luv4horsez

For years the Ponies of Assateague Island, neighbour to Chincoteague Island, have lived in peace with the people of Chincoteague. Each year a Pony Penning Day is organised to 'make numbers smaller.'
Each year, on this day, the ponies are herded up on the island of Assateague. Then, the 'herders' wait until the ponies are ready for a swim that could change their lives. The ponies are swum across a large water chanel between the two islands.
Volunteers help out with any foals or horses struggling with the swin, and so there are NO drownings.
Next, the horses are run through the streets to the fair grounds, where hundreds of people await their arrival.
The poines are then auctioned off, and the ponies that are not bought are herded back to Assateague Island to live in freedom for another year.

This sounds quite peaceful doesn't it... IT IS!

OR....IT WAS!

Now, the government of Chincoteague Island are complaining that the numbers of the ponies is growning too large. There are over a hundred and fifty. As the island is quite small, the government of Chincoteague island are concerned for the health of the island and the ponies.
It is only fair that they lower the numbers of the poines so they can continue to be healthy. However, the ponies need to have their numbers dropped below 100...but if the numbers drop below 80 the poines may not recover and we will loose a generation of horses that have lived in peace with us for years.
How does the Government intend to control numbers? Slaughter? adopting them out? A BIGGER Pony Penning Day? What ever the decision turns out to be, the poines and the people are at war. No a full on war. But a war that can either hurt the trust between these beautiful creatures or make it stronger. We can only hope that hey make the right decision, by chosing NOT to hurt the ponies.