ocean east banner dove winds banner hampton inn banner comfort suites banner

Chincoteague Island - 2014 Pony Swim Recap

All Articles

2014 marked the 89th year of Chincoteague's annual Pony Roundup, Swim, and auction. The world famous event is put on the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company who owns and manages the herd of Wild Ponies on Assateague Island.

The Roundup...

As in year's past all of the approximately 150 adult ponies, along with their foals, were rounded up and corralled the weekend prior to Wednesday's Pony Swim. The southern herd was rounded up on Saturday July 26th and the northern herd on Sunday July 27th. During this time the ponies received veterinary care.

The Beach Walk...

On Monday morning, July 28th, the Saltwater Cowboy's moved the northern herd south, along the beach and ocean, to the southern corral in preparation for Wednesday's swim. During this year's beach walk the Saltwater Cowboys honored one of their own.


Riderless horse in memory of US Fish & Wildlife employee, Saltwater Cowboy, and lifetime member of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, Grover Elmer "Drizzle" Wilgus, Jr. who passed away June 11, 2014. The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company renamed the south pony corral "Wilgus Corral" in honor of him.

This plaque was placed at the corral. Click on the image to enlarge it.

The Swim...

The Chincoteague Ponies mad the 89th annual swim across Assateague Channel to Chincoteague Island on Wednesday, July 30th at approximately 12:20 pm.

The Parade Down Main Street...

After completing the swim the Ponies rested for a bit then made their way down Beebe Road and Main Street to the carnival grounds.

The Auction...

54 foals were sold at this year's auction bringing in a total of $149,700 for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, who uses a portion of the proceeds to care for the Ponies throughout the year. The average sale price for a pony was $2,772, significantly higher than in recent years. Ten "buyback" ponies were sold for a total of $94,200. A new record was set with the sale of a black-and-white buyback filly for $21,000. Of the non-buybacks ponies sold, the highest sale price was $5,000. The lowest winning bid at this year's auction was $700.

The Beer family purchased the first buyback pony at Thursday's auction for $7,100.

Tim Heckman from Columbia, MD purchased this buckskin filly buyback pony for $8,100. He named the foal 'Randy' in honor of his younger brother, Randall Heckman, who drowned on Assteague beach in August 2000 at age 44. Proceeds from the sale were donated to the Chincoteague Island Library. Each year the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company donates the proceeds from one buyback pony to a designated charity.

Sabrina Dobbins from Tall Timbers, MD after placing her winning bid on a pony. The Feather Fund helped Sarbrina with the purchase.

12 year old, twin sisters Courtney and Trisha Gagne of Round Top, NY were also Feather Fund recipients this year.

Kirsten Wood cries after winning a Chincoteague Pony foal at auction on Thursday, July 31, 2014. Wood had bid on several ponies early in the auction before finally winning one.

The Swim Back To Assateague...

On Friday the Ponies swam back to Assateague, where they will live until next July when they once again make their annual trek to Chincoteague Island for the 90th Annual Pony Swim.


This article was published by Chincoteague.com on .
Receive more articles like this one, delivered to you, by subscribing to our RSS Feed!

HOME | ACCOMMODATIONS | DINING | ACTIVITIES | REAL ESTATE | SHOPS | SERVICES | EVENTS | PONIES | PONY SWIM GUIDE | PONY SWIM PICS

PONY ROUNDUP PICS | PONIES BY NAME | WEB CAM | SPECIALS AND DISCOUNTS | INTERACTIVE CHINCOTEAGUE MAP | LOCATION | PHOTOS | NEWS

Chincoteague.com
4099 Bradley Lane
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336


Advertise With Us!