A Baby Pony for You?

Well, my daughter, Shannon has done it! It's been 12 years since she purchased a pony, but she couldn't resist the urge to purchase a leggy 2 week old baby foal at the Wild Pony Auction on Chincoteague Island this year. Because it was so young it was a fall pick-up. She went to pick it up, courtesy of our friend Robin Pool, and ended up coming home with two foals! Here is what happened:

A lady in Connecticut bought a foal, but she could not afford to ship it home. The Buy Back Babes (the group of ladies who purchase buy back ponies on the island, including the $1750 colt this year) decided they wanted to buy the foal and donated it to The Feather Fund, the charity my daughter and I are very involved with. So, while Robin and Shannon were picking up Shannon's foal, they also went to pick up the donated foal, who has been named Gideon. Robin volunteered to keep the foal until the Feather Fund found the perfect home for the tiny chestnut. The Feather Fund decided to make this foal a special award foal.

If you are a child age 10 to 18 who has always dreamed of owning a Chincoteague Pony foal, who has been saving and wishing and praying and reading horse books and dreaming ponies.... you can apply! If you're interested in the foal, go to http://www.featherfund.org/ and print the application from the website. Write SPECIAL AWARD FOAL on the top and mailing it to the Feather Fund before NOVEMBER 15, 2007. Wouldn't it be awesome to take home a precious colt before Christmas! Everyone would have to give you horsey stuff for Christmas, like halters and brushes and grain and treats!

Shannon's colt has been named Second Chance. This is her second chance to get a Chincoteague Pony she doesn't outgrow! Chance is out of one of the tallest mares on the island, a bay named Spanish Eyes and one of the better known stallions named Surfer Dude. In the meantime, her son, Matthew (my perfect grandson!) is still riding Sea Feather, and Summer Barrick is borrowing him to show, too!

Chance and Gideon look a lot alike. Chance is chestnut with a small white marking on his forehead and four long white stockings. Gideon only has a little white on his feet, but he has a lovely big white diamond on his forehead. Gideon is 3 months older than Chance, but the pair get along just fine.

I hope you are having a great autumn, and I hope all your pony dreams come true!
:>)
Lois