Never let it be said that being a steward of a critically endangered species is an easy thing. It seems around every positive corner we turn, we are met with another challenge, a threat to this vitally important breed's existence. We pull them off the meat truck, we struggle to keep stallions intact, we battle against a lack of understanding with rescue organizations and beyond, and these battles are never ending. However, because of international efforts, there is progress, there is a slow awareness developing about the Newfoundland Pony, it being the LAST pony landrace that remains as nature created it via survival of the fittest.
Villi Poni Farm Sanctuary, is a preserve for the critically endangered Newfoundland Pony. There are 34 Newfoundland Ponies in the USA of the only 250 breeding ponies left, in the world. Yes, only 250.
That number was not always the case. A native breed born of the land it roamed, this pony was created by nature, as harsh as it could be with nature's only goal being survival of the fittest.
As such, it is the ONLY native pony breed that has not had its genetics manipulated and changed by people. It remains a true landrace, a true native species, and a true endangered one at that. It is a hardy, healthy, incredible animal with survival skills you don't see in modern man-made breeds these days.
So then why is a healthy, strong landrace breed facing extinction now when it numbered in the thousands until only a short while ago? What happened? In one word - People. As machinery became favored over pony power, they were seen as a nuisance. Laws were passed that they be fenced in instead of allowed to roam and forage and care for themselves.
Then greed stepped in. Thought by many that they were being shipped off the island to "good homes" in Canada, thousands were hauled to slaughter, and ended up on dinner plates overseas. Rumor has it that some people bragged how they got 50 cents a pound for these beautiful sweet trusting ponies.
The Newfoundland herd dwindled to very few. What remained was protected under legislation, a Heritage Animals Act with strict rules and consequences for harming or killing a Newfoundland Pony. Still homes were few and far between in Newfoundland, it was no longer hospitable to ponies roaming free and a scarcity of forage made keeping them cost prohibitive. Some ponies found homes in a few places in Canada, and some made it here, to the USA.
Some made it into my heart.
It wasn't long before my life became devoted to saving this endangered native species, it being the rarest amongst the rare and incredibly important to the future of horses.
How so? The Newfoundland Pony is a walking time capsule of genetics that no longer exist in its foundation breeds, it is a marvel that scientists, rare breed experts and geneticists the world over are enthralled with as there is nothing like it left out there. As such if there were ever a biological or environmental crisis that effected horses, the genetics of the Newfoundland Pony could be used to save them. Wow, that's a huge undertaking for a little pony.
And so, we formed Villi Poni Farm, Newfoundland Pony Sanctuary, the one and only in this country. We incorporated and spent every last penny on becoming a public charity, which took 3 years of hard work. The property the ponies live on here in New Ipswich emulates their natural environment, as do our horsekeeping practices. Because their natural traits are so precious, our goal is to preserve them and keep those survival traits alive as the herd numbers increase. Don't forget ratio and proportion, what happens to 10 ponies out of 250 has a significant impact on what happens to the entire breed.
Where we live here in New Ipswich, deer, bears, coyotes, bobcats are abundant. There is even a mountain lion who passes through. To keep predators out, we have fence inside of fence everywhere and we are ever vigilant. After all, we have a HUGE responsibility here, being stewards of not only a rare landrace breed but within our herd we harbor one entire bloodline of which there is only one pony carrying it in Canada. We also harbor big beautiful mares which the breed truly needs. Mares are not easy to come by. We have 8, incredible specimens at that. They are all of breeding age, all part of our conservation breeding plan for our mission to cultivate preservation minded homes in the area which we feel is the answer to increasing the breeds numbers.
And so our fences are extra strong. Protection of the pony is in our mission statement, offering a safe haven is our priority, while educating the public about the pony's plight in order to save the breed.
This year was our year, it seemed, being recognized locally and internationally, with a full calendar of appearances, teaching tours, apprenticeship, and community outreach programs such as an Equine Assisted Learning program for children, all of these things bringing awareness to the breed and great hope for the future. That future was just starting to look bright.
