Posted by Lois on Friday August 24th, 2007
We have so much news to share! First of all, we made the 2nd page of the Eastern Shore News. One of the pics is here: http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070728/ESN01/707280306/-1/ESN You can tell by our expressions that we were gasping at the prices going up to $4,300 on our last foal! We chose two award winners by application. The two top applicants were informed in advance to meet us at Pony Penning. It is a tough job. All the applicants looked great and we wish we could award a pony to every single one! We focus on those who may never have the opportunity to work with or train a pony on their own without our help. We stress hard work and pony experience, too. The winning applicants were Annie Mac Strickland from Georgia and Skylar Hull from Maryland. At Pony Penning we decided to award a third foal. We always do our best to work with the fire department when they choose a child and this year they sent us someone they thought we should help. The fire department is the reason these ponies and this fantasic event takes place, so we do our best to make sure they know our appreciation. Roe Terry from the fire department asked us two days before if we could help a little girl from Florida named Elizabeth. We met her and she was adorable, had $700 saved, and had a way to get it home. She works with the Handicapped Riding program in her town and her parents have taken in two older horses, but she has nothing she can train and or show with in the future.
The foals, for the most part went lower than we have ever seen them go, with many at $950 and $1,000. We started out with a bang when Skylar picked the first foal in the ring. We were lucky to get the beautiful bay pinto filly for $2,000.
(Thank you Amanda Geci for the top two shots!)
The next one and the next one and the next one went very low. Since they were going low, we waved Elizabeth over to get her one, too. She bid on a lovely chestnut colt and got it for $1,700! (Thank you Amanda Geci for the photo shown above!)
(Thank you, Helen Simmons for the above photo of Angel going home with Liz!)
We were doing great, until Annie Mac's foal. One other bidder who wanted the foal made the price soar!
Annie Mac only wanted one foal. She wrote down two backups because we begged her to do it, but she only wanted one foal, a black and white colt. She said when that foal looked at her she knew it was hers. Annie Mac's second and third choices came out first but she wanted to wait on the colt. We talked her into bidding on one of her other choices, but she quickly dropped out in tears. She wanted "her" foal. . As the bidding soared we worried. We didn't have that much in funds. We had given Annie a limit of $2,500 but raised it to $3,300 on the spot. Still it was too much. Her mom offered to make up the difference. Annie Mac sobbed as her heart plummeted, then fell, then rose again. The foal sold for $4,300 and she would take it home! She was meant to have this foal.
(Thank you Amanda Geci for the photo shown above!)
(Thank you, Kelly Liddard/ FRIENDS OF MINE GALLERY for the above photo of Annie Mac's foal in the wild)
God was watching out for us. We gave and he gave back. The Feather Fund brought in more than ever at our booth at the auction and more at our fundraiser, thanks to Kelly Lidard at Friends of Mine Gallery. She gave us a $1 of every sale at the register that day, and to anyone who mentioned the Feather Fund all week. She also baked cookies and brownies to sell and ran a raffle for us. Four wonderful people donated breedings to their registered Chincoteague Pony stallions (MIKE PRYOR ENTERPRISES/ NIGHTMIST, MISTY DREAMS FARM,KELLY LIDDARD and ROCKING H RANCH) . Kelly donated a handcrafted necklace. Someone donated a book and a Misty of Chincoteague DVD and a rearing pony statue.
And something else incredible happened! Two of our Feather Fund kids won the free breedings; Elizabeth Suddreth and Summer Barrack!
Another successful year makes us get back to work fast. Fundraising plans are already in the works for next year. We have to get those funds built up, so we can do it again. In 2008 we will make wild pony dreams come true for children once more.
Our Feather Fund Fun Horse Show will be held at High Ridge Farm on Saturday, September 22nd. Please come out to support us and enjoy watching or participating in a fun show! High Ridge Farm is at: http://www.angelfire.com/planet/highridgefarm/index.html
We do it for the kids and the difference these ponies make in their lives, but we also do it for Carollynn, so that her memory and her good deeds live forever. Carollynn, I know you were beside us at the auction. You are always there. |
