News

The Feather Fund will be awarding three foals at the 2009 Wild Pony Auction held on the last Thursday in July.

Congratulations to these special girls:

Ten year old Eden Rice of West Virginia has loved ponies for as long as she can remember. At age 5 she joined a pony club and began taking lessons. She's been in four shows with jumping and dressage as well as Pony quizzes. She is currently the secretary of her 4-H club. When Eden decided she wanted a pony more than anything else she started her own business, Eden's Eggs. She cares for 26 laying hens and sells their free range organic eggs, saving for a pony of her own. But that's not all. Eden donates 10 percent of her eggs to the needy in her neighborhoods. She also collects molted hens feathers for her art teacher and for framed artwork she creates with her mom. In Eden's essay she wrote,"I want nothing else in the world except a pony of my own that every day I can work with, feed, exercise, train and love and can always be with me, even when he gets old. All I do is read horse books, draw horse pictures and ride horses. But I dream of riding and drawing pictures of my own horse."

Thirteen year old, Danielle Autieri of Pennsylvania has been riding English for four years and has competed in three shows where she won champion in jumping. She babysits and does chores to save money for her own Chincoteague Pony and to make donations to a local shelter for abused horses. Danielle said, "It is my dream to own a Chincoteague Pony because ever since I could talk I've absolutely loved ponies." A regular visitor to Chincoteague Island, Danielle saw the story of Carollynn Suplee on Animal Planet many years back. When she saw the story of SeaFeather and the Feather Fund in "Ladies  Home Journal" last year she realized Carollynn had lost her battle with cancer. Her mother told her, "Danielle, I know your heart is in horses and you are so passionate about them. It would be amazing if you could fulfill your dream on your own. So, you can write an essay for a pony." The essay was eight pages handwritten on notebook paper. "A pony would be a permanent friend," Danielle wrote. "I could always talk to him and he wouldn't judge me. My pony would always be there for me, no matter what."

Eleven year old, Carrie Olson of Oregon has suffered loss and come through it a stronger person. She visited Chincoteague several years ago but did not have enough money to buy a Chincoteague Pony. Back home in Oregon, when her grandfather's mare had a foal he sold it to Carrie for $100, even though she had saved $200. She named the filly Misty, but her heart was broken when someone shot her filly seven times with a high power rifle. The crime is still unsolved. When the story hit the news Carrie was offered horses from two people, but she was still too heartbroken to respond. Only a Chincoteague Pony could heal her heart. Carrie's parents began fencing their property so the foal would be with them at all times. The cost of traveling to Chincoteague and in trailering a pony back to Oregon is going to be immense, so this family is looking for help. If you are a hauler who can help them with a discount rate or free shipping, please contact them, or if you would simply like to make a donation, it would mean the world to Carrie and her family. They have started a website to fundraise for the trip. Please visit them here:

 http://aponyforcarrie.angelfire.com

Congratulations to our three pony award winners and a special thank you to THE BUYBACK BABES for sponsoring an extra foal award this year! We look forward to seeing your dream come alive at Pony Penning!