But one day, a predator came to our neighborhood, a predator like no other. Kinder Morgan is bulling through an 80,000 horsepower fracked gas compressor station less than 1 mile from Villi Poni Farm. We've done our research, the evidence is out there all over the place. There is no doubt this predator, this compressor station is a huge threat to our endangered native species Newfoundland Pony herd, which in turn makes it a much bigger threat to the entire breed. No amount of fencing or heightened vigilance can protect the ponies from toxic emissions, noise pollution, gas leaks nor an accident which seem to occur across the continent every week.
What is worse is that the prevailing winds carrying toxins from the Gas Compressor head right over to our small slice of heaven here, to our pony preserve, for the ponies to inhale, ingest in the forage, drink in the waters. And because the area is heavily forested, in the event of an accident, the preserve is toast. That's right, how in the world can we quickly evacuate 10 very rare ponies with a 2 horse trailer?? One pony, our stallion Ammy, who is beloved all over this continent because of his personal story of survival after suffering a broken leg, requires a horse ambulance for transport. That isn't something that is readily available.
Once again, the pony is under attack by people. One again the pony is threatened by human greed and ignorance.
Our efforts, our dreams are dashed. Our mission is set WAY back. We cannot move. We cannot afford to move. We face financial ruin. We also cannot stay. We are trapped. I feel as if we are waiting for the meat truck to pull up.
The other day I had a good cry over this, out amongst the ponies. They are very astute. One by one 4 of the mares came over to me. As I started to rub their necks, they started grooming each other as they do, with me safely cocooned in the middle. There was a clear and distinct message there, and because I know the ponies so well, I understood it immediately.
We are part of their herd. Like the pony, we are all innocent victims and endangered as well. But also like the pony, we are SURVIVORS. Villi Poni Farm will stand strong with the herd, we will fight this predator, this fire breathing, toxin spewing monster that is about to bear down on us, with all of our might.
PONY ON!
How can you help? Visit the links below.
For Info on the pipeline controversy: newipswichpipeline.info
Send comments to our elected representatives. Tell them this is so wrong on so many levels. Help us save the sanctuary, help us save the pony from this formidable predator.
For a list of them go to:
http://www.rindgepipelineawareness.org/?page_id=49
Send comments to FERC, our Federal Energy Regulating Commission who give the final approvals to this pipeline project. You must first register. This one is key.
http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp
We Do Not Have The Funds For A New Home.
Please Help Us Protect These Endangered Ponies
Villi Poni Farm Sanctuary, is a preserve for the critically endangered Newfoundland Pony. There are 34 Newfoundland Ponies in the USA of the only 250 breeding ponies left, in the world. Yes, only 250.
That number was not always the case. A native breed born of the land it roamed, this pony was created by nature, as harsh as it could be with nature's only goal being survival of the fittest.
As such, it is the ONLY native pony breed that has not had its genetics manipulated and changed by people. It remains a true landrace, a true native species, and a true endangered one at that. It is a hardy, healthy, incredible animal with survival skills you don't see in modern man-made breeds these days.
So then why is a healthy, strong landrace breed facing extinction now when it numbered in the thousands until only a short while ago? What happened? In one word - People. As machinery became favored over pony power, they were seen as a nuisance. Laws were passed that they be fenced in instead of allowed to roam and forage and care for themselves.
Then greed stepped in. Thought by many that they were being shipped off the island to "good homes" in Canada, thousands were hauled to slaughter, and ended up on dinner plates overseas. Rumor has it that some people bragged how they got 50 cents a pound for these beautiful sweet trusting ponies.
The Newfoundland herd dwindled to very few. What remained was protected under legislation, a Heritage Animals Act with strict rules and consequences for harming or killing a Newfoundland Pony. Still homes were few and far between in Newfoundland, it was no longer hospitable to ponies roaming free and a scarcity of forage made keeping them cost prohibitive. Some ponies found homes in a few places in Canada, and some made it here, to the USA.
Some made it into my heart.
It wasn't long before my life became devoted to saving this endangered native species, it being the rarest amongst the rare and incredibly important to the future of horses.
