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Chinco Trainer
The Wild Spirit of the Chincoteague Pony
Training and care
Introduction to the Chincoteague pony
The Chincoteague pony, a gift from the sea. Margurite Henry’s book Misty of the Chincoteague has inspired us all in many ways. These small yet hardy ponies have been believed to have swum from a sunken ship to Assateague island. Pony Penning was popular among the ponies before Pony Penning Day began. Pony Penning Day began after 2 large fires raged through small Chincoteague Island, these fires were unable to be stopped due to Chincoteague’s Fire Department’s out dated equiptment. Chincoteague Island needed to raise money to buy updated fire equiptment. The Chincoteague Fire Department assumed ownership of the ponies. So every last Thursday and Friday of July is the Pony Penning swim and auction. The swim is held on Thursday and the auction is held on Friday. When Pony Penning Day started the ponies sold for an average of $25-$30 today the hardy ponies sell for an average $1500-$2000. The extra profit made off of the Pony Penning Day Auction goes to the care of the ponies.
Owning a Chincoteague pony is a reward, therefore take proper care of your pony. Remember this is a pony that weighs a couple hundred pounds and does kick and bite. One of the most important atributes to getting to know your horse is a bond. These ponies are very lovable I can go in the stall with both of mine and lay down with them.
Choosing a pony
When you choose your pony, it should be to your liking. You should highly consider the conformation and not so much the color. Also decide what gender of a pony you want a filly (female) or a colt (male). Don’t look at how the pony acts in the auction ring because these little ponies make a quick turn around from wild to tame.
Transportation
The transportation from Chincoteague Island to the ponies new home MUST be approved by the Chincoteague Pony Assotiation. The trailer should be open and free of sharp edges or dividers. A stock trailer is highly recomended for the ponies transportation.
Feeding
Creep feeding
Creep feeding is when you gradually introduce solid grain. Feed very small amounts of grain very often. Start by feeding 1/4 cups ( c) of grain and continue to add 1/4c of grain an hour after the pony consumes the grain. Each day after the pony completes the grain given add 1/4c of grain until the pony is consistently completing 2 ½ c of grain until your vet puts your pony on a daily feed schedule. If the pony is under 10 weeks in age it is recommended that you add Foal Lac® Powder or pellets. If your pony is over 10 eeks of age you can add Grow Colt® or Grow Strong®. After the pony is consuming grain add Extra Virgin Olive oil for weight gain. You can also add corn oil to create a shiny coat. You should also add Electrolytes or Stress Dex® to keep the pony from colic. Add sugar to keep the pony eating the grain with all of these supplements. The recommended grain is a 12% sweet feed.
Example of a creep feeding schedule:
1st day- 1/4c of grain 6th day- 1 ½ c of grain
2nd day-1/2c of grain 7th day- 1 3/4 c of grain
3rd day- 3/4c of grain 8th day- 2 c of grain
4th day- 1c of grain 9th day- 2 1/4c of grain
5th day- 1 1/4c of grain 10th day- 2 ½ c of grain
Hay:
DO NOT FEED ALFALFA HAY IT CAN CAUSE YOUR NEW PONY TO FOUNDER. Constantly feed a orchard hay throughout the day.
Deworming
Deworming help evacuate the parasites out of your horses body. You should deworm your pony monthly for one full year. Make sure you alternate dewormers so the parasites do not get immuned to one dewormer. Also be sure to deworm for tape worms.
Dewormers below:
Equimectrin® Eqvalan® Zimectrin® Ivermectin® Strongid® Anthelcide®
Panacur® Equell® Equimax® Ivermectin Gold® Safegaurd® Strongid C®
Quest® - not good for foals FATAL Benzelmin Paste®
Daily Dewormers
Strogid C 2x® Equi Aid CW® Continue X® Kaeco Wormer Pellets®
Class 1: Tetraydropyrimidine Class 2: Benzimidazels Class 3: Ivermectin Class 4: Tape Worm
Vaccines
Below is a vaccination schedule
2 months Eastern & Western Encephalitis, Tetanus(EWT), Rhinopneunonitis, Influenza(RF)
3 months 2nd EWT- Annual Booster, 2nd RF, Rabies- annual booster, West Nile
4 months 3rd RF- semi annual booster, West Nile
6 month Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) *Potomavac
7 months 2nd PHF- annual booster *Potomavac
Veterinary Care
Your Pony should be checked by a vet upon arrival time. Then again at 72 hours after arrival time. The vet should also administer the vaccines, deworming, and all health issues. The vet should be present when the farrier is trimming your ponies feet for the first three times to administer Ace or a tranquilizer.
