View Full Version : Looking for Feral Horses in VA
montag451
07-15-2008, 11:44
Hello everyone. I'm trying to plan a romantic hike for my two year anniversary, and I wanted to try an area in Virginia where we would have the best opportunity to see feral horses.
To give you an idea, the plan would be to go to a B&B, then slackpack for about 5-10 miles for a few days. Any suggestions?
the goat
07-15-2008, 11:46
hike the grayson highlands. nice views & horses.
stay at a b&b in damascus, va.
Agreed......check the website for the B&Bs
www.damascus.org
http://www.lazyfoxinn.com/
john gault
07-15-2008, 12:24
To see feral horses you'd have to go out west. The grayson highlands are populated with feral ponies.
Lone Wolf
07-15-2008, 12:28
The grayson highlands are populated with feral ponies.
and they are not really "feral"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grayson_Highlands_State_Park
Whatever they are.....they like to eat your pants.......
john gault
07-15-2008, 12:36
I thought the ponies at grayson highlands (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=20800&c=member&orderby=views&direction=DESC&imageuser=6936&cutoffdate=-1) looked kind of funny and absolutely lazy. There is one other place in Virginia I know of that has wild ponies, but probably not too romantic, but I don't know much about that subject. http://www.chincoteague.com/pony/ponies.html
john gault
07-15-2008, 12:42
I thought the ponies at grayson highlands (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=20800&c=member&orderby=views&direction=DESC&imageuser=6936&cutoffdate=-1) looked kind of funny and absolutely lazy. There is one other place in Virginia I know of that has wild ponies, but probably not too romantic, but I don't know much about that subject. http://www.chincoteague.com/pony/ponies.html
Not sure what your schedule is, but in Chincoteague the fire dept does an annual "pony swim", the above link has the time frame. They make them swim across the bay from Assateague Island. Then they auction some off and then swim the remaining back to Assateague, they do this to keep the population down.
montag451
07-15-2008, 12:50
Wow, thanks for the quick responses everyone! I'll check out the Grayson Highlands and Damascus.
And I have noted no horses, only ponies! :)
Lone Wolf
07-15-2008, 12:52
Wow, thanks for the quick responses everyone! I'll check out the Grayson Highlands and Damascus.
And I have noted no horses, only ponies! :)
plus BILLIONS of high bush blueberries to pick in the next few weeks
berninbush
07-15-2008, 12:56
Chincoteague Island is human-populated. Assauteague is a nature preserve, where the "wild ponies" are. They're pretty used to human presence, but still very cool. Anyone like me who grew up on Marguerite Henry's "Misty of Chincoteauge" books will understand the appeal. (Lots about Pony Penning Day in there!).
We went to both islands on my ninth birthday. I got to touch the "wild" ponies, and got my picture taken with Stormy, Misty's first foal. I was in seventh heaven. Good memories.
montag451
07-15-2008, 13:12
Hmm... since she just gave birth to our son about 6 weeks ago, I can only make this an overnighter (she won't be away from the baby that long), but the Grayson Highlands sounds perfect.
This will be a great surprise.
Feral horses or feral ponies? I'm not trying to be smart, but what is the difference? Inquireing minds want to know.
berninbush
07-15-2008, 16:41
A pony is less than 15 hands high at the withers (shoulders). (A "hand" is four inches.) Ponies and horses are considered the same species and can breed with one another; horses are just bigger.
*Horse experts feel free to correct me if any of that was wrong.*
john gault
07-15-2008, 16:50
To see feral horses you'd have to go out west. The grayson highlands are populated with feral ponies.
Feral horses or feral ponies? I'm not trying to be smart, but what is the difference? Inquireing minds want to know.
A pony is less than 15 hands high at the withers (shoulders). (A "hand" is four inches.) Ponies and horses are considered the same species and can breed with one another; horses are just bigger.
*Horse experts feel free to correct me if any of that was wrong.*
I think you're basically correct http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pony. I wasn't trying to be a smarty, just one of my stupid pet Ps, we all have them.:sun
Tennessee Viking
07-15-2008, 16:52
Graysons is the place for horses. Elk Gardens has the cows. And Roan has the goats. Smokies to Walnut Mtn have the bears.
Plodderman
07-15-2008, 17:36
Grayson Highlands is the place to go. They came right up to the shelter on MT Rogers and joined us for a while.
I second the Lazy Fox B&B in Damascus. The woman that runs the place is amazing and her breakfasts are fit for a king. Plus, the creek runs right behind it, very romantic.
montag451
07-16-2008, 09:05
I'll be making a call to Ginny @ the Lazy Fox this morning. Thank you all for your recommendations!
montag451
08-04-2008, 11:42
Just wanted to give a quick update. The Grayson Highlands were great! The ponies were all over the place and my wife had a blast. We even got to hike the AT a bit, which further fueled my desire to through-hike in a few years.
And for the Lazy Fox Inn... what a great place. When we first arrived in Damascus, it was POURING out. Lucky for us, that meant that the stream behind her house turned more into a river. We were lucky enough to see an otter swimming upstream.
Everyone was extremely friendly, and breakfast was wonderful. Thanks again for the recommendations!