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84-Lancaster Fuming, Saturday, August 23,1997
The Chincoteague Pony Drill Team includes members Rennie Peterson, 20,
Sarah Shimko, 13; Lyndsy Holton, 14; Erika Bender, 16; Katye Allen, 11; Beth
Chincoteague Ponies Unite For Drill Team
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
MANHEIM (Lancaster Co.)
Chincoteague ponies and Kendy
Allen arc synonomous. Long an
admirer of the ponies made famous
by a series of books written by
Marguerite Henry, Kendy pur
chased Misty 11, granddaughter of
Misty of Chincoteague, in 1987.
The Allens, which includes hus
band Keith and daughters Kerra,
16, and Katye, 11. now own 14
descendants of the Misty of Chin
coteague ponies. Under the Allen
family’s tutelage, the famous
ponies have performed in numer
ous states and special events. To
help with the growing herd of
Chincoteagues, the Allens lease a
few to horseless kids involved in
4-H.
Starting today, a Chincoteague
Pony Drill Team will debut at the
Elizabethtown Fair.
The idea for developing a drill
team was birthed when Misty II
Kendy Allen, right, Instructs the Chlncoteague ponies to
stand on a stool for introduction to the crowd.
and the Allen family was visiting
the Kentucky Horse Park last
summer.
Kendy said, “We watched some
of the youth drill teams perform
and they were so neat I thought
why can’t we do that? We’re
always getting invited to have the
Chincoteagues appear at different
places; and performing in a drill
team adds a new perspective to
showing people what Chincb
teagues can do.”
Kendy believes that the temper
ament of Chincoteague ponies is
well suited to the structured riding
event performed to music. Kendy
and the riders, who range in age
from 11-19, selected the sound
track from the movie theme “Hoo-
sier’s.”
Although Kendy admits to being
partial to Chiconteague ponies, she
said that the breed adapts quickly
to being around other ponies,
which makes them ideal for drill
team participation since ponies
maintain close contact with each
other. The ponies are also intelli
gent and eager to please, she said.
Drill teams teach riders tuning
and control of the animals. Ponies
that are accustomed to drill team
maneuvers are more quiet and
settled in other situations, accord
ing to Kepdy.
Eight riders perform in syn
chronized pairs from a 17-page
pattern that Kendy outlined and
members practiced on foot until
they memorized the pattern and
were ready to mount the ponies.
Drill team requires experienced
riders. Each team member has had
at least five years of riding experi
ence. Some, such as Kendy’s
daughter Katye have ridden since
three years of age.
Another daughter, Kerra, said
that communicating while per
forming in drill team is a must
“Each Idd must focus. We must
all put forth the same amount of
effort. No team member is mote
important than another.”
Forgetting parts or becoming
disoriented during the drill can
result in jammed knees in addition
to interrupting the smooth flowing
show.
“If one person makes a mistake,
we cover for each other by pretend
ing we know what we are doing
and go on from there,” Kerra said.
While die drill team practices, a
group of children sit on the fence
yelling and clapping. According to
Kendy the antics of this group is
helping the ponies become accus
tom to noise that they will hear
when performing at large events.
This trains the ponies to concen
trate on their job and to ignore the
noise of the crowd.
The riders insist that they can tell
when the ponies* favorite parts of
the drill are about to begin.
According to Pcnnic Peterson,
20, who is captain of the drill team,
“The ponies like the fast parts.”
Fennie, who is a citizen of both
Denmark and Canada, has been
riding for 14 yean, and has worked
in North Carolina stables. As cap
tain, she calls out the changing
Holton, 12; Kerra Allen, 16; and Adrienne Zimmerman, 11.
gaits during the practice sessions.
Pennie said that in an actual show,
verbal commands will not be
given. Istead, she will signal team
mates by nodding her head when
ready to cross patterns.
“It’s important to pay constant
attention to your partner.” Pennie
said.
The Allens breed, raise, train,
and occasionally sell one of their
quality Chincoteague ponies. Their
farm is the only place known in the
United States where “Misty Fami
ly” ponies can be purchased ready
to ride and show.
All.their ponies are registered
with the Chincoteague Pony Asso
ciation in Chincoteague, Va.
Each year, a round-up and an
auction of the wild ponies on the
island of Chinconteague is held.
The ponies sell from
sl,ooo-$6,000 each.
Ten years ago, the Allens pur
chased Misty 11, who was then 13
years old and had remained unbro
. m
These kids attend practice to yell, shout, and clap to help
the ponies become accustomed to noises they will hear
from the crowd during actual performances.
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ken on the Chicoteague island.
Misty II it the only pony in the
entire Misty line since the original
Misty to show the maikings of
“map of the United States.” The
Allens gentled her to saddle, ride,
stand ona stool, an&shake hands.
Misty loves carrot oat cakes, but
her favorite food is fruit-flavored
Life Savers.
Misty II traveled to Chinco
league in July to participate in the
Pony Penning where she and other
Misty family relatives performed
“We think Chincoteague ponies
are one of the best kept secrets in
the horse world,” Kendy said. She
hopes the drill team performance
will show the beauty and the intel
ligence of the ponies.
In addition to the Allen children,
team members include Adrienne
Zimmerman, Lititz; Pennie
Petersen, Lititz; Sarah Shimko,
Manheim, Lyndsy and Beth Hol-
(Turn to Pago BS)