A Beloved Assateague Pony Was Killed

Three wild horses. One summer. During the summer of 2026, three wild horses on the Maryland side of Assateague Island were struck by vehicles. Miracle survived. Dune Dancer Jolt and Susi Solé did not. This video remembers the horses behind those names and looks at what may help prevent another loss—from the safety measures already in place to ideas proposed by people who have spent years watching, studying, and advocating for the horses. Those ideas include a uniform 15 mph speed limit, additional traffic-calming measures and radar signs, smart-crossing studies, and improved collision reporting. The video also introduces S.U.S.I.—Situational Understanding for Safety and Intelligence—a platform being developed by Assateague Horse Safety to collect observations, identify patterns, and recognize high-risk areas. Special thanks to horse-safety advocate Jodi Sylvester for sharing her knowledge, perspective, quotations, and photographs. Several photographs are courtesy of Jodi Sylvester / Jodi Lynne Photography. When visiting Assateague, please obey posted speed limits, watch carefully for wildlife—particularly in the morning and evening—use designated pull-offs, remain at least 40 feet from wild horses, and never feed or give them water. RESOURCES AND WAYS TO HELP Assateague Horse Safety: https://assateaguehorsesafety.com/ Learn how to get involved: https://assateaguehorsesafety.com/get... Petition requesting a 15 mph speed limit in Assateague State Park: https://www.change.org/p/reduce-the-s... National Park Service — Assateague’s Wild Horses: https://www.nps.gov/asis/learn/nature... National Park Service — Visitor, driving, and wild-horse safety: https://www.nps.gov/asis/planyourvisi... CHAPTERS 0:00 Three Horses, One Summer 0:14 The Wild Horses of Assateague 1:02 Susi Solé, Dune Dancer Jolt, and Miracle 2:10 Advocates Respond 2:59 Proposed Safety Changes 3:52 Current Safety Measures 4:24 S.U.S.I.: Identifying High-Risk Areas 4:45 What Will Make the Difference? 5:05 Our Responsibility to the Horses #AssateagueHorses #AssateagueIsland #WildHorseSafety #WildlifeConservation #Chincoteague