Wild horses at Assateague

schmoo

For living only a couple of hours from this place, it's funny that this is my first real time visiting this famous island! While there is a ton of wildlife here, the wild ponies are the most famous. They are everywhere and because you can get a citation for interacting in any way with them, they have learned to push humans around a bit more than is probably healthy.





In particular are the campsites, where the herds flock. You're not supposed to give them food or water but they know that when they see people around the showers and taps they can shove their way in and get a drink.







Needless to say, these animals had no problems with any of us walking right up to them and taking their picture. Actually, they kept approaching us (possibly for food?) and we had to back away. I do not envy the person that buys one of them at auction and has to re-establish the pecking order between horse and man. :wink

To end on a good note, the ponies have found another use for the drinking fountains, since they don't have thumbs to operate them for their original purpose:


Ahhh! That feels good!

zweiblumen

I had no idea ponies could scratch themselves like dogs. One would think that would hurt whacking yourself in the face with your hoof.
And I think the waterfountain/scratchingpost shot is cute as well.

Did they travel in herds at all? In these shots it looks like they are all wandering around by themselves. Maybe a nice group shot?

schmoo

This is not "nice" but it's a group shot. I took it to illustrate just how brazen and ridiculous these animals are:



FWIW the family was minding their own business and trying to get clean. That is not a barn wash stall they're standing on.

I've seen herds as small as two ponies, but definitely not one alone. Herd mentality FTW!

Phyxius

Schmoo lovely shots! I'm going to Assateague in November. I have it on good authority that's it's a lovely time of year to go...none of the bugs that it's famous for . And, it'll be the start of winter woolies.

RogersDA

I, too, have been thinking of taking the family over there.

Are there car-carrying ferries from Southern MD that you can take to get over to the Eastern Shore, or do you have to go through Rt 50?

dbaker1221

neat series

schmoo

Phyxius wrote:

Schmoo lovely shots! I'm going to Assateague in November. I have it on good authority that's it's a lovely time of year to go...none of the bugs that it's famous for . And, it'll be the start of winter woolies.

Oh god the bugs. The first time I got out of the car to take a couple of quick photos (maybe 3 minutes), I got 5 mosquito bites - three on my back through my shirt. :bluduh November should be lovely! I imagine it's much prettier without throngs of other visitors. Hope to see some of your photos when you get back!

Thanks Dave! And David, I just took 50 all the way out. I was staying with a friend in Berlin and took, um, 611 I think to get from there down to the island. I did find the Bellevue-Oxford Ferry and it doesn't appear to cut the distance significantly, but I'd think that would be a bit of a break from staring at cornfields for 2.5 hours.

Llywellyn

Very nice set! I love the third shot with the warning sign.

May have to venture out there myself. I had no idea it had wild ponies!

schmoo

Llywellyn wrote:

Very nice set! I love the third shot with the warning sign.

May have to venture out there myself. I had no idea it had wild ponies!

Whaaaat?? No Misty of Chincoteague as a kid? What little girl hasn't read it?

I don't suggest summertime, BTW. The mosquitos are famous... for a reason.

aj986s

Many years ago I visited the Park in the middle of January, with some friends. Very uncrowded in the middle of winter. But those ponies are smart and clever. We were in our friends 4x4 and on a trail with tall grass on both sides, when we were stopped by a pony blocking the trail. As soon as we stopped about a half-dozen other ponies, previously unseen, strutted out of the tall grasses, and started poking their noses into the windows. We literally had to bump into the ringleader pony several times before he completely got out of the way so we could move on.

schmoo

aj986s wrote:

Many years ago I visited the Park in the middle of January, with some friends. Very uncrowded in the middle of winter. But those ponies are smart and clever. We were in our friends 4x4 and on a trail with tall grass on both sides, when we were stopped by a pony blocking the trail. As soon as we stopped about a half-dozen other ponies, previously unseen, strutted out of the tall grasses, and started poking their noses into the windows. We literally had to bump into the ringleader pony several times before he completely got out of the way so we could move on.

That sounds about right! I should give the benefit of the doubt that they're just curious and feeling dominance over humans (and cars) but the cynic in me knows that out of the sheer volume of campers/tourists there are bound to be a fair number that feeds them, despite the warnings.

jdmphoto

Nice pitures I liked the last one best. Thanks for sharing.

JLGould

Lovely.
Very fun shots. "Don't Give Water To The Ponies" is my fav of the group...made me smile.
Just yesterday I was talking to my friend about borrowing her vacation home in the area so I could spend some time at Assateague. I should be up there in the next month.

schmoo

Thanks John and JLGould! The next month should be really nice, weather-wise. I hope you come back with stories and photos to share, too.