Watch Famous Ponies Swim in Chincoteague Island Tradition

Watch Famous Ponies Swim in Chincoteague Island Tradition | National Geographic

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8 жыл бұрын

These horses aren't taking a dip in the water just to cool off in the sweltering Virginia summer. They're the famous Chincoteague ponies of Assateague Island, and they're herded across the channel to Chincoteague Island every July by "saltwater cowboys." Most of the foals are auctioned off the next day to raise money for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, which owns and manages the herd under a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A few foals designated as "buybacks" are donated to the fire company and returned to Assateague Island to replenish the herd and live in the wild for another year. The auction also helps maintain the feral horse population at around 150 on the Virginia side of Assateague Island.
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Click to read more about the Chincoteague ponies of Assateague Island.
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VIDEOGRAPHER & PRODUCER: Jed Winer
EDITOR: Nick Lunn
ADDITIONAL FOOTAGE: Kristin Hugo
SPECIAL THANKS: Alex Tucker & Lester Dennis
Watch Famous Ponies Swim in Chincoteague Island Tradition | National Geographic
• Watch Famous Ponies Sw...
National Geographic
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Пікірлер: 182

@jordyn523 3 жыл бұрын

As a western equestrian this would be a dream to participate in. Ugh I love Chincoteague. I have to go back.

@jobond3317 5 жыл бұрын

Love the book Misty of Chincoteague grew up reading this and other books by the author Marguerite Henry

@wolfclaw254 3 жыл бұрын

BRO ME TOO

@hollyTM 8 жыл бұрын

I went to Chincoteague a few years ago, and went on a boat tour to see the wild ponies. They are incredibly beautiful, and on some areas on Assateague Island they will even come onto the beach if they're aren't many people that day. They're so amazing to see.

@maddiezapss 8 жыл бұрын

its cool until the horses eat your food 😂 trust me I've experienced it there many times

@kinnerman1 8 жыл бұрын

+Maddie Zaps they kept having fights outside my tent, stealing our food, and poking the tent with their noses. they were everywhere.

@loreebeebee 8 жыл бұрын

You guys are talking about the Maryland side, not the Virginia side. In Maryland they do steal food but that is why coolers are supposed to be strapped closed.

@kinnerman1 8 жыл бұрын

+loreebeebee I don't think you understand. they try to open everything. they rummage through everything looking for food. they are the same ponies on both sides of the state line...

@stdaisey 4 жыл бұрын

Yep I live here you probably went on Daisey’s island cruises that’s my dads and pop pops business

@barefootgin3882 4 жыл бұрын

Read the books here in UK age ten, still pony mad now age 53!! Lovely to see the real life swim...

@maxwellssilverhammer 5 жыл бұрын

This island has so much to offer. Pony's and NASA launches. Incredible.

@pisces1017 5 жыл бұрын

We got to Chincoteague for the 4th of July week. It is a wonderful place to vacation with the family anytime of the year. It's a bikable island, a welcoming community- it's a beautiful place to visit and I'd love to live there.

@mchobbit2951 7 жыл бұрын

Misty of Chincoteague brought me here. How amazing to see that this is still done.

@svetlanatruefamtisaj8498 6 жыл бұрын

So beautiful ponyes! ❤️😍

@treething5145 2 жыл бұрын

it's cool to see your hometown on national geographic.

@2degucitas 8 жыл бұрын

We all read a book about this 45 years ago. That's why so many people my age (56) know this.

@jfm14 3 жыл бұрын

Kids haven't stopped reading those books since. They're still popular. That's why everyone who's ever loved horses knows about this.

@rugvedkulkarni1593 3 жыл бұрын

What book would that be?

@EmJ.806 3 жыл бұрын

I read this book when I was 6, read it every year, I’m 13 now

@Xinder720 2 жыл бұрын

@@rugvedkulkarni1593 The book I read as a kid (I was around 9 or 10 at the time during the 70s) was titled "Sea Star" by Marguerite Henry.

@lizat7918 2 жыл бұрын

@@rugvedkulkarni1593 Misty of Chincoteague is a really famous one, I believe it’s also a movie

@pixelperfect8863 7 жыл бұрын

This is so cool! I live on Chincoteague, and I watch the ponyswim every single year!

