The CfJeautyofcASsateague Island Before heading home to Trevose, PA my husband Ron and I took our final motorcycle ride of the year through Assateague Island to see the horses, we visit every year during Delmarva's bike week. We were approached by FLB's staff and asked to write an article about the wild horses of Assateague. I have never written an article so I thought I would write fun facts about the horses; I want to point out that I am in no way an expert, we are just two people who enjoy seeing the wild horses and who have taken the time to speak to the park rangers. The Rangers are more than willing to share facts and stories about the horses so when you visit ask questions. Here are a few facts I can share. The horses are wild, beautiful and absolutely a must see! They have free run of the entire island including the beach, campgrounds and parking lots but for some reason have no desire to cross the bridge that connects the island to the main land. The horses generally don't go on the beach and romp in the surf until it is very hot and the bugs are unbearable. The horses are available to foster, we foster a horse named Assateague Lightening; and by doing so you help maintain the integrity of the land and horses. They do not receive medical care from outside sources so don't feed or touch them and stay alert when driving/riding on the island. There have been horses on this island for hundreds of years, now there are about 101 horses on the island and they are not involved in horse sales like the wild horses in Virginia. The horses have several fresh water fed sources to drink and they get most of their nutrition from the salt grass they eat. The groups (AKA bands) you see are generally 3 females (AKA a harem) to one male or 3 batchelors. If a male becomes injured another male will take over his harem . . A foal is a baby horse that stays by it's mothers side until it becomes a yearling, around a year old. A filly is a female horse under 4 years old and a is a mare is over four years old. A colt is a male horse under four years old and a stallion is over four years old. A dam is a mother of a horse and a sir is a father of a horse. The names of the white markings on the horses face are as followed a strip is a narrow line going down the face. A star is an irregular marking between the eyes. The blaze is a broad stripe down the face and a snip is a spot between the nostrils. I hope these fun facts entice you to visit the island and witness the beauty of the Assateague Island horses for yourself.
Editors Note: Assateague State Park Info: http:lldnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands!Pages/easternlassateague.aspx; Assateague Island National Seashore Info: http://www.nps. gov/asis/index. htm
Written by: Dawn Zapolski Photos by: Ron Zapolski