History
The origins of the Newfoundland Pony began over 400 years ago in Newfoundland.
The first Settlers from the British Isles brought their small Moorland and Highland horses as part of their livestock. Very quickly these little horses proved their worth, they were like gold.
In the early 17th and 18th centuries PONIES from various regions of South West England were brought as livestock with settlers to Newfoundland There were no recognized breeds of horses/ponies until after the middle of the 19th century. Southeast Ireland and various regions of Wales and Scotland also contributed people and ponies to the colony. The mixed roots of these ponies amalgamated into what we have today. By the beginning of the 20th century Newfoundland kept records of the number of the pony population.
They were the very essence of survival for these settlers. Many of these ponies withstood the harsh climate and became an integral part of the family. These ponies or small horses soon proved they were as hardy as the settlers and reproduced offspring that both survived and prospered in their harsh climate. More ponies were requested as needed for their outports to expand and grow.
Through the years these ponies have adapted to the Island’s harsh climate and developed into their own pony type, their origin was prior to Breed Associations being formed, and as yet they have no official Breed status. This is what we, the breeders and owners, are working to attain.
Through the years these ponies bred and prospered until the introduction of machinery. Their numbers plummeted from around 10,000, and now the ponies' very survival is in question with less than 300 breedable ones left.
By June 1997, the population of the Newfoundland pony had plummeted to less than 150 listed animals of which less than 40 were breedable mares! The 1935 census shows there were 9,025 ponies in Newfoundland and healthy numbers existed up to the mid 1970’s. Their crisis now is one of survival of the Newfoundland Pony.
The pony was no longer needed for heavy work since machinery took over. Pony numbers fell rapidly as the horse-meat trade started focusing on this animal in 1977. In the 1970's Communities enacted "no roaming" by-laws thereby limiting breeding and food supply. Ponies were sold and shipped away in the thousands because people could no longer afford to keep them! Some ponies were slaughtered and their meat sold in Europe for human consumption.
AWARENESS
In the Fall of 1980, concerned about the ponies' future, a small number of people spearheaded by Dr. Andrew Fraser, a Veterinarian, called a public meeting in St. John's and founded the Newfoundland Pony Society.
By 1992 there were less than 500 ponies left.
Dr. Andrew Fraser started again to try to save the pony by founding "Newfoundland Pony Care Inc." This ceased in 2000. In 1994 he published his book 'The Newfoundland Pony, promoting care & preservation of the Newfoundland Pony.
To quote Dr. Fraser, "We want to give the Newfoundland pony the respect it deserves. "He went on to say, "...but its status as a "breed" is now claimed in this book… Now we want to make the Newfoundland Pony an official Breed!”
Recently the public is becoming more aware of the plight of the Newfoundland Pony.
CHARACTERISTICS
1. HEAD:
Short thick fur lined ears, broad forehead, wide set eyes, straight profile, narrow muzzle with small nostrils and deep jowls.
2. NECK:
Strong, well proportioned and rather short, suitable for both riding and driving.
3. BODY:
Narrow breast, deep barreled chest and body rather short coupled with low set tail.
4. LIMBS:
Short cannon bone, increased power in the front quarters. Fetlock hair extends below fetlock points.
5. HEIGHT & WEIGHT:
Between 11 hh and 14.2 hh , (1 hand = 4 inches) #'s after hands indicate inches,
And weight between 400 and 800 lbs.
6. COLOUR:
Range from black, brown, bay, roans, grey, chestnut and duns; No skewbald, piebald or paint or pure white. Thick winter coats may change colour and character.
7. MANE and TAIL:
Typical dark points, main and tail. White or light on legs below knee acceptable, sometimes mane and tail are lighter than the body colour also acceptable.
Because of their strength and great versatility, the ponies were ideal for work in the woods, on the shoreline, in the fields, home gardens and also as a means of personal transportation and riding. Their mixed non-pedigree origins gave them hybrid vigour while retaining their ancient physical assets such as draft power and good digestion.
All are compact in build and move with very neat steps. Except for the common low-set tail and the close forelegs, some strong resemblance exists to various modern British breeds of mountain and moorland ponies.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
On December 19: 1996, the government of Newfoundland passed "An Act Respecting the Protection of Heritage Animals" and in the summer of 1997 formally declared the Newfoundland Pony a "Heritage Animal of Newfoundland and giving the rights to The Newfoundland Pony Society to record this Provincial Heritage Animal. The Newfoundland Pony Breed Assoc. (NPBA) formed July 30, 1997, and is working on the only application for Evolving Breed under the Animal Pedigree Act of Canada.
In 1996 the Government of Newfoundland passed the Heritage Animals Act and in 1997 made this pony their first Heritage animal of their province.
TODAY
With fewer than 350 Breeding Newfoundland ponies these ponies need Federal recognition now as a Breed before it is too late. Extinction is for ever.
Please contact us if you have any questions or comments.
We Newfoundland pony owners are working together to make this happen.
CLICK on the different LINKS to see how we are working at present to insure that this pony will have its rightful place in the equine world now and the future.
I have attached a couple of pictures of a horseshoe we have in our collection storage.
It was excavated from a potential warehouse in the waterfront area of the Colony of Avalon in a deposit between the roof and flag stone floor.
The warehouse was located just behind a privy. The horsehoe was found in association with other tools.
Mark Power