The purchase of each ticket will give you TWO chances to win naming rights for an Assateague foal. The holder of the first ticket drawn will be given naming rights for N2BHS-AIOW, a chestnut pinto filly with a blaze born on May 24th, 2024 to the dam N2BHS-AIO "Mieke’s Noe’lani". The probable sire is N10T-JO "Assateague’s Phoenix". The holder of the second ticket drawn will be given naming rights to N6BMT-FW, a chestnut filly with a star born in late May/early June of 2024 to the dam N6BMT-F "Jojo". The probable sire is N9BFQ-GP "Tommy ThunderBolt Nektosha".
With each raffle ticket purchase, one physical ticket is printed and added into the raffle box, if you purchase five e-tickets then we will enter five physical tickets into the box. The order confirmation emailed to you following your purchase serves as your receipt and ticket stub. No physical ticket stubs will be mailed. The winning ticket will be drawn on May 1, 2025. All tickets must be purchased by 11:59pm ET on April 30, 2025.
Please review the naming protocols carefully before participating in the raffle.
The not so fine print: In an effort to reinforce to individuals who visit Assateague that the Maryland herd of wild horses is managed as free roaming wildlife, and they are indeed wild, we have instituted a new naming policy.
Incidents involving visitors attempting to humanize horses have put the safety and well-being of the wild horses in jeopardy. We are using this naming program as a new opportunity to emphasize that treating these majestic wild creatures like their domestic cousins is unacceptable and illegal. Although we know our supporters respect and admire the horses from a distance, we need to set an example for all visitors to change their perspectives and behaviors going into the future. For these reasons we have implemented the following changes with regard to naming the wild horses.
The wild horses are just that, wild. Although the typical lifespan of an Assateague wild horse is 20 to 30 years, lifespans vary dramatically with individuals. They may live for many years or may meet an early demise through accident, disease, or unknown causes. There will be no intercession by the park.
The name selected by the winning ticket holder must be submitted within 30 days of the end of the auction or naming rights will be forfeited. The name is subject to the approval of the National Park Service and may not include your family name, profanity, pejoratives, corporate, copyrighted, or brand names, or any name referencing alcohol, tobacco, firearms, or any name or reference to “Misty”, “Chip”, or “Delegate’s Pride” as a part of the name. In addition, names will be limited to 15 characters and cannot include family surnames or any form of possessive language unless in reference to the park. The horses are wild and therefore should not have possessive family names such as Smith’s Trigger or Jones’ Buttercup. Naming a horse does not suggest that the namer can claim any ownership over the individual animal.
We know how popular it has been in the past to honor loved ones through this program and we still encourage that to occur. For instance, the name “Assateague’s Phoenix” was named to honor the namer’s mother who rose like a phoenix after having her life altered after a tragic accident resulted in the loss of her legs. “Chantilly Lace” was chosen by the namer to honor her Mom and deceased Dad because they loved that song and often sang it with her and her sister.
In order to provide more people with the opportunity to name a foal, those who have given a name to a horse since 2009, and the horse is still living, are ineligible to participate in the naming programs.
Participate in this raffle for the gift of a lifetime, the chance to name an Assateague foal living wild and free on Assateague Island!
Photos courtesy of Bonnie Lindblom, Cally Mack, and Nancy McMenamin