The Long-Awaited Pony Post!

Ponies of Assateague Campground A Loop

When we were staying on Assateauge there was one herd that hung out around our campground for the majority of our stay. This allowed me to "get to know" them a bit and have fun playing scientist observing their behavior and interactions.  Their histories I gleaned from badgering the park rangers and volunteers. When we get home I'm hoping to do some more research and find out more about them and fill in some of the missing information below.  Without further ado....The Ponies!

Left to Right - Mohawk, Belly, Footsie

Mohawk

Sex: Stallion

Color and Markings: Chestnut, no markings

Distinguishing Features: Distinctive thick and long mane, overgrown front hooves, especially the left

Age: Approaching teens?

Behaviors: Tends to stay a ways behind the herd on “look out”

History: Mohawk took his current mares from Sham, who is now a bachelor stallion. He grew up around the park entrance and, after being often fed by visitors, became a habitual biter. Eventually he was enough of a danger that the rangers moved him to a coral behind the visitor center area and would walk around the pen, scaring him when he approached to help disassociate humans with food and discourage biting.  He was released at the southern end of the island with other bachelor stallions and eventually made his way back up to the park this year. No biting so far.

Other Names: Joy ("official" park name), The Biter

Park ID:

Unfortunately I did not get many pictures of Mohawk, given his tendency to be behind the herd, and my tendency to stay far away from unknown stallions.

Belly

Belly

Sex: Mare

Color and Markings: Chestnut with stripe and roaning on the left cheek and left belly

Distinguishing Features: Looks pregnant due to salt bloat

Age: 25

Behaviors: Appears to be the lead mare in this band, seen on “look out” while others grazed. When Footsie and Laurie wandered off Belly was calling for them along with Mohawk.

Other Names: No park name given

Park ID: unknown

For her age Belly looks to be in excellent health. Since the park started using contraception to control the number of ponies on the island the life expectancy for mares jumped from 10 to 15 years up to 25 to 30 years! The stallion life expectancy jumped as well, probably due in part to less competition from younger stallions.

Footsie

Footsie

Sex: Mare

Color and Markings: Chestnut with a star

Distinguishing Features: Shaggy coat, looks like cushings. Over grown front hooves, especially the right.

Age: 24

Behaviors: Hangs out by showers and water pumps, known as a camp raider. Appears very independent and tends to be slightly apart from the rest of the herd.

Other Names: Park name may be Annie?

Park ID: unknown

As one of the volunteers put it Footsie is the old lady who does what she wants because she's lived long enough that she doesn't feel like she owes anything to anyone anymore.  She's a year younger than Belly but has aged less gracefully, her extra-shaggy coat may indicate cushings and she has that "old horse" look. I first met her after heading to the restroom I saw some guy washing his dishes at the water spigot (Bad camper!) and after he was done Footsie came over to drink from the puddle that had formed.  She couldn't have cared less about the bathroom door opening inches from her hindquarters, the risk taking tourists that were crowding waaay too close, or the fact that the rest of her herd was nowhere near.

Annie Laurie

Annie Laurie

Sex: Mare

Color and Markings: Chestnut Paint. White legs and rump, white star shape under jawbones.

Distinguishing Features: Nice conformation, good feet

Age: 3-4?

Behaviors: Apparently quite a headache for stallions, Laurie joins a new band when she gets “bored” of the current one. Curious and bold she will approach people if they are “in her way” or to look for handouts and is difficult to shoo away. Known as a camp raider.

History: Laurie is the daughter of the one mare in the park that the contraceptive doesn't work on. She is the 5th or 6th foal from Carol's Girl, who was expecting again when we visited.

Other Names: Chin, the paint (by me)

Park ID:

 

White bum and Star under jawbones

Baby 

Baby

Sex: Mare

Color and Markings: Chestnut with a small star

Distinguishing Features: Short mane and tail, leggy

Age: Looks to be around 1½ - 2

Behaviors: Baby is curious and friendly, approaches people, seems to want to make friends rather than demand food. Almost always close to one of the older mares, particularly Belly or Laurie. Occasionally seen initiating play.

Other Names: Park name unknown

Park ID: unknown

Annie Laurie and Baby