@banditthegermanshepherd6406 6 жыл бұрын

PixelPerfect Wow, that is so cool! You are very lucky, I am so envious! 😊

@HBPHOTO1 6 жыл бұрын

PixelPerfect lucky i go for like a week every year

@JStubblefield79391 6 жыл бұрын

As an eye witness, can you shed some light on whether they actually swim or are they just walking on the channel floor?

@caseycuster1741 5 жыл бұрын

Do you Lis a wip full wh un

@NuggieIsMissing Ай бұрын

@@JStubblefield79391They can actually swim. Horses are quite good at swimming for non aquatic animals

@mryoung0412 8 жыл бұрын

in Ocean City you can take a tour boat ride over to the assateague and see them roaming around, its one of the best things to do with your kids in OC. They ask you dont disturb the ponies but theres lots of wildlife there you can get close to, even catch.

@kinnerman1 8 жыл бұрын

just drive onto the island... you don't need an expensive boat ride...

@magali1120 5 жыл бұрын

U animal why would you catch one of them dirty piece of scum. How would you like to be catched and put into a trailer??

@cmc0323 3 жыл бұрын

@@magali1120 ummm he said “other wildlife” he wants talking about the horses - gee!

@hippiecowgirl4231 9 ай бұрын

Please don't catch wildlife . Its not nice

@mrpoolplayer6379 4 жыл бұрын

Outstanding event, the Horses are awesome....

@myhappygecko2895 2 жыл бұрын

I am glad to see the don't make the old and young swim, but I do hope they aren't auctioning off these horses too young, horses learn manners from their mom and I know from so many bad situations a foal taken too young can have problems and also how heart breaking for the mom if they are looking for them and can't find them out of instinct.

@horselover6096 3 жыл бұрын

I got a Chincoteague pony this year, (parents are little duckie & Don Leonard Stud ll)

@EmJ.806 3 жыл бұрын

Who are those horses?

@LKauf279 Жыл бұрын

There is a book about them! It’s a national wildlife reserve with a herd of feral horses. Once tamed, released decades ago. The park staff round them up to auction a few off of buyers for population control and finances for the park. It’s a specific breed of horse due to being isolated on the island for so long.

@deborahklein9109 4 жыл бұрын

Wow this is so cool ,I would love to visit there ❤️❤️

@JenniferTaylor-uq9ex Ай бұрын

How nice!

@itsgingerlol 4 жыл бұрын

Oh come on guys that was INTERESTING

@marauder0013 2 жыл бұрын

I been doing the swim since 2011. love doin it

@capecodmaureenmcbride3707 8 жыл бұрын

i was blessed to meet Misty and see the swim and was offered a pony when I was 7 ,I have to return ,it is on my birthday yearly

@banditthegermanshepherd6406 6 жыл бұрын

Maureen Mcbride So cool! What an awesome experience for you!

@jfm14 3 жыл бұрын

Wow, lucky you! I had (and still have and cherish) a stuffed plush version of Misty!

@capecodmaureenmcbride3707 3 жыл бұрын

Trust me she was dirty in a run down stall that had manure up to her knees i was a little 7 year old child it was 1969 i believe there were huge wooden signs on side of highway tourist trapping people to see amd pat amd have a snapshop with her .evem at 6 years old i knew.. i patted her apologized to her told her if she were mine id set her free on assateague again i left. It was ine of 1st memorys and it still gives me a tummy ache to this day

@capecodmaureenmcbride3707 3 жыл бұрын

@@banditthegermanshepherd6406 1st memory amd far from awesome she was filthy in a dirty stall up to knees in manure it was broken down she looked so utterly hopeless even as a child. I knew this was so so wrong

@EmJ.806 3 жыл бұрын

You met misty? What year

@elliejoinkidsforfrenchspan5704 2 жыл бұрын

So cool!

@KaidenConrad 16 күн бұрын

I bin going there since I was 2

@FizzleFX 6 жыл бұрын

To much Talk. To little swim

@TheGrowCave 6 жыл бұрын

Miss you granddad :(

@fuchion15 8 жыл бұрын

How amazing, thanks for sharing!

