Hello,

My name is Mike Gellis and I am a Professional Boat Tour Guide and Wildlife Photographer who specializes in the history and up-close viewings of the Chincoteague Wild Ponies. I have found my passion is searching for the Chincoteague Wild Ponies on Assateague Island and it has become an obsession! The ponies are like family and you get to know them very well.

My grandparents lived on Chincoteague Island and I spent the summers with my grandfather fishing, crabbing, and of course, searching for Wild Ponies. I tell many stories about my grandparents during our outings on boat tours, especially my grandfather! You will have to take a tour to hear some of those! My grandparents loved those ponies!

As I shared my stories and pictures, they seemed to resonate with others, and the overwhelming encouragement has led me to this fundraiser!

Every year, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department, also known as the "Saltwater Cowboys," rounds up the ponies and swims them from Assateague to Chincoteague. They are paraded through town to the carnival grounds. The maximum number of ponies on Assateague is around 150! Over 100 foals can be born each year. The reason for the roundup is to auction off all the foals. Most of these foals are auctioned off and sent home to live their life with their new owners. It's very prestigious to own a Chincoteague Wild Pony!

Each year, the Chincoteague Fire Department decides to keep a few foals to put back on the island. These foals are auctioned off; however, these foals get to stay and be put back on Assateague Island to live freely for the rest of their lives. The money raised from this auction goes to the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department. The funds are well spent on the needs of the department as well as the care for our wild ponies! Funds are used for vaccinations, feed in the wintertime if it's really cold, and of course, vet care if needed throughout the year. They do a great job!

I would like to raise money for this auction to be able to bid on a Chincoteague Wild Pony! If we are able to win a pony, we will get to name the pony and then it will be donated back to the Chincoteague Fire Department to live out its life in the wild. Everyone will receive a certificate showing that you are part of a great cause!

To honor my grandparents (John and Alice Bagley), I would like to name the foal "Up The Bay's Bagley's Dream!"