Press Release: On Friday 8/14 Pony Committee Members were contacted by National Park Service Management from Assateague National Seashore (Maryland)

They had a bay pinto colt born on 4/25/2026 who had been orphaned. They asked if the CVFC would be interested in taking in the foal. Pony Committee Members discussed and agreed that the foal would be a good fit with our current buyback foal crop and eventually as a stallion in our herd. On Sunday 8/16, personnel from NPS and CVFC Pony Committee captured and transported the colt to our medical barn where he will stay until his medical quarantine is cleared. From first indications he is eating and drinking very well, he talks to a few of our buyback mares and foals through the fence but is not panicking or calling out which is a great prognosis for his survival. He is very wean-able for a wild pony foal, at his age and should have zero problems adjusting to life on his own. Once he is cleared, we will wean some of our buybacks who are also old enough to give him some friends and return their dams to their respective pastures.

Upon further discussion Pony Committee Members decided that this foal will not be sold and instead be named for a lifetime Saltwater Cowboy, former Pony Committee Chairman, and someone who did relocations like this from the MD side many times. We would like to introduce the “Wesley Bloxom Stallion” with a call name/nickname of “Old Dad”. It is our hope that this colt will prosper and contribute to the herds as much as Wesley did. The members of the Pony Committee would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the NPS, the many people who have reached out, donated to us, and continue to care so much for this colt. He is part of the herd now and when released after winter he will roam the island (in Virginia) not as he was born to do but as he was meant to do.