My Ponies Head to Chincoteague

Every year my mom packs up the ponies and heads to Chincoteague Island in Virginia for the Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim and Auction the last week in July. Sadly I’m always left behind for this annual homecoming of sorts, mostly because mom says it’s too hot for me!

painting pony with ammo the dachshund

So while I stay home with dad and watch movies, eat junk food, and stay up way too late, mom and my ponies are performing all week long at the Chincoteague Pony Centre in the hot summer weather. Perhaps I got the better end of this deal?

Ammo the Dachshund Helps Prepare for Pony Penning // Chincoteague Pony Boomerang

Ammo the Dachshund Super Hero and his Super Hero Pony

I’m wishing my ponies the best of luck in their performances, and I just know they’ll make lots of people smile!

boomerang laughing

See you when you return ponies! You better bring me back a souvenir!

Also, check out this article that was in my local paper all about my favorite ponies! Read it HEREAmmo the Dachshund

Hoof Trimmings

Last week on the farm I found a sweet surprise!

The farrier had been to the farm and left behind a hoof trimming – which is a real delicacy for us dogs!

As you can see my friend Boomerang thought it was quite comical that I was chewing on a piece of horse hoof – I’m sure he was thinking “if you only knew where that’s been”. But Boomerang, you forget, I know where you’ve stepped – and I like the taste of horse manure too! hehe. 

Halloween Weekend Adventure

Over the Halloween weekend I went on nearly a 400 mile excursion to visit a place that is very special to my pony friends, Assateague Island, Virginia.

See my pal Minnow was born wild on Assateague 18 years ago, and every year he returns to neighboring Chincoteague Island to perform for a week during their annual pony penning. I never get to go because the island isn’t very dog friendly and sitting in the car is not a good idea in the summer heat.

ammo the dachshund rest stop

Even dogs need to take advantage of the rest stop!

But this time as all the ponies loaded up for a special trip to Assateague to ride on the beach in the cool fall weather, I was allowed to come! Yipee!

The even better news was that I got to leave behind a rare October snowstorm in PA for the still cold but way less snowy weather in Virginia. Score.

Upon arriving Saturday evening I got to attend a special picnic where mom got to meet up with her Chincoteague Pony Friends from all across the country. I even got to meet a bunch of my facebook fans in person for the very first time, and I wasted no time showing off some of my favorite tricks so that everyone could have a good laugh.

assateague island

The next day we were up early and headed across the bridge and onto Assateague Island with all my pony friends in tow.

Dogs aren’t allowed on Assateague (seriously?) so I spent my morning snuggled in a pile of blankets. Honestly I can’t complain, from what the ponies tell me it would of been too cold for me anyway.

riding ponies on assateague

Meanwhile mom got to live out her dream of riding the ponies on the beach. Boomerang and Blitz were excited to visit the island where their parents were born years earlier. It was a very special trip for everyone.

minnow on assateague island

Naturally mom spent hours on the beach taking pictures of the ponies. She promised me she’d show me all the cool photos once she has time to filter through the nearly 1,000 photos she took (and I thought she took a lot of photos of me!)

But here are a few she showed me last night that I thought were extra special.

chesapeake boomerang

chincoteague minnow

chesapeake lightning

I taught those ponies everything they know. Don’t forget that! 🙂

After our beach adventure we headed back to the mainland so the ponies could participate in a fun show. They won me lots of ribbons – but I won the most special one of them all…

The costume contest! Well, ok, Minnow might have helped some.

Then on Halloween morning we made one last drive out to Assateague so the ponies could say goodbye to the ocean before heading home to PA. I told them I had to be back home in time to hand out candy to all the trick-or-treaters in my neighborhood!

So how about that for a Halloween weekend adventure? Pretty exciting, right? I just might have to spend the rest of the week catching up on my sleep after this weekend fun!

 

P.S. More fun photos from our amazing adventure will be popping up on the Painting Pony Blog & Facebook page as soon as my mom has a chance to filter through them all! So make sure you check back soon!

Super Dog vs. Super Pony – who won?

As my facebook fans know, I’m back from my amazing trip to the Equine Extravaganza to compete in the talent contest with my pony pal, Chincoteague Minnow.

And guess what!!?? I came back as the winner! Well ok, Minnow & I are the winners!

Mom was kinda nervous for the performance, but Minnow & I knew exactly what we were doing. Just check it out for yourself:

We were up against some stiff competition….

But I think it was my adorableness that won the judges over. I also threw in a few extra moves of my own to really wow them too…..Like digging a REALLY REALLY big hole. I mean did you hear all the laughs I got? I have to admit I’m kinda bitter that the crowd clapped the loudest for Minnow & he won the super hero trophy…..I guess I can give him that one though, since it WAS a HORSE EXPO.

Not only did I win glory in the contest, but I also won the opportunity to have a private training session with Movie Star Animal Trainer, Doug Sloan. I can see myself now in a kibble commercial, or maybe the next marvel super hero movie! I mean after all the 2008 talent contest winner, Amazing Grace, became a movie star after she won! So hey, it could happen to me right?

But, even if I don’t become a super star, my mom said she’ll always be proud of me, and I don’t need a fancy movie role to be special.

And you know, my mom’s right. Because I perform to make people smile and laugh, and because it’s fun! (not to mention the chicken and cheese mom gives me is to die for!)

So maybe someday you will see me on the big screen, but if not, I’ll be just as happy to continue to make my fans smile.

P.S. I have lots more photos to share from my adventuresome weekend….so check back tomorrow….you can also head over to the Trick Ponies Blog to see more videos from my travels.