@stdaisey 4 жыл бұрын

Hi i live on Chincoteague and my dad has a website for Chincoteague and this is his video🤗 I’m not lying

@nate5859 3 жыл бұрын

dude i’ve been to chincogeague many times and it’s such a great place to go, no pizza place will ever beat famous pizza either

@eeveehee8559 4 жыл бұрын

It is really really beautiful to see the ponies swimming, I understand that it is their nature but I saw other clips where the cowboys “force” the ponies with a whip to get into the water, that was very sad for me to see that but well ...It is a tradition

@jazzminej5230 3 жыл бұрын

Agreed

@4evrmind 2 жыл бұрын

using the word “tradition” to justify inhumane acts is becoming unbearable.

@theonce-wasnevermore9270 2 жыл бұрын

@@4evrmind Tbh i agree. Its pretty easy for humans to dominate when there isnt any true direct competitor

@mackenziej6553 2 жыл бұрын

They weren’t whipping the horses. You smack the ground to create the cracking sound. They need to have all of the horses together to prevent breakage in the herd and to make sure everyone is safe.

@mackenziej6553 2 жыл бұрын

@@4evrmind it’s not tradition, it’s horsemanship. they were absolutely not whipping the horses, rather just cracking the whip against the ground. read my comment above this one :)

@jeanmariejrtherenciel1782 5 жыл бұрын

i just finished it

@BlackPantherrStudios 8 жыл бұрын

This is similar to the Colorado Rodeo. Great video.

@kimsacat1180 6 жыл бұрын

saw this every year when I was a kid. I miss it. I want to take my kids someday

@jeanmariejrtherenciel1782 5 жыл бұрын

my god i have homework on this

@sydneydavis4870 10 күн бұрын

Only a limited number of ponies can live on the island. It’s not very big.

@samuelrowland76 6 жыл бұрын

Last year I went to it because my sister wanted to go

@katiemaki5740 3 жыл бұрын

What?? I thought this was a natural thing

@everycrowd3166 6 жыл бұрын

The one thing I just wanna know? Why don’t u auction the colts and fillies when they grow into mares and stallions? Because then they are stronger and faster instead of small colts and fillies? I’m just asking :P

@smayo3975 6 жыл бұрын

Everycrowd 31 I’m not a horse expert, so I don’t know for sure, but when my family and I visited for Pony Penning, they said the foals were easier to train than the adults. Not that the adults couldn’t be trained, just that the foals-the weaned foals-were easier.

@Caleb-dh2jp 6 жыл бұрын

The reason they don’t is because there would probably be overpopulation issues by the time they all grow

@Judexxxxxjjjjj 8 жыл бұрын

Omg seahorses !!

@tristansvlogs2718 3 жыл бұрын

I live there

@Grace5ross6781 4 жыл бұрын

ok but why did my math teacher have us watch this? and how did she find it??

@schantaleward9227 2 жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣🤣

@jeanmariejrtherenciel1782 5 жыл бұрын

and homework on assateague island

@lpsmckenna4104 6 жыл бұрын

Next year I'll be going to Chincoteague island with my grandad!

@smayo3975 6 жыл бұрын

LPSMcKenna I was there last summer with my family and we had an absolute blast! I’m sure you and your grandpa will have loads of fun!

@caroline8733 8 жыл бұрын

the car ruined the world. bring back just horses 😁😁😁

@Colton_Marten 8 жыл бұрын

Actually they switched to cars back in the early 1900s because horses were polluting the cities so much with there shit but now cars have polluted everything

@caroline8733 8 жыл бұрын

I'd rather be polluted by horse poo than car fumes..

@katiemcmanus4627 7 жыл бұрын

Be glad for cars the horses were not well taken care of.

@Colton_Marten 7 жыл бұрын

Caroline no you wouldn't you couldn't walk they had horse shit piled up on the sidewalks 4 feet high

@eliza6e7h 6 жыл бұрын

Caroline no If I ever rode a horse, girl I would fall lol

@dougkile7075 8 жыл бұрын

I wish they were still wild. I live in northern Virginia. But I went there but I didn't see any wild ones.

@hollyTM 8 жыл бұрын

I've gone to Chincoteague multiples times. They've not near the houses & mainland, they're farther out by assateague Island & towards water. You can take boat tours & go kayaking to be able to see them better. They usually stay in the woods & grasslands away from people.

@hollyTM 8 жыл бұрын

+Holly Bug *they're

@Firedbranch 6 жыл бұрын

i was there but i was in the back because there was so many people but i still got to see the horses

@jacksmith8 3 жыл бұрын

Where is this at?

