CHINCOTEAGUE, Va.- The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, known for its annual Pony Penning Round-Up in July, holds two additional round-ups in the spring and one in the fall. The fall round-up is expected to happen later this week.
The fire company says during these round-ups a veterinary team will do health checks, and give vaccines to protect against West Nile and Equine Encephalitis. Their hooves and teeth will be checked along with deworming. They will also work to identify the new foals born since July’s Pony Penning. Once the ponies pass their check-ups, they're released back onto Assateague Island, awaiting the next round-up.
The fire company says the fall round-up is set for Friday, September 28th, at 4:30 p.m. The Saltwater Cowboys will gather up the southern herd of ponies, guiding them to the south pen near the Woodland Trail parking lot. People are invited to watch with parking available on Beach Road. For those who park in the Woodland Trail lot, your car may be temporarily trapped until the gates are closed after the ponies enter the corral.
Then on Saturday, September 30th, at 7 a.m., the Saltwater Cowboys will corral the northern herd of ponies in the north pen. This round-up is more time-consuming, taking about 5-6 hours because of the larger herd size and vast terrain. Parking is available at the Wildlife Loop lot, and those up for a three-mile hike (6 miles round trip) on a gravel road can walk up the Service Road to observe the action up close.
