Wednesday, September 5, 2012

The Mystery Of The Assateague Horses

By Casandra Cotton


The untamed Assateague horses are commonly known by people, despite the fact that many of them have never even been to this gorgeous island. The wild horses in this natural area are in fact feral. This may imply that they are immediate descendants of the other domesticated breeds. Here on the island, they live naturally, in harmony with each other and in agreement with the conditions Mother Nature often hands them.

Suffering from an array of problems, such as having to deal with an abundance of mosquitoes, scorching conditions as well as the rough thunderstorms the island gets. Although these beautiful creatures can be admired from a far, one is still able to do their part in helping them. These animals roam freely for everyone who wants to see them in their natural state.

In the common folklore it is stated that these beautiful animals had been survivors of a shipwreck off the Virginian coastline. Regrettably, the legend surrounding their challenges and suffering was not documented and still remains unknown. A likely possibility was that they were being brought from barrier islands by their masters .

Virginia is on the one side of Assateague, with Maryland on the other. These herds tend to be split into two different groups. The state line between Virginia and Maryland divides the fence. They have divided up into herds of approximately 5 to 15. These groups are known to occupy various home ranges. The well-known name for the Virginia herd are the "Chincoteague" ponies.

Marguerite Henry's book, named "Misty of Chincoteague", shows many visitors the occurrences of these wild, beautiful animals. The book describes a Chincoteague village festival, which is known as "Pony Penning". These magnificent animals are made to swim from the island to Virginia. This festival usually takes place at the end of July on the last Wednesday of the month. The following day, the foals are sold, and all proceeds go to the islands volunteer Fire Department.

Amongst the island's raging summers, the stallions become agitated, and spats occur. They are prepared to fight till loss of life, and will not allow any intruder to come near their harem. These fantastic animals are very protective over their herds, and are not likely to welcome strangers.

These awesome animals are hardy, spectacular and untamed. They live in a challenging environment which takes its toll on them. Feeding and petting is not a very good approach, as the animals easily become ill from human foodstuff. They may seem quite tame and familiar with people, and often wander up to the streets to look for food. This is not a good idea, as a great number of horses are killed by vehicles traveling on the roads.

Several places in the USA have untamed horses which the public can go and see. This specific breed features a range of diverse behaviors. Take any opportunity you can to see experience these amazing creatures. Enthusiasts of nature and photographic professionals are able to take full advantage of these beautiful creatures. To observe these animal in their natural environment is an incredible sight, and makes one wonder about the order of nature. These spectacular Assateague horses are definitely worth seeing, and should be a must on any equine enthusiast's "to do" list.




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