We wish you a joyous Christmas season and hope that the New Year brings you health and prosperity. Here are some highlights from the year about our beloved Newfoundland Pony:
New Life!
2019 was the year of the Newfoundland Pony foal! We know of at least 25 foals born this year, and our volunteer Registrar is working hard to add them to the official Registry. You can see 22 gorgeous foals featured in our calendar fundraiser. We still have a few calendars left for sale in our webstore at www.newfoundlandpony.com. Special thanks to Downhome Magazine, Nonia, the Co-op, Newfoundland Weavery, and Spirit of Newfoundland for helping to sell them. We couldn’t do it without you.
How Many Newfoundland Ponies?
We’re often asked how many Newfoundland Ponies there are? We are approaching Registration # 900 in the Registry including those in Newfoundland & Labrador, the rest of Canada and the U.S. This means we have registered 700 ponies since the modern registry with DNA test identification was started in 1999. But over 160 of those are known to be deceased, and the status of a number of others is unknown. We also know of ponies that could be registered but aren’t. We encourage owners to register their ponies so we can keep track of where they are and match their offspring. We also ask that deaths be reported too. Not only does it enable us to track their offspring and add others to the Registry, but it helps protect them when they are moved or sold. On that front, we have good news: we will be continuing our free DNA testing program in 2020 thanks to sales from the calendar and membership fees. Forms are available on our website.
Special Thanks
Margaret Mead said, “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world.” The NPS is fortunate to have the help of not just a few – but many caring people. Their dedication and hours of service is having a big impact on the future preservation of the province’s only heritage breed. We have some very special people whose ongoing efforts in breeding, providing free stud service, keeping an eye out for ponies in danger and helping in rescues, and promoting the pony. We thank each of you for your work. It is having an impact.
Update on Newfoundland Pony Society Land in Trinity Bay
We recently received a very generous donation from a supporter to kick-start our fundraising for what we want to create as The Newfoundland Pony Heritage Park on 25 acres of land in Trinity Bay near Hopeall on a long-term lease from the Provincial Government. We plan to repair fencing to provide pasture land, upgrade the buildings on site and develop story boards for visitors and tourists on the history and the status of the Newfoundland Pony and the role it played in our history.
Ultimately, we hope this will be an important site where members of the public, school groups and tourists will be able to see and interact with the Newfoundland Ponies and learn of their history. It’s not far from St. John’s and the Argentia ferry terminal, so it will be accessible to tourists and residents alike. If you would like to donate toward the cost of this special project please contact us at: www.NewfoundlandPony.com
2 Studs for Hire
Who doesn’t like Smithwicks and Guinness?! This was one of our favorite stories in Downhome Magazine about two Newfoundland Stallions (14 hands high) with a valuable blood line owned by Dave and Joan Moloughney of Westport, Ontario. You can read about these big boys here.
Lastly, if you would like to donate to the Newfoundland Pony Society, we issue tax receipts as registered charity (# 899 123 053 RR0 001). To donate, please visit Canada Helps:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-newfoundland-pony-society/
Once again Happy Holidays and all the Best for the New Year!
We hope to see you at a Newfoundland Pony event in 2020.
Regards,
Jack Harris, President