Not one single Newfoundland Pony foal will be born in the province this year.
Efforts have been underway for some time to help boost the numbers of the endangered heritage animals, but a variety of factors—including COVID-19—have prevented breeding on the island this year. Some foals have been born outside the province, however.
The registrar with the Newfoundland Pony Society, Kelly Power-Kean says unfortunately Newfoundland and Labrador has fewer ponies than other provinces.
She says not only has breeding been complicated by COVID-19, but another major obstacle is access to land and hay.
(Submitted photo.)
Unlike the mainland, she says there is not a lot of dedicated land available for ponies, and board is expensive. Because not a lot of people have enough land to grow their own hay, it’s often shipped in, and that too is expensive.
Full stallions are often kept separate from mares and foals, so access to land is especially important.
The good news, says Power-Kean, is that work is underway for a Heritage Park in Hopeall, Trinity Bay, which can be developed as a tourist draw, educational centre, and open area to help build the breed.
Happy Friday everyone! It would be happier for the future of the #newfoundlandpony if one foal was born in #newfoundland this year. pic.twitter.com/S0HOhVQiVt
— Newfoundland Pony Society (@nfld_pony) May 14, 2021
