A fundraising effort has been launched to help a west coast breeder continue her program to help build the Newfoundland pony population.

Jess Boyd, who breeds ponies, lost a young mare, Dwyer’s Little Catalina or “Cat”, to colic last week after the animal was likely overfed apples despite signs posted asking people not to feed the ponies. The loss is especially hard given the limited number of breeding-age mares in the province.

Libby Carew of the Newfoundland Pony Society launched the fundraiser to help Boyd and her hobby farm keep up the work she’s doing in building the breed.

Boyd had been hoping to trailer her four stallions to the University of PEI to have their semen collected for breeding and artificial insemination under the university’s Theriogenology service.

Carew launched the fundraiser to allow Boyd to continue that work and to help with reinforced fencing on her property to prevent future tragedies. A link to the fundraiser can be found online.