CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. (WVEC) — A horse accidentally died in a freak accident at the Chincoteague carnival grounds on Thursday.
According to the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, Butterfly Kisses tragically died after sliding into a fence and breaking her neck. She was being chased by Riptide when she slipped.
A veterinarian was there in a few minutes, but she couldn't be saved. The house had to be euthanized. Butterfly Kisses' body was taken back to Assateague to be buried.
She had a foul that was purchased by a local family. Luckily, the family was able to take the foul home and start bottle feeding the baby.
The 93rd annual Pony Swim in Chincoteague took place on Wednesday. It's part of a traditional Pony Penning Week. The Pony Swim annually attracts tens of thousands of spectators to see the ponies' short swim from Assateague Island to Chincoteague.
Once the ponies set hoof on Chincoteague, and after a rest, they are paraded through the streets to the Chincoteague carnival grounds, where some of the foals will be auctioned the following day.
The auction helps control the size of the herd and is a fundraiser for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company.
Click here for information about this year's Pony Penning events.
Delmarvanow contributed to this report.
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