CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND, Va. - As July draws to a close, the historic Chincoteague Pony Swim enters its 99th year, attracting family, friends and spectators from across the region. Central to this cherished tradition are the Saltwater Cowboys, whose dedication and expertise are crucial to the event’s continued success.
Captain Hunter Leonard, a fourth-generation Saltwater Cowboy, provides a glimpse into the demanding life of these dedicated individuals.
kAmQ%96C6 :D D@ >F49 AC6A2C2E:@? 5FC:?8 E96 H66< E92E 8@6D @?[Q {6@?2C5 D2:5[ 9:89=:89E:?8 E96 6IE6?D:G6 677@CE C6BF:C65] %96 C@=6 :?G@=G6D =@?8 9@FCD @? E96 3@2E 2?5 42C:?8 7@C D:4< @C :?;FC65 A@?:6D[ D@>6E9:?8 E96 4@H3@JD 92G6 366? 4@>>:EE65 E@ 5@:?8 7@C 86?6C2E:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96 H@C< @7 E96 4@H3@JD :D >2C<65 3J DH62E 2?5 @442D:@?2= E62CD[ H:E9 >2?J 52JD =24<:?8 8=2>@FC] *6E[ {6@?2C5 ?@E6D[ Q2 =@E @7 FD H@F=5?’E 5@ 2?JE9:?8 5:776C6?E]Qk^Am
kAmw6 56D4C:36D E96 DH:> AC6A2C2E:@? 2D Q2 7F??J G242E:@? E92E :D >@DE=J H@C< 2?5 =:EE=6 C6=2I2E:@?[Q 3FE E92E :E Q:D 2? 6IEC6>6 AC:G:=686 E@ 36 2 4@H3@J]Q %9@F89 E96 H@C< 42? 36 492==6?8:?8[ E96 2AAC64:2E:@? 7C@> E96 AF3=:4 DE2?5D @FE 2D 2 >2;@C C6H2C5]k^Am
kAmQ%96C6 2C6 ?@ @E96C H:=5 9@CD6D :? E96 H@C=5 E92E 2C6 EC62E65 2D H6== 2D @FCD 2C6[Q 96 D2:5[ 6>A92D:K:?8 E96 6I46AE:@?2= 42C6 AC@G:565] *62C\C@F?5 42C6 7@C E96 A@?:6D :D DFAA@CE65 3J E96 7:C6 4@>A2?J[ H9:49 @C82?:K6D E96 !@?J $H:> 6249 J62C 2?5 36?67:ED E96 =@42= 64@?@>J]k^Am
kAm%96 565:42E:@? @7 E96 4@H3@JD DFAA@CED E96 7:C6 56A2CE>6?E’D >:DD:@? 2?5 E96 3C@256C 4@>>F?:EJ] Q%96 @C:8:?2= 42FD6 :D 6G6CJE9:?8i 7@C E96 36EE6C>6?E @7 E96 G@=F?E66C 7:C6 56A2CE>6?E[Q {6@?2C5 6IA=2:?65]k^Am
kAmw6 H6?E @? E@ 56D4C:36 E96 !@?J $H:> 2?5 2== @7 :ED DFCC@F?5:?8 6G6?ED 2D QH6==\>2?2865[ @C82?:K65 492@D[ =@G65 3J E96 4@>>F?:EJ E92E H:== 4@?E:?F6 :?567:?:E6=J[Q 2?5 24<?@H=65865 E96 F?:BF6 492==6?86D @7 36:?8 2 $2=EH2E6C r@H3@J]k^Am
kAmQtG6CJ@?6 E9:?<D E96J 42? 36 2 $2=EH2E6C r@H3@J F?E:= E96J 4@>6 @FE 2?5 C:56 H:E9 FD[Q 96 D2:5] Q%96J C62=:K6 G6CJ BF:4<=J J@F 92G6 E@ 36 D<:==65]Qk^Am
kAm{6@?2C5’D >6DD286 E@ DA64E2E@CD >2<6D :E 4=62C E92E 2AAC64:2E:@? 8@6D 3@E9 H2JDi Q%96 >2DD:G6 9@FCD AFE :?E@ E9:D 6G6?E 2C6 2== 5@?6 7@C E96 7:C6 56A2CE>6?E 2?5 =@42= 64@?@>J] p?JE9:?8 E92E 2?J@?6 5@6D H9:=6 E96J’C6 96C6 :D 2=H2JD 2AAC64:2E65] %96 H9@=6 :D=2?5 36?67:ED 2?5 E92E’D H92E H6 2C6 2== 96C6 7@C]Qk^Am
kAm\k^Am
kAmx7 J@F 42?VE >2<6 :E E@ E96 !@?J $H:> :? A6CD@?[ J@F 42? DE:== H2E49P p AC6\6G6?E =:G6DEC62> H:== E2<6 A=246 @? E96 s6=>2CG2 $A@CED }6EH@C<[ (q~r 2?5 r@2DE%' u2463@@< A286D DE2CE:?8 2C@F?5 ``i`d 2]>] (65?6D52J] p? 9@FC\=@?8 %' DA64:2= H:== 2:C D9@CE=J 27E6C[ 7C@> `a E@ ` A]>][ @? E96 s6=>2CG2 $A@CED }6EH@C<] u:?5 J@FC 492??6= 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]56=>2CG2DA@CED?6EH@C<]4@>^H2E490=:G6^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qms6=>2CG2$A@CED}6EH@C<]4@>^9@HE@H2E49k^2m]k^Am


