
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 19, 1990                   TAG: 9004190163
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By Associated Press
DATELINE:    ACCOMAC                                LENGTH: Short

CHINCOTEAGUE PONIES TO STAY WITH OWNER

Misty of Chincoteague and one of the famous pony's offspring will remain with their owner and not at a museum, a Virginia judge ruled Wednesday.

Accomack County General District Judge Robert Phillips said Jeanette Beebe had the right to take possession of the stuffed carcass of Misty and of Stormy, a 28-year-old offspring of Misty, because the owner of the tourist attraction where the carcass and pony were kept did not have a valid lease with Beebe, who owns the animals.

Misty and Stormy were taken from the Misty Museum and Pony Farm by Beebe last month. Jon Poulson, Beebe's attorney, said there were some concerns over the care given the ponies.

Misty was made famous in 1947 by the publication of Marguerite Henry's children's tale "Misty of Chincoteague." The book started a series of children's tales about the herd of wild ponies that lives on the island in the Atlantic Ocean off Virginia's Eastern Shore.

When Misty died in 1972, her carcass was stuffed. The carcass, along with miniature horses and some of Misty's offspring, were turned into the pony farm and museum.

Ruth Calvo, who owns the museum and farm, said the ponies were given the best care possible. But the lease of Stormy and Misty was with the former owner of the pony farm and was not transferred to Calvo when she bought the attraction five year ago.

by CNB