WILD PONY of GRAYSON HIGHLANDS is a photograph by Suzanne Stout which was uploaded on October 17th, 2022.
WILD PONY of GRAYSON HIGHLANDS
THESE CAREFREE EQUINES ARE THE DESCENDENTS OF 50 ASSATEAGUE PONIES, RELEASED INTO THE AREA IN 1975. By Catie Leary
Spread across 4,822 acres... more
Title
WILD PONY of GRAYSON HIGHLANDS
Artist
Suzanne Stout
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photography
Description
THESE CAREFREE EQUINES ARE THE DESCENDENTS OF 50 ASSATEAGUE PONIES, RELEASED INTO THE AREA IN 1975. By Catie Leary
Spread across 4,822 acres in southwestern Virginia, Grayson Highlands State Park is known for its sweeping views of mountain meadows (known as "balds"), its 2.8-mile leg of the Appalachian trail and, most notably, its thriving population of wild ponies. Standing at about four feet tall, the Grayson Highlands Ponies have become a wonderful highlight for anyone visiting the area.
According to Virginia State Park staffer Amy Atwood, the carefree equines, which some speculate to be the descendants of Assateague and Chincoteague ponies, were released by the U.S. Forest Service into the area surrounding Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and Grayson Highlands State Park in 1975.
Why would the Forest Service release wild ponies in a state park? To control the growth of brush along the balds, which are a man-made landscape forged by extensive logging operations in the late 19th century. The balds maintained a clear-cut appearance through the first half of the 20th century due to cattle ranching, but after the area was transformed into a state park in 1965, there were no more cows to keep the brush in check. Goats have become a popular way to keep landscapes trimmed, but for the highlands, here is where the ponies came into the picture.
In the years since the ponies were released into the bald, the herd has thrived in the scrubby mountainous terrain, and the population now stands at around 150 individuals. To maintain a balance between the ponies and the environment, the Wilburn Ridge Pony Association was established in 1975 to monitor the herd and facilitate an annual auction of any excess colts. The proceeds of the auctions, sometimes as much as $500,000 go toward supporting the remaining herd; some of the earnings are earmarked for two local fire departments as well.
Original article from Treehugger.com
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October 17th, 2022
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