Evening star., 1938-07-17
ISLANDERS TOPEN
PONIES JULY e
Picturesque Chincoteague
to Present Customary
Pioneer Roundup.
Nv JESSE FAINT EVANS.

BY JESSE FAINT EVANS.
Long before the picturesque cowboys
eaIloped the Western ranges and held
their rodeos and round-ups, wind
swept Chincoteague Island OIL the
Eastern Shore of Virginia held its an
nual pony pennings.
This year, according to present Gus
tom. the ponies will be corralled on
the last Thursday in July (the 28th),
on the little strip of island about 7
miles long and from / to 2 miles wide
that takes its name from the friendly
Indians who lived there about 300
years ago.
Where these real lords of Chinco-
league and its neighboring island OF
Assoteague first had their origin, no
one really knows. 1t is supposed that
q Spanish ship in Colonial times was
shipwrecked off the coast Of Chinco-
league, carrying cargo of valuable
Arabian horses. Many undoubtedly
perished In the pounding surf off Asso-
league, but the remainder either swan
ashore or were washed ashore on
Chincoteague Island.
Distinctive Pony Develops.
Retreating to the scrubby pines for
shelter, and ranging afield among the
stretches of its salt marshes for pro-
vender, they flourished and multiplied.
Finally there emerged from this parent
stock of thoroughbreds, inbred per-
haps with Shetland pony stock, wiry
wild race of Stubby pony, now known
far and wide as the Chincoteague pony.
Kendall Jester and Robert Watson
descendants Of Chincoteagues first
white settlers, who are said to have
tntermarried with the daughters OF
Chlncoteague's Indian chieftains
were the first two islanders to capture
the ponies and sell them to the outside
world. They also inaugurated Chinco-
leagues yearly pony pennings, origin
ally held on August 10, but now moved
up to the last Thursday in July.
Then the ponies are corralled and
branded much in the fashion of the
Western roundup Owners simply
and readily identify their new stock
by watching which mare each colt fol-
lows.
The different herds of ponies have
their own natural leaders. Among the
most outstanding of these is a beauti-
ful gray stallion with a name that
looks like a miniature cascade OF
waters. As he tosses it back in the
wind when leading his followers in the
dash up the beach toward the town
upon the occasion Of the annual penn
Ing, he is picture of violent protest
at this temporary brooking of his
freedom and that of his mates.
One to Each Purchaser.
The ponies are sold at auction anG
bring anywhere from SIS to S1O(
apiece. No islander will sell NOR,
than one pony to an individual. II
just isn't possible to buy the Chinco.
league pony in wholesale lots.
They are somewhat small in size
ranging in weight from TOO to 8O(
pounds, whereas the average hors.
weighs from 1000 to 1,lOO pounds
Adept swimmers they are too high
spirited to be satisfactory for tn,
drudeery Of farm work as pillow horses
Usually OF one color. with the roar
an bay types prevailing. they max,
splendid saddle horses when broken
II kindly treated
AS sure-footed as mountain goats
they are especially suited for children
ponies. The Nicholson and McMastel
boys in the vicinity of Keller in Coco.
mac County. off which Chincoteasu,
Island lies, have been known to rae,
their Chincoteague ponies miles u,
parallel railroad tracks toward Painter
after the afternoon train has passes
without even a stumble over the ties
After the annual July penning tim,
fhe ponies run free until the mex
year. 1t Is no uncommon sight at an,
Time 10 see an adventurous group com,
kaiioping into the main street of tn,
town from their fastness of marsh an,
scrubby pine. To the "off islanders
VINO by chance glimpse their scamper
Anes and hear their whinnies. they re-
call stories of an earlier time befor,
man had deprived the horses of hi
untrammeled freedom.
Centenarian Prefers Ponies.
A Chincoteague centenarian, VIII,
will be on hand for this wears pon,
pennlng, God willing" as he reverent
ly puts it. is Capt. Ben Scott, who wa.
100 years old May %, and frank,
states that he prefers a Chincoteagu,
pony to an automobile for his "lanl
peregrinations," although he will "ac
cept passage" in a carefully-drivel
car.
Uncle Ben" as he is affectionatel,
called by many of his neighbors, re
members when Chincoteague did no
have the present causeway which con
meets It with the mainland, but wa
dependent upon row boats and sailin,
craft for its contact with the rest o
the world.
His recollections of Chincoteague'
unique position during the Civil Wa
are also vivid. This tiny island, nov
nationally known for its pony pen
nings, its oysters and sea food of al
kinds, did not follow the rest of Vir
ginia in its secession from the Union
Instead, it continued to conduct
prosperous trade with Boston an,
other New England sea ports durin
the duration of the Civil War. Con
federate forces in fat boats from tn
mainland of Virginia several time
attempted to punish the Chinco
teaguers for their action. previous +
the arrival of the Federal gunboat
Louisiana and New York.
When the islanders had reache
their decision to stay in the Union b
one vote" Uncle Ben said, "the Uniol