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Wild Ponies

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Wild Ponies

When Was The Last Time You Did Something For The First Time? Photography presents challenges and opportunities for me to do something I’ve never done before on a regular basis. Most recently the challenge was to go in search of wild ponies that inhabit the Virginia Highlands in Grayson County Virginia. The State park is located in the Jefferson National Forest.
I was on a photo shoot looking for the wild ponies in the Virginia Highlands of Grayson Highlands State Park. The day started off very nicely after the previous evenings thunderstorms. I began the upward climb on the Rhododendron Trail which was sloppy and slippery in some spots after the rain we just experienced.
A volunteer who helps maintain the trails was warning hikers to be aware of a bear in the area.
Other hikers were coming up and down. Some had spent the night in a shelter. A family of four were hiking the mile long uphill trail. The mother was reassuring her son that horses and wild ponies were not a girls activity and pointed towards me for affirmation which I did. The father was carrying his daughter in a backpack modified to do so.

The ponies are actually considered feral rather than wild because they are the descendants of what were once domesticated livestock. Not anymore as they live freely between the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and the State Park. A warning to anyone not familiar with them. They will kick the unsuspecting, can bite and are a bit pushy if they think you have food. Please resist the temptation to feed them. It’s for their own good and yours as it’s against the rules.

In all there are about 100 ponies living in herds of between 10 and 20. I spotted a few grazing inside the scrub brush and thickets along the trail. Stayed with them for a few minutes but decided to hike up to Wilburn Ridge hoping for an unobstructed view in the grassy and rock strewn land there.

Instead I encountered a group of scouts and their leaders but no ponies. I looked around for a little bit, saw a sign pointing to the Appalachian Trail to Massie Gap. I went up a little further and was at the top of the ridge in a flat area or bald as they call it when I saw two ponies making their way towards me. Got some close up shots, thanked them and made my way back down the mountain to the parking lot and picnic area.
Almost there when I spotted this pony heading in same direction as I was. Several more ponies had found a section of fence that must have been damaged and they had made their way through. People were having their photos taken with them. Dogs paid no attention to the ponies and presented no problems. Cars were more of a problem because as they were driving along up to an area where the ponies normally can be seen, drivers and passengers were doing a double take when they spotted them on the road and down in the picnic area.

The locals who live in the area tell of a horse in the herd they call Fabio because of his long blonde mane and tail which brings to their mind the actor who was known for his good looks and locks. I didn’t see Fabio but here are photos of one of his offspring.
The long and the short of this description is that after all the hiking if I had simply waited in the picnic area, instead of ants joining me I would have had about 8 ponies to share my lunch with. Oh well the exercise did me good! This photo is of one of them as he was walking along the road I managed to catch him as he poked his face into the opening of the gate.
The park is very family friendly and offers picnic areas, camping sites, horseback riding and hiking trails. The hikes are more than just a walk but certainly not overly strenuous and offer some amazing views. The Big Pinnacle Trail in particular will give you a 360 degree view of the surrounding landscape.
Several music festivals and craft fairs are held throughout the year. Once a year the Wild Pony Roundup takes place when ponies and colts are bribed into corrals to be inspected then treat any health concerns. Excess colts are auctioned off to maintain the herd at a safe level and also to protect the land from overgrazing.
So when was the last time YOU did something for the first time?

More photos from this shoot can be seen by clicking link below...…."More Information"