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Laura Thieme

Bizresearch President – 11 years - 2008

Fisher College of Business Lecturer on Search Marketing

OSU Russian Studies Grad – 1993

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18th June 2008

Wild Ponies in Shackleford Banks, NC Near Beaufort

by Laura Thieme

It was an arduous trip, as I expected, to see the wild ponies.  But it was well worth it.  The journey began by taking a short water ferry over early in the morning to Shackleford Banks.  We unloaded our gear and trekked into the island’s grasses, bushes and sand.  The first wild pony was here by herself, a horse that has been shunned by the rest of the 117 wild ponies because she can no longer have babies - she’s too old.  So the herds of horses did away with the infertile poor soul.  She’ll spend the rest of her days on her own.

Fertility Horse Wild Pony in Shackleford Banks, NC

I took two Canon cameras, and my digital camcorder.  The little digital Powershot I never used, nor the camcorder, but the larger zoom digital that I used for Antarctica was perfect.  I love that camera!  I took the tripod but didn’t need it - nor the weight that was no fun to carry.  I had a cooler on the beach filled with ice and drinks for when I returned.  I also took some apple juice with me for my hike.  The hike is supposed to be about 1.5 miles, but mine ended up being much longer. 

Our second view of wild ponies, a set of four horses, were here:

Wild ponies in Shackleford Banks, NC

The darker horse on the right was standing guard, according to the guide, who had worked there for 15 plus years.  But a closer look at the dark stallion, and he looked like he was trying to take a snooze or he didn’t feel good.  He looked unwell to me.

Wild Pony Standing Guard, Snoozing or Not Feeling Well?

After seeing these four horses, we progressed to the Atlantic beach side.  The guide hoped to see the foal, or a palomino - we saw neither down at the beach so people began to hunt for shells.  Then they headed out and I followed slowly behind.  I was beginning to tire due to my back pain, and being four months pregnant, carrying photo gear, etc.  All of a sudden I caught a glimpse of four more horses, and the group was too far ahead to notice them.  I noticed one laying down on the ground (lighter horse), and the oher sitting nearby.  Two additional horses were grazing nearby. 

Wild Ponies Rest In the Grass

I think these horses look pretty carefree - they don’t seem as wild in the sense that we would come nearby and they would startle, or run away - they would just stare at you and then continue grazing in the grass.

As I got closer to these horses, I lost the crowd and their direction.  I got further lost as I tried to figure out where the path was back to the other side of the beach - memories returned of getting lost as a child in a movie theater - I don’t like the feeling of will I be able to find my way back?  I thought one way didn’t look good - and then I’d try another way - and then I’d see nothing good ahead there either.  I hoped I could find the crowd, but I couldn’t even see them, or the direction of their voices.  I’d see another few behind me, on top of some dune, trying to find their way as well.  I saw no paths.  I saw only bushes and piles of horse poop.  I could only remember what the guide said - watch out for ticks in the bushes, and red fire ant piles on the ground, which were everywhere.  I knew they had to send out the Coast Guard search party if anyone got lost.  

But in the end it was worth it. I finally had to hop through some high grasses, very, very scary - yikesy, yikesy - but did it, climbed a rather high dune to assess my position, and came out to see something beautiful.

As I came over the hill, I could see this below:

Wild ponies with foal - Shackleford Banks, NC

What a glorious sweet way to close my journey - it’s quite interesting - the journey began with an infertile horse that was old, and no longer able to reproduce.  The entire 117 herd of horses had shunned this horse - she was no longer welcome.  I felt major empathy for this poor soul.  The journey ended with a family of horses, protecting a young foal - or young male colt.  All the horses we saw, seemed to travel in packs of four, with the exception of this one - as a foal made five horses. 

It’s interesting how packs of animals shun an infertile horse - no longer able to contribute something to the lineage of Spanish & Portuguese blood line.  It seems much like human behavior - note how people who have children tend to stick together, whereas people who do not have children often do not share some of the same friendships or obvious interests.  Same with singles, versus couples - I hate to use the old birds of a common feather flock together cliche, but it’s true.  Sad to see it the old horse get rejected - I wondered if she had problems getting to the watering hole (shown above, which is rain water that settles on the grassy area), or other areas in times of storms. 

Sometimes I feel like that horse, though - shunned due to my singleton or once-infertile status.  I do not, however, feel shunned due to my singleton pregnant status - if anything, a whole new world of endearment amongst women, married and divorced, seems to have opened up - a sisterhood that is very strong.  Unlike, when I was single and “barren”.   While my family hardly understands my desire to have children, as a single mother by choice, many salute me from all ages with this envious look of wisdom that says so much yet nothing at all.

This journey today with the wild ponies oddly and unexpectedly mirrored my own fertility journey in part.  As a singleton who travels the world and observes so much in foreign places - I respect the wild ponies’ desire to run free, yet their struggles to survive in a world where few will take time to notice their beauty of their freedom or struggle.

In closing, the wild ponies made their way from the local watering area across the Sound beach’s entrance - and off to a simple way of life, relatively, if you forget local hurricanes and having to drink salt water, and getting gout as a result.  I marveled at the young foal’s protection, and surrounded by his family - he’s included and he’s looked after, something we all need and want.

Wild Ponies

Tonight, as I blog, my back is so sore I can hardly walk.  I plan to go straight to bed, after taking a hot bubble bath.  I’ve called in for a massage as the B&B has a spa on-site.  Then back to smoky beaches in Waves, NC and less customer service from Outer Beaches Realty than you could possibly want.

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