CHINCOTEAGUE, Va.- Yesterday during the pony auction, one of the ponies died when she slipped on hay and fell into a metal fence, breaking her neck.
Her name was Butterfly Kisses and she was the lead mare of a stallion named Riptide.
Assistant Chief Harry Thornton said it was a freak accident.
"I think most people would agree that these horses are taken better care of than some children," Thornton said. "We were right there and there was nothing we could do."
Tess Bailey witnessed the tragedy.
"We were all crying at the fence, it was a pretty emotional time," Bailey said. "You know we've all gotten to know a lot of the ponies like family."
Butterfly Kisses was an 06' mare that just recently gave birth to her foal. Her foal is a boy and his name is Trigger. He is now with his new family and they say he is doing just fine.
Angie Abell said "We feel very honored, we feel like it was a god sent."
Butterfly Kisses may be gone but is never forgotten, Trigger will live on through her memory.