Auction Day
UPDATE FROM THE CHINCOTEAGUE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE - JULY 8, 2021 Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company’s July pony roundup is around the corner! Here’s what you need to know if you are planning to visit the refuge that week: • On Sunday, July 25 the fire company will roundup the north herd starting at 6:00 a.m. Visitors can access the Service Road on foot up to the cattle grate. Visitor access north of the cattle grate will be closed that day until the fire company completes their roundup of the north pony herd. • On Monday, July 26 the roundup of the south herd starts at 6:00 a.m. The Woodland Trail and parking lot will be closed to all public access that morning until the fire company completes their roundup of the south pony herd. This will provide the fire company with a staging area for their operations. For details about pony related activities, see the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company website or contact the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce at (757) 336-6161 or www.chincoteaguechamber.com.UPDATE FROM THE CHINCOTEAGUE VOLUNTEER FIRE CO. - JUNE 2, 2021
Mark your calendars!! Here is the news that some of you have been waiting for. July's ONLINE foal auction will start on July 22nd at 7:00pm. It will end on July 29th at 7:00pm.The auction is being held by sporthorseauctions.com and you MUST register with them!! Once you register with them you will also be able to see the rules and regulations of the auction. The photos of the foals will be on the website a few days prior and there WILL BE A CLEAR DESGINATION of buybacks on the listings. Payment due date is Friday, July 30th NO EXCEPTIONS. Final Foal Pick up date is August 1st. NO EXCEPTIONS. ALL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ONLINE AUCTION WILL BE ON sporthorseauctions.com.
The northern herd will be rounded up on Sunday , July 25th starting at approximately 6:00am. Once rounded up and a brief rest, the mares and foals will be trailered to the carnival grounds and the remaining northern herd will be released back.
The southern herd will be rounded up on Monday, July 26th starting at approximately 6:00am. Once rounded up and after a brief rest, the mares and foals will be trailered to the carnival grounds and the remaining southern herd will be released.
UPDATE FROM THE CHINCOTEAGUE VOLUNTEER FIRE CO. - MARCH 16, 2021
Dear friends, After much deliberation the fire company regrets to announce the cancellation of the 2021 carnival/pony penning activities. By now we would already be more than half way through the planning phases and preparing for upcoming events.
Given the current orders from the Governor of Virginia we would not be able to have these events and not knowing when or if restrictions would be lifted in time to open.
It takes much time and many man hours to prepare for carnival, not to mention the amount of money it takes to get open not knowing if we would be under the same restrictions. Bottom line, too many unknowns to take a chance.
We will be doing the pony auction like last year, online. We will be selling shirts like last year, online. You will be seeing people come and go at the carnival grounds doing maintenance work on buildings and rides to keep everything in order and to get ready for 2022.
For those of you who purchased raffle tickets in support of the Brianna Park which gives you two front row seats to the pony swim, that will be honored at the 2022 swim.
This has been a rough year for everyone. So many people have suffered unimaginable losses but I’m so confident that we all will bounce back in 2022 and that it will be the best year ever!!!
We thank you, our supporters who have stood by our side for so many years for all your encouraging words and donations. WE ARE YOUR FIRE COMPANY, WE ARE YOUR SALTWATER COWBOYS, WE ARE ONE TOGETHER WITH YOU and WITH YOU AND OUR COMMUNITY WE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN!!
All announcements about the pony auction will be here on this page and Denise will keep you all posted on such activities that you all will need and want to know. Until then, thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!
Hunter Leonard
CVFC President
Now, big question... can the public view the round ups? We haven't been told that you can't and now that most restrictions have been lifted we assume its ok for you all to come watch. If you haven't been vaccinated we respectfully ask that you maintain social distancing and wear a mask if in the crowd. If anything were to change with any of this information it will be posted ASAP.
The carnival and Swim will remain cancelled for 2021. The CVFC is already working on details for next year and it's going to be one heck of a 2022 carnival and pony penning event! We hope you will come and join us!!
Participating in the Pony Auction
Pony Express trolley service will run from 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. for the Pony Auction. View trolley brochure and schedule.
The following information is for those who plan to bid for a pony during the auction. The auction begins at 8 am on July 29, 2021 at the Carnival Grounds.
1. Be there early if you wish to bid on a pony. The crowds are huge and you will want a space as close to the front as possible.
2. Wear a sun hat and sunscreen. Bring plenty to drink. A pencil and paper are always useful. A camera is nice. A folding chair is a great idea since there will be no the bleachers available due to insurance restrictions.
3. You do not have to register for the auction. If you raise your hand during the auctioneer's chant, you ARE MAKING A BID.
4. Price history for ponies:
- 2020 (COVID-19 Online Auction) - 68 ponies; average cost $5,705 (record); high bid $28,250 (record); low bid $1,800 (record); Total sales=$388,000 (record)
- 2019 - 57 ponies sold, average cost $4,767, high bid $17,500, low bid $1,400, total sales $271,700
- 2018 - 53 ponies sold (including 10 buybacks which sold for $93,100), average cost $4,309, high bid $20,000, low bid $1,000, total sales $228,400
- 2017 - 62 ponies sold (including 10 buybacks), average cost $3,385.48, high bid $15,000, low bid $1,100, total sales $209,900
- 2016 – 57 ponies sold (including 7 buybacks), average cost $2,658.77, high bid $11,000, low bid $550, total sales $151,550
- 2015 - 61 ponies sold (including 12 buybacks), average cost $2,779, high bid $25,000, low bid $500, total sales $169,519
- 2014 - 54 ponies sold, average cost $2,772.23, high bid $21,000, low bid $750, total sales $149,700
- 2013 - 54 ponies sold, average cost $2,161.58, high bid $12,000, low bid $650, total sales $116,725
- 2012 - 67 ponies sold, average cost $1,442.16, high bid $7,200, low bid $400, total sales $96,625
- 2011 - 69 ponies sold, average cost $1,442.02, high bid $6,700, low bid $450, total sales $99,500
- 2010 - 59 ponies sold, average cost $1,310.00, high bid $8,100, low bid $375, total sales $77,275
- 2009 - 70 ponies sold, average cost $1,344.29, high bid $11,700, low bid $500, total sales $94,100
- 2008 - 74 ponies sold, average cost $1,413.85, high bid $9,500, low bid $400, total sales $104,625
- 2007 - 73 ponies sold (70 foals, 3 yearlings), average cost $2,442.47, high bid $17,500, low bid $700, total sales $178,300
- 2006 - 78 ponies sold, average cost $2,150.64, high bid $7,500, low bid $350 (3 yr old), total sales $167,750
- 2005 - 66 ponies sold, average cost $2,255.30, high bid $8,000, low bid $900, total sales $148,850
- 2004 - 74 ponies sold, average cost $1,618.24, high bid $4,000, low bid $850, total sales $119,750
- 2003 - 71 ponies sold, average cost $1,798.59, high bid $6,600, low bid $1,000, total sales $127,700
- 2002 - 89 ponies sold, average cost $1,816.29, high bid $7,800, low bid $950, total sales $161,8650 Six "buyback" foals were sold for a total of $34,000.
- 2001 - 85 ponies sold, average cost $1,963.00, high bid $10,500, low bid $1,000, total sales $166,925
- 2000 - 84 ponies sold, average cost $2,060.54, high bid $7,500, low bid $1,300, total sales $173,085
- 1999 - 86 ponies sold, average cost $1,620.93, high bid $4,100, low bid of $800, total sales $139,400
