1Si5BTC2e

Newfoundland
& Labrador
R E P O R T
with Ruth Story
Newfoundland
Ponies coming
home
The Newfoundland Equestrian
Team competed in the Canadian
Interprovincial Equestrian
Championships (CEIC) in
Blaineville, Quebec from October 3 to
5. Congratulations to Katrina Butler,
Loni Atwood, Ashleigh Hudson, and
Danielle Pike. The Newfoundland team
finished in seventh place overall, with
Butler taking an individual placing of
seventh place in senior reining on her
horse, Nacho, and Atwood placing
sixth in senior dressage on her horse,
Whisper. Hudson rode a leased horse
in senior jumping while Pike competed
on her horse, Badger, in junior dressage.
It was an amazing experience for all
the provincial riders. Jenny Horsey-
Simpson was the team coach.
The Change Islands
Newfoundland Pony Sanctuary
held the grand opening of their beautiful
new 14-stall barn on September 6. The
group had been successful in winning
the 2103 Aviva Community Fund
competition and received $90,000 to
enhance their facilities and build a new
barn. This funding allowed the sanctuary
to access an additional $90,000 from the
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(ACOA) and the provincial government.
Work continues to complete new fencing
and to seed the land before winter.
Congratulations to Netta Ledrew, who
has been the driving force behind the
sanctuary for a number of years, as well
as the team who have been assisting her.
The sanctuary was busy this summer
with lots of visitors and tourists.
Twenty Newfoundland Ponies,
that were facing an uncertain future
on Vancouver Island, will be arriving
back in Newfoundland in late October,
thanks to the Newfoundland Pony
Society (NPS) and support from
donors and volunteers. The ponies were
transported to Alberta in July where
they were checked by veterinarians and
Mila Major and her husband, Brad Hiscock, pose for a wedding photo with
Duke of Cache Rapids Stable during their wedding reception in Reidville, Nfld-
Lab on October 11. (Ruth Story photos)
rested for six weeks. They arrived in
Nova Scotia in late September where
the mares were placed on pasture in
Boylston, Pictou, and Baddeck, and the
stallions placed in temporary homes,
thanks to the kindness of Nova Scotians.
The herd consists of 10 mares and 10
stallions, ranging in age from four to
17 years old. “Bringing these ponies
into the population in Newfoundland
represents a substantial boost to the
total number of Newfoundland Ponies,
which is estimated at around 400,”
said Cle Newhook, president of the
NPS. Members of the public can make
a donation to help with the upkeep
of the ponies by contacting the NPS,
which is a registered charity, at www.
newfoundlandpony.com
The NL Pony Pals Project
have had a very busy summer and
fall, holding numerous fundraising
events for the Debbie Bray Memorial
NL pony rescue/assistance fund and
assisting several Newfoundland Pony
owners. On August 17, the group held
an afternoon with the Newfoundland
Ponies event at Bay Roberts with
pony rides, a ticket draw, t-shirt sales
and fundraising, which raised more
than $1,200. On Sept. 18 and 19, the
group attended the Trinity/Conception
Agriculture Fair and more than 700
school children had the opportunity to
learn about the Newfoundland Pony
and have their picture taken. The
ponies were in Harbour Grace for a
Newfoundland Pony Parade on Sept
20. The Newfoundland Ponies will
be showcased at O’Neills Gardenland
in Spaniards Bay at its Thanksgiving
Festivities on Oct. 18.
The project also assisted the
Newfoundland Ponies of Cappahayden
by hooking up a water line to their barn,
and putting a new roof on the Dawson
Farm Newfoundland Pony Haven in
Bay Roberts. A special thank you is
extended to artist and Newfoundland
Pony advocate, Clifford George for
donating a painting to raise funds.
Embarr Stables in the Goulds
have big plans in the near future. They
currently have four Newfoundland
Ponies and hope to establish a breeding
program to increase the number of
critically endangered ponies. Plans
Page 36 | November 2014-January 2015 | ATLANTIC HORSE & PONY