@maddiezapss 8 жыл бұрын

A VIDEO NEAR WHERE I LIVE OMG

@Daniel-ol1fk Жыл бұрын

Descendientes de caballos Españoles

@MetroScreamingMayor 3 жыл бұрын

I come from the Eastern Shore and have been here a few times, but I've never ONCE seen one of these horses.

@katiemcmanus4627 7 жыл бұрын

Can I use this video for an edit if I only use like 30 or less seconds

@maaai3345 3 жыл бұрын

I DIDNT KNOW HORSES COULD SWIM?!?

@irenicrose 3 жыл бұрын

yep they can! I've ridden one while it was swimming before

@maaai3345 3 жыл бұрын

@@irenicrose whoa must've been a cool experience

@maaai3345 3 жыл бұрын

@@edward.l.h7450 they're not tho?

@maaai3345 3 жыл бұрын

@@edward.l.h7450 the closest relatives to hippos are pigs, dolphins, and whales. hippos and horses aren't related at all you can try looking it up

@maaai3345 3 жыл бұрын

@@edward.l.h7450 the only related thing about them is that "hippopotamus" means "river horse" in greek

@FashnKween 5 жыл бұрын

Are they really wild horses if humans are interfering with them so much? I'm surprised there arent any laws on these wild animals?

@mackenziej6553 2 жыл бұрын

No horse is a true “wild” horse by today’s standards. Horses are invasive species and by auctioning them off, they’re protecting the land and allowing for stabilization of herd numbers.

@janicefriend6363 7 жыл бұрын

Arleen Zito this is for you

@learleywells4498 2 жыл бұрын

So, what's the purpose of allowing those horses and ponies swim through the river?? What's the purpose of it? Why?

@piogal34 9 ай бұрын

Good question. It’s actually not a river, but a channel between two islands. Taking all of the horses over by boat would be much more difficult and time consuming. The spectacle also attracts a lot of attention and is an event the town has done for almost 100 years.

@NuggieIsMissing Ай бұрын

It’s to control the population of how many ponies live on the island at a time so they don’t spill over onto private properties and farmland. They auction off some of the ponies to give them more of an opportunity in life other than being slaughtered. This is such a better way of doing roundups than using helicopters and Judas horses

@evrena5210 8 жыл бұрын

I wish they'd leave them alone and not sell them.

@maddiezapss 8 жыл бұрын

they get over populated and have to fight for resources

@TrevorLawrence666 8 жыл бұрын

They are invasive species and need to be managed

@evrena5210 8 жыл бұрын

+Trevor Lawrence oh I see

@loreebeebee 8 жыл бұрын

They are limited to 150 adult ponies on the va side and the auction is a fundraiser for the fire department.

@nikkicraft 6 жыл бұрын

humans are the invasive species. horses would do fine without their "help" and profiteering off them.

@TheTayseen 5 жыл бұрын

At least wait until the foals are weaned!!!!!

@gweegygweegy6126 5 жыл бұрын

T Mukhtar they said that they get the foals and mother’s and old ones and trailer them across.

@TheTayseen 5 жыл бұрын

@@gweegygweegy6126 look at the video

@gweegygweegy6126 5 жыл бұрын

T Mukhtar what part of the video? Will you put a time stamp?

@Lam0rak 3 жыл бұрын

do they have a right to sell them?

@mackenziej6553 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, they do. This prevents overpopulation because horses are invasive species. It’s similar to the Bureau of Land Management rounded up feral horses for auction in other states. Horses are not native to North America and can cause habitat loss, so the department on the island is allowed to sell

@justwannaname Жыл бұрын

Why though? I’m so confused. Not trying to be rude.

@user-tx7bx7vi9q 6 жыл бұрын

я русская я не понимаю

@frankmoyer5822 3 жыл бұрын

When I was a boy 50 years ago we would go every July to see the swim and eat fried oyster sandwiches. I have never had better fried oysters. since.

@jhormanetxeverry7247 8 жыл бұрын

I think that it's a necessary take a shower, tiroalblanco!

@lynnterrence4229 4 жыл бұрын

Why do they MAKE them swim? Seems cruel. Do any ever perish like the foals? I don't understand why they force them in. Sad to me.

