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Selasa, 11 Desember 2012

Discover The History Of The Wild And Beautiful Assateague Horses

By Celia Hall


The feral Assateague horses that live at Assateague Island National Seashore are known all over the world for their beautiful wildness. They have lived on the barrier island off the coast of Maryland and Virginia since the time the first settlers were arriving in the New World. Legend has it that they are the descendants of ponies that escaped a sinking Spanish galleon. Experts say that their ancestors may have been part of livestock hidden away from mainland tax collectors. Regardless of their history, they are part of the tradition of the area and visitors flock to see them each year.

These ponies are divided into two herds. The Maryland herd is known as the Assateague, while the Virginia herd is called the Chincoteague. Both live along the coastal areas that are shared by the two states. The Maryland ponies roam freely and have a reputation for wild and spontaneous behaviors. The Virginia ponies are a bit more managed, though equally feral.

Equine experts throughout the United States view these two herds as the most wild currently living in the country. Scientific groups observe and evaluate these animals regularly because their life style has allowed them to develop away from inbreeding. These fascinating ponies exhibit behaviors, group dynamics, and family patterns that are unique in the horse world.

The officials that manage each herd work hard to keep the population in check. Each group rarely numbers more than one hundred and fifty or so. This way, the animals will not exhaust the natural resources that help to sustain them. There will be enough space for them to live adequately and enough natural plants for them to eat. The veterinarians that care for them plan for appropriate vaccinations, medications, contraception and culling the herds through yearly public auctions.

When the Assateague herd drops below reasonable limits, it is common for members of the Chincoteague herd to be selected to add to the previous. In this way, each group of ponies is kept at a limit that helps them to remain healthy and find the foods they need on the island. The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire company tends to the needs of its herd. The National Park Service manages the wilder Maryland herd.

Because thousands visit each year, a Pony Patrol roams throughout the area educating the public about them. These equines have a reputation for biting, kicking and even charging at humans. There are strict rules that demand absolutely no contact between humans and horses.

Literally thousands visit each year to watch as the annual swim and Pony Penning round up likely auction candidates among the herds. Some will bid for ponies that will be auctioned as soon as the swim is finished. Most will enjoy the proceedings and then spend the rest of their time at the yearly carnival.

The famous Assateague horses are truly wild. Viewed as a national treasure, these handsome animals remind people of the rugged adventurous settlers of the New World. Many would prefer to keep them as wild as possible and work with environmental agencies to keep the herds protected and secluded. Though humans can camp on the island areas, they often find themselves sharing space with these stubborn animals who know the land and consider it their own.




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