Skip to Main Content

Horses in the Wild

There are many places around the world where wild horses roam free. Students will learn about the horses and ponies of Assateague and Chincoteague and create a 3D piece of art that depicts horses swimming in a "pony penning" event.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Yarn

Steps

  • Step 1

    There are several theories as to how ponies came to live in the wild on Assateague Island (Maryland/Virginia) and Chincoteage Island (Virginia). One common assumption is that they are descendants of horses that survived a shipwreck off the coast of Virginia in the 17th century. Another is that they are descendants of horses brought to barrier islands in the 17th century by mainland owners to avoid taxation of livestock. Have students investigate these majestic animals. What breed of horse lives in the region? What is the difference between wild and feral? Who cares for the land and any medical needs of the horses? What is the purpose of the "Pony Swim" (or "pony penning") that takes place on the last Wednesday and Thursday in July?

  • Step 2

    Have students view images of the feral horses of Assateague and Chincoteague on land and swimming across the channel. Then ask them to create a piece of artwork that depicts the horses as they swim. They can paint the background water using watercolors. Moistening the watercolor paper before painting on it will help the color spread and blend. The ponies' heads can be sculpted out of Model Magic and glued to the paper after the watercolor has dried. Their manes can be made by gluing on small pieces of yarn.

  • Step 3

    Have students present their art and talk about some of the interesting history and facts they learned about the horses of this region.

  • Step 4

Standards

SS: Time, Continuity, and Change: Read, reconstruct, and interpret the past. Imagine the future. Place oneself in various times and spaces and reflect on change. 

SS: People, Places, and Environments: Understand various perspectives and examine changes in relationships between peoples, places, and environments.  

Adaptations

Encourage students to read "Misty of Chincoteague" by Marguerite Henry. It is a Newbury Honor book recommended for ages 7-12 about a fictional pony named Misty, but it was inspired by true events and a real-life Chincoteague family.

Have students write a story about Assateague and Chincoteague told from a horse's point of view. What is life like for the ponies on these islands? How do they spend their days? Are humans kind to them?