Newfoundland pony census launched
A census is being undertaken to determine the number and location of Newfoundland ponies in the province.
The Newfoundland Pony Society (NPS) said in a news release Tuesday, the census and oral history component, which will take place until March 29, is being conducted in partnership with the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (HFNL).
The Newfoundland pony is listed as a critically endangered species by Rare Breeds Canada. It’s believed there are fewer than 400 Newfoundland ponies in North America with only 250 of these ponies able to be bred.
“We are collecting information on the number of Newfoundland Ponies living in Newfoundland and Labrador so an accurate picture of their population can be determined,” said Newfoundland MP Jack Harris, who’s also a NPS board member.
“The hard-working Newfoundland Pony was an integral part of Newfoundlanders’ survival. We need to work together to protect one of our greatest and unique natural assets to ensure that the Newfoundland pony has a place in our future,” Harris said.
Conducting the census research for the NPS is Joelle Carey, a master’s in folklore student at Memorial University.
Residents of the province who own a Newfoundland pony or who have information about the pony that they’d like to share should contact Carey at 1-888-739-1892, ext. 5. Her email is joelle@heritagefoundation.ca.
“We are pleased to partner with the Newfoundland Pony Society on this project because the stories, knowledge and history associated with Newfoundland ponies are just as important to preserve as the breed itself,” said Dale Jarvis, cultural heritage development officer with the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador.
In the early 1970s, the Newfoundland pony population was about 12,000. By the late 1980s, it had declined to only about 100 animals.
The NPS says several factors contributed to the rapid decimation of the pony population.
Modern machinery replaced the pony in many jobs, municipalities enacted laws limiting the keeping of livestock and availability of pastures and the NPS says the greatest factor was the sale of the ponies to livestock dealers on the mainland for the meat trade in Europe.
Newfoundland Pony characteristics
The Newfoundland pony is described by the NPS as an “all-purpose” pony and has many desirable characteristics including strength, courage, intelligence, obedience, willingness, and common sense. They are hard workers and easy to keep. Their physical characteristics include: Being all around hardy, a good winter animal;
Structure can vary from fine-boned types to larger, stocky types;
Height can vary from 11.0 to 14.2 hands;
Coat colour can be black, brown, chestnut, bay, dun, grey, roan and white (pink skin);
Coat is heavy and sometimes changes colour and character seasonally;
A thick mane and tail — usually black; A low-set mane and tail; Short, broad head with small ears; Flint-hard hooves. The NPS was founded in 1979 and was incorporated in 1981 as a registered charity.
In 1994, a resolution was brought to the floor of the House of Assembly by then-MHA Jack Harris that laid the groundwork for the protection of the Newfoundland pony.
The Newfoundland Pony Society has been designated as the organization responsible for the preservation and protection of this animal. For more information, visit www.newfoundlandpony.com.