THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 27, 1995 TAG: 9507270423
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MICHELE SNIPE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
With wide eyes and freckled cheeks, Crystal Coddington waited on the Chincoteague shore to pick out a pony of her own.
Around the New Jersey 8-year-old, more than 40,000 tourists and would-be pony owners crowded the waterfront on this Eastern Shore isle to see wild horses and ponies swim across the 250-yard channel from Assateague Island.
Just before 9:40 a.m., the first of the animals appeared on the far shore. As generations had before him, and as the crowd urged him on, the horse Quickly swam the channel and sauntered into a corral.
Within five minutes, he had been joined by more than 100 others.
So began and ended the 70th annual Chincoteague pony swim, the Shore's biggest annual event. Along with a roundup last weekend, and an auction that begins at 8 a.m. today, the swim draws picture-snapping visitors from throughout the country.
Some are drawn by word-of-mouth. Others, by childhood memories of Misty, a frolicking pony that inspired a renowned series of books by Marguerite Henry.
Started by private residents, the tradition was taken over years later by the Volunteer Fire Department. It now owns the herd and uses the event to raise money.
The firemen hope to auction off 60 ponies today. The money raised will buy four state-of-the-art 500-gallon water pumpers.
Crystal's mother, Bonnie, has been attending the swims for years. ``This is just a part of history. That's why we like coming,'' she said. ``My parents used to bring me. At that time the price for a horse was $75, but my mother complained that it was too much.''
She laughed. These days, ponies sell for $900 to $3,000.
Many in the crowd were more interested in petting and praising than raising cash. Susan Peluso of Waldorf, Md., sneaked into the corral after the swim to steal a few pats and take a closer look.
Seven and a half months pregnant, Peluso led the crowd of pony fans through swampy water at daybreak Wednesday to get the ``best'' view. ``I love horses, said the former pony farm employee, still damp from her adventure. ``I'd love to buy one, but we're living in an apartment right now.''
Little Crystal is not, however. With five acres of land, the whole Misty pony series, two Marguerite Henry autographs and an ``I love ponies'' pin protruding from her baseball cap, this fan was ready.
``There's one I like, and Mom likes it, too,'' said the veteran of four swims. But, ``Mom says only girls, and it's a boy.''
Her mother, also a fan of the brown-and-white pinto, assured: ``We may have to change that rule.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo VICKI CRONIS
Following a cracking whip, wild ponies and horses, above, start
their 250-yard swim from Assateague to Chinco-teague. At right, two
Maryland cowboys help a colt struggling at the start of the swim. He
was taken across on a boat - and found his mother right away.
by CNB