"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 Jack Harris, Member of Parliament and 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.”
Conducting the census research for the NPS is Joelle Carey, a masters in Folklore student from 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 Joelle Carey at 1.888.739.1892, Extension 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.
Pony decline
In the early 1970s, the Newfoundland Pony population was approximately 12,000. By the late 1980s, it had declined to only 100 animals. 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. The greatest factor was the sale of the ponies to livestock dealers on the mainland for the meat trade in Europe.
Pony characteristics
The Newfoundland Pony is an "all purpose" pony and has many desirable characteristics including strength, courage, intelligence, obedience, willingness, and common sense. Newfoundland Ponies are hard workers and easy keepers. Physical characteristics include:
• It is a good winter animal, being all around hardy.
• It has a structure that can vary from fine-boned types to larger stocky types.
• Height that 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.
• Has a thick mane and tail – usually black
• Has a low-set mane and tail.
• Has a short, broad head with small ears
• Has flint hard hooves.
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