Wild Horses of Virginia and Maryland
by Norma Brandsberg
Title
Wild Horses of Virginia and Maryland
Artist
Norma Brandsberg
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
I've been keen to visit the wild horses and ponies of the eastern shore of Virginia and Maryland and the Delmarva Peninsula and finally decided we would take our small trailer for a visit. I've seen a number of tv programs on them over the years. What surprised me was how belligerent these animals are. This photo shows a multicolored male and a pregnant female. The two were constantly after each other biting ears, shins and backs I assume to exert dominance. I captured a number of interesting photos during their skirmishes. Although photographing them using a zoom lens I attempted to stay as far away from them as I reasonably could, but still found myself in close range as they came closer and closer with no fear of people. It would have been very easy to have been caught in their dominance games if I wasn't careful.
The wild fecal horses of Assateague and Chincoteague Islands in Maryland and Virginia are descendants of domesticated animals brought
to the island over 300 years ago. Horses tough enough to survive the scorching heat,
abundant insects, stormy weather and poor quality food found on these windswept barrier
islands have formed a unique wild horse society.
Local folklore describes the Assateague horses
as survivors of a shipwreck off the Virginia
coast.
Virginia’s horses are privately owned by the
Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department and
are fenced in large enclosures.
Maryland’s horses are owned and managed
by the National Park Service. They are free roaming wildlife and could be anywhere in the
park.
On the last Wednesday of July, the Virginia herd of horses is rounded up and swum from Assateague Island to nearby Chincoteague Island. On the following day most of the young foals are auctioned off with the aim to keep the population of the horses to around 150. In any given year about 75% of the mares are pregnant.
On the Maryland side, the ponies are given a vaccine which prevents pregnancy. Each horse is permitted to have one foul to keep the gene pool as diverse as possible.
Fouls are normally born between April and July each year.
An awarded winning photograph!
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Uploaded
October 13th, 2022
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