A Navajo lady wearing a goat horn hat was calling her herd to come to her...

I just needed to add something warmer looking than what I see out my window today. :)

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Red and white lighthouse --- here's one.

Assateague Light House from when we were there for the famed pony penning where wild horses are driven from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island where some of the horses are auctioned off to control the herd size and to raise money for the care of the rest of the wild horses.

Here the lighthouse can be seen in the background as the cowboys are starting to drive the wild horses into the water for the short swim to Chincoteague Island.
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Here are some of the ponies after the swim.
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Some of the ponies are selected to be returned to the island for the good of the herd, these are "auctioned" off anyway to raise money, but the person "buying" the horse is essentially making a donation to the organization in question. This is the horse that my wife "bought", where the money was being donated to the local hospice organization. She did so because of how helpful hospice was for her mother in the preceding couple of years. We decided the foal should be named "Papa Bear" after her mother's nickname for her father.
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Bob, congrats to you and your DW for your donation. I've been to Assateague and Chincoteague many times. I've seen the ponies while penned, but never witnessed the swim, too much of a madhouse for me. I thought that the 1st pic looked like the Assateague Light even before I read that it was. Great pics. I really enjoyed them, brought back lots of good memories. Thanks

Bob, that's definitely on my bucket list, but your photos and reading "Misty of Chincoteague" are probably the closest I'll get to it! Thanks for the photos. Sweet little horse your wife "bought," making a very meaningful donation to hospice. What happens to the horse? You didn't take it home in the back seat did you?

Even though I was there I can't really say I witnessed the swim.There were so many boats in the water where the actual swim takes place I could only see a few ears going by through gaps between the boats, and the horses emerging behind a crowd of people on the opposite shore.

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They determined that "Papa Bear" should return to the island to grow into a stallion to breed future generations. A researcher contacted us recently and said he is now head of his own little family group.

The mares and the ones like "Papa Bear" that are "auctioned" then swim back over to Assateague Island. For the rest that are actually auctioned, the buyer has a day or two to arrange transportation and haul the foal or filly away.

This is "Papa Bear" the next morning, before his swim back.
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Bob, that's exactly what I have been told it's like during the pony swim. Just because you're there doesn't guarantee that you'll actually see it. I've also heard that the traffic, parking and crowds are not to be believed. I guess the folks in the boats and the few on the immediate shore are the lucky ones. Not worth it to me. I have enjoyed the guided tour on the island to see the horses and other wildlife. It's a wonderful park to explore. I even did it in on bicycle once. Glad that Papa Bear has his own harem.

I love the story. Many, many years ago we visited the area, more like "dark ages'", maybe. It sounds like a really good thing for the horses, and I am so glad to see and learn of it. Thanks!