Maryland, some
female horses annually undergo a contraceptive vaccine administered through a dart gun.
This has proven to reduce high pregnancy rates with no harmful side effects. Wild horses in
Virginia are part of the Annual Pony Swim (started in 1924). Approx. 150 wild horses are rounded
up on Assateague the last Wednesday in July. The horses swim across the Assateague Channel
to Chincoteague Island where an auction takes place to reduce their numbers on Assateague.
After many of the foals are sold, the remaining herd swims back to Assateague a couple days later.
These management techniques reduce the impact the horses pose to their natural environment and
help provide a sustainable resource for future generations.

Lesson learned: don't trust an 'old' GPS and don't get the urge to photograph feral ponies when it's
freezing cold and wet out. It makes for a miserable experience. On the bright side, though, I found
this fellow! The sole reason for the four-hour drive out there.

Featured:
Feature 63 | Friday Features October 26th | First Feature

© 2012 Kristina Truluck
Facebook | Flickr | 500px
This work may not be reproduced/used by anyone in any manner without my written permission.
Sharing on social media sites such as Tumblr, Pintrest, etc. is allowed as long as you credit me and/or
link back to this page.

Description
Name: Assateague Wild Pony
Date: October 8th, 2012
Location: Assateague Island National Seashore near Berlin, MD
Conservation Status: Least Concern

Did you know? Resource management techniques are different in Maryland than in
Virginia when it comes to maintaining a healthy population of wild ponies. In Maryland, some
female horses annually undergo a contraceptive vaccine administered through a dart gun.
This has proven to reduce high pregnancy rates with no harmful side effects. Wild horses in
Virginia are part of the Annual Pony Swim (started in 1924). Approx. 150 wild horses are rounded
up on Assateague the last Wednesday in July. The horses swim across the Assateague Channel
to Chincoteague Island where an auction takes place to reduce their numbers on Assateague.
After many of the foals are sold, the remaining herd swims back to Assateague a couple days later.
These management techniques reduce the impact the horses pose to their natural environment and
help provide a sustainable resource for future generations.

Lesson learned: don't trust an 'old' GPS and don't get the urge to photograph feral ponies when it's
freezing cold and wet out. It makes for a miserable experience. On the bright side, though, I found
this fellow! The sole reason for the four-hour drive out there.

Featured:
Feature 63 | Friday Features October 26th | First Feature

© 2012 Kristina Truluck
Facebook | Flickr | 500px
This work may not be reproduced/used by anyone in any manner without my written permission.
Sharing on social media sites such as Tumblr, Pintrest, etc. is allowed as long as you credit me and/or
link back to this page.