Assateague

Sheep & Pony Penning
From Lillian Mears Rew

(The text and photos included in these sections are from Lillian Mears Rew's book, Assateague & Chincoteague: As I Remember Them. The copyright belongs to Mrs. Rew's family, and the sections included here are reprinted by permission. Please note that the text and photos may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission.)
Sheep penning was held in the spring in the early twentieth century. These times were "big days" for the people on the Island as well as for those who came from far and near to be part of the celebration.

On July 4, 1883, a traditional feast was held and penning of the sheep took place. Large crowds would attend once a year, usually on a Wednesday in June or July. The ladies worked as hard as the men. They prepared an old fashioned country dinner over the fire on the sands, while the men rounded up the sheep. The children were active too, doing whatever they could to help the women to prepare the food.

The delicious meals consisted of chicken, dumplings, potatoes, various meats, homemade corn bread and coffee. After the sheep were sheared, the wool was cleaned and ready for use. The women made stockings, gloves and some other garments which the people needed and meant so much to them since this was a big day financially.

Not only sheep raising was a big affair; other stock raising was also prominent in the seventeenth century, while the Indians were still enjoying the benefits of the barrier Island.

In 1676 horses were brought on Assateague Island. The inhabitants began to make stock raising an important affair. By 1881, the settlers began owning ponies to help them in their work and for transportation.

Pony penning time began about 1902. Once a year in July a day was set aside to celebrate this occasion. Big dinners were prepared by the women, men, and their families. Not only people came from Chincoteague to enjoy the dinner, but people came from far away states, as well.

About 1914 the sheep penning event was discontinued, and Pony penning was no longer practiced by the people of the Islands.