Call the vet if your foal develops any of the fallowing symptoms:
1. Decreased appetite or water consumption
2. Loose or runny stool
3. Difficulty urinating
4. Cough and/or nasal discharge
5. Lacerations
Hoof Care
Your pony’s hooves should be trimmed every six to eight weeks by a farrier. The hooves should be trimmed within two weeks of arriving home. As mentioned above have a vet present for the first three trimmings to administer Ace or a tranquilizer.
Shelter
Your ponies shelter needs to be taken into consideration. The shelter should be sturdy and safe. A lean too should be in the corral, paddock, or round pen if the pony is going to stay in the area for an extended amount of time. Otherwise, the pony needs to be bought into a shelter during inclement weather. You can also put the pony in a stall, be sure that you feed the pony plenty of hay and grain.
Arrival
First decide if you are going to put your pony in a stall, round pen, or a small paddock/ corral. While the ponies are still on the trailer put the halter on the ponies. It is recommended that the halter has a catch strap. Back the trailer up to the area where your ponies are going and let the horses out.
“Consistent” Law
Consistency is an important factor to remember when training. If you are not consistent, the pony will become confused and irritated. Consistence is basically doing everything the same way for a long amount of time without a change. Example: Picking out the hooves Start on the left and end on the right side all the time or walking around the front or walking around the back.
Reward
Q. When should I reward my pony?
A. Reward your pony when he does something correct so he will know what he’s done is
correct. If you don’t reward the pony he will not know if he is doing what you want him to and will try another way.
Q. How should I reward my pony?
A. You should reward your pony by saying “Good boy or Good girl,” patting him/ her on the
neck, or giving him/ her a treat.
Punishment
Q. When should I punish my pony?
A. You should punish your pony when he does something incorrect of what you ask or when the pony kicks, bites, rears up, or when the pony show disrespect.
Q. How should I punish my pony?
A. You should punish your pony by saying “no,” “bad,” a slap on the neck, a slap on the Barrel, or in severe situations whipping the pony with a whip on the legs or on the underside of the horse.
Goals
When setting a goal for you and your horse set a reasonable goal. There are two types of goals long term and short term. A long term goal is similar to a new year resolution or a one month goal. A short term goal is a goal you set each training session like an objective to complete. Goal setting is important when training a pony so you have a subject to concentrate on with the pony. The trainer should also set a short and long term goal too.
Catching Your new pony
IN A STALL:
When catching the pony in the stall be extremely carefull. Cirrcle the pony in the stall, then corner the pony and circle the pony attachted to the lead.
IN A SMALL PADDOCK OR ROUND PEN
Round pen the pony in the area (do not chase). Eventualy the pony will tire and give in and will allow you to catch him/her.
Catching Do’s and Dont’s
Do’s
*Catch in a small area
* Praise the pony once caught
Dont’s
* Try to catch the pony in a large area
* Don’t chase
* Don’t use grain to catch the pony
* Don’t corner
* Don’t scare
Haltering
Make sure the halter you have chosen is not all nylon and that it is break away. A break away halter is a halter with either a leather crown piece or is all leather. Slip the halter over the ponies head and let them out of the trailer.
Leading
When leading do not use a chain shank it can injure your ponies nose. Use a basic a lead rope (cotton recommended).
1. Catch the pony
2. Hook the lead rope to the halter
3. Wrap the rope around the pony’s butt
4. Grab the tail
5. State a command like “walk” so the pony will pick up on what walk means.
6. Pull on the rope and tail and state “walk”
7. Start walking
Soon you will be able to walk your pony like any other horse without a rope behind the butt.
* At Pony Penning Day you can have your pony trained to lead *
Bonding tips
* Sit in the field with the ponies
* The ponies like things smaller than them
* While the pony is on the lead pat them on the neck
* Imprint training
* Grooming
* Give treats out daily
* Feed daily
* Only one person bonding at a time not multiple
* Be around the ponies a lot
Grooming
Allow the pony to smell the brushes and be curious. Rub them all over there body. Then start to brush them. When you get to hoof picking, the pony must first trust you and stand for you, then pinch the chestnut, with someone else holding the horse. Hold the hoof up for 5- 10 seconds each foot to teach patience.
E-mail ME at
chincoteaguelilly@earthlink.net
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