Rain from Tropical Storm Michael won't affect Chincoteague pony fall roundup
Hayley Harding
Rain from Tropical Storm Michael shouldn't affect the fall roundup of the Chincoteague ponies, officials say.
Denise Bowden, spokesperson for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department, said that while the event will be wet, the most severe weather issues are expected to be out of the area by the time the event starts around 4:30 p.m. Friday.
The National Weather Service forecasts the weather in Chincoteague on Friday to have a 30 percent chance of rain. High wind and high surf advisories will clear by noon, although it will likely still be quite windy and rainy.
That will not prevent cowboys from rounding up the ponies at the southern end of the heard to check on their health as well as to see any new foals that have been born.
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The roundup will take a few hours, but there will be plenty of parking access for those looking to see ponies.
The ponies will be penned, and once they are in the pen, people are permitted to come up to the fence and photograph the ponies.
On Saturday morning, while cowboys round up in the north end of the heard, the vet will check the southern ponies, including giving vaccines, checking hooves and give the ponies what is effectively a physical.
The southern ponies will then be released, and then the vet will check the northern ponies. Once the vet is done, the ponies from the north will be released until the next roundup, typically in April.
Reach reporter Hayley Harding via email at hharding@delmarvanow.com or on Twitter @Hayley__Harding.
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