@jazzminej5230 3 жыл бұрын

Me too! After visiting the island and seeing them free this simply appears as money scheme and somewhat animal cruelty.... it is obvious when there ,that’s their natural habitat and they enjoy roaming

@NuggieIsMissing Ай бұрын

Compare that how to how the US does it this is actually way more humane and it’s not a long swim. In the US, we drive them over rough terrain with helicopters while these guys are rounded up with horses and are under less stress

@archangel807 9 ай бұрын

Those are wild horses...700 yrs old.......no right to send them to horse slaughter autions for the kill pen......

@learleywells4498 2 жыл бұрын

You mentioned you sell those ponies. Before you sell them do you investigate and run background check on each individual? Most evil men wants to kill horses and ponies for meat. They slaughter them. After watching a documentary on the subject it broke my heart into pieces and I cried so much that I couldn't bare to watch anymore of it. It was on tv 15 years ago. ☹️ The way they would do it is shoot them with darts to make them sleep and then the evil men would gather up all the sleeping horses and ponies and strung them upside down and then slaughter then. 🥺😳😭💔💔 I hope y'all are not like that. ☹️💔💔

@mackenziej6553 2 жыл бұрын

These horses go for so much money. No one would pay that much for a meat horse.

@joshualee8641 8 жыл бұрын

kkk

@SCHULER_66 8 жыл бұрын

Took your black baby away?

@MeEncantaKiley 17 күн бұрын

Yeehaw! TRUMP 2024 Get Er Done!

@peachygoogles6359 4 жыл бұрын

They’re drowning the giraffes!!! Over on the roadside of Route 66 there’s a kiddie pool where a giraffe is drowning! We may need gas $ to get it out in the form of Hologram Jurassic Park cards. 👻

@alexandreferreira9274 8 жыл бұрын

end animal exploitation

@chriswilford5180 5 жыл бұрын

Terrible

@jaysasso4392 2 жыл бұрын

Prob. Sell them for horse meat...yeah, we use trailers to take the weak ones across...yeah sure

@mackenziej6553 2 жыл бұрын

They don’t sell these horses for meat. They’re auctioned off mostly for private farm use or school ponies. These horses go for a large amount of money, no one who buys a horse for slaughter would pay thousands of dollars for one horse.

@warbeast1715 8 жыл бұрын

vegans would react in this video.

@hollyTM 8 жыл бұрын

This has nothing to due with being vegan, they're not eating the horses.

@Xantank 8 жыл бұрын

Horse meat is a staple in some states

@hollyTM 8 жыл бұрын

+john son of Morris It's not widely popular. But these specific wild Ponies aren't consumed. They're auctioned off & returned to the wild in order to control the population. They're mainly used as riding horses, one of the most known examples of this is Misty of Assateague(a book based on the true story of a Assateague pony)

@jenniferlawrencefan8 8 жыл бұрын

+Holly Bug if they are not ethically treating animals, that's when vegan step in. When someone slits a cow's throat after raping her and stealing away her babies, no, we will not contribute to that by buying milk or steaks.

@Mrmudbone_gaming 8 жыл бұрын

well this is misleading....i thought they were actually real ponies...

@Judexxxxxjjjjj 8 жыл бұрын

Ponies are young Horses ...

@loreebeebee 8 жыл бұрын

No, that is incorrect. Pony refers to size not age.

@loreebeebee 8 жыл бұрын

They are real ponies.

@ShyAnn291 5 жыл бұрын

Mudbone gaming they ARE ponies

@VirginiaDowdy777821 4 жыл бұрын

@@Judexxxxxjjjjj No, young horses are called foals, same for baby ponies. Ponies are like horses, but smaller

@tamecad504 8 жыл бұрын

hope the don't bring them to slaughter houses

@Colton_Marten 8 жыл бұрын

They don't kill them

@tamecad504 8 жыл бұрын

I hope not. I know some places they would ship them to places for slaughter. So that's great to hear

@loreebeebee 8 жыл бұрын

These foals are quite expensive, they are definitely not slaughter foals.

@tamecad504 8 жыл бұрын

I know but some people don't care about that, they hunt and kill lions Tigers etc they don't care about the values really. Bug it is good to know these beautiful animals are safe

@makamaib4845 6 жыл бұрын

+AdaraSoFly in