How so? The Newfoundland Pony is a walking time capsule of genetics that no longer exist in its foundation breeds, it is a marvel that scientists, rare breed experts and geneticists the world over are enthralled with as there is nothing like it left out there. As such if there were ever a biological or environmental crisis that effected horses, the genetics of the Newfoundland Pony could be used to save them. Wow, that's a huge undertaking for a little pony.
And so, we formed Villi Poni Farm, Newfoundland Pony Sanctuary, the one and only in this country. We incorporated and spent every last penny on becoming a public charity, which took 3 years of hard work. The property the ponies live on here in New Ipswich emulates their natural environment, as do our horsekeeping practices. Because their natural traits are so precious, our goal is to preserve them and keep those survival traits alive as the herd numbers increase. Don't forget ratio and proportion, what happens to 10 ponies out of 250 has a significant impact on what happens to the entire breed.
Where we live here in New Ipswich, deer, bears, coyotes, bobcats are abundant. There is even a mountain lion who passes through. To keep predators out, we have fence inside of fence everywhere and we are ever vigilant. After all, we have a HUGE responsibility here, being stewards of not only a rare landrace breed but within our herd we harbor one entire bloodline of which there is only one pony carrying it in Canada. We also harbor big beautiful mares which the breed truly needs. Mares are not easy to come by. We have 8, incredible specimens at that. They are all of breeding age, all part of our conservation breeding plan for our mission to cultivate preservation minded homes in the area which we feel is the answer to increasing the breeds numbers.
And so our fences are extra strong. Protection of the pony is in our mission statement, offering a safe haven is our priority, while educating the public about the pony's plight in order to save the breed.
This year was our year, it seemed, being recognized locally and internationally, with a full calendar of appearances, teaching tours, apprenticeship, and community outreach programs such as an Equine Assisted Learning program for children, all of these things bringing awareness to the breed and great hope for the future. That future was just starting to look bright.
But one day, a predator came to our neighborhood, a predator like no other. Kinder Morgan is bulling through an 80,000 horsepower fracked gas compressor station less than 1 mile from Villi Poni Farm. We've done our research, the evidence is out there all over the place. There is no doubt this predator, this compressor station is a huge threat to our endangered native species Newfoundland Pony herd, which in turn makes it a much bigger threat to the entire breed. No amount of fencing or heightened vigilance can protect the ponies from toxic emissions, noise pollution, gas leaks nor an accident which seem to occur across the continent every week.
What is worse is that the prevailing winds carrying toxins from the Gas Compressor head right over to our small slice of heaven here, to our pony preserve, for the ponies to inhale, ingest in the forage, drink in the waters. And because the area is heavily forested, in the event of an accident, the preserve is toast. That's right, how in the world can we quickly evacuate 10 very rare ponies with a 2 horse trailer?? One pony, our stallion Ammy, who is beloved all over this continent because of his personal story of survival after suffering a broken leg, requires a horse ambulance for transport. That isn't something that is readily available.
Once again, the pony is under attack by people. One again the pony is threatened by human greed and ignorance.
Our efforts, our dreams are dashed. Our mission is set WAY back. We cannot move. We cannot afford to move. We face financial ruin. We also cannot stay. We are trapped. I feel as if we are waiting for the meat truck to pull up.
The other day I had a good cry over this, out amongst the ponies. They are very astute. One by one 4 of the mares came over to me. As I started to rub their necks, they started grooming each other as they do, with me safely cocooned in the middle. There was a clear and distinct message there, and because I know the ponies so well, I understood it immediately.
We are part of their herd. Like the pony, we are all innocent victims and endangered as well. But also like the pony, we are SURVIVORS. Villi Poni Farm will stand strong with the herd, we will fight this predator, this fire breathing, toxin spewing monster that is about to bear down on us, with all of our might.
PONY ON!
How can you help? Visit the links below.
For Info on the pipeline controversy: newipswichpipeline.info
Send comments to our elected representatives. Tell them this is so wrong on so many levels. Help us save the sanctuary, help us save the pony from this formidable predator.
For a list of them go to:
http://www.rindgepipelineawareness.org/?page_id=49
Send comments to FERC, our Federal Energy Regulating Commission who give the final approvals to this pipeline project. You must first register. This one is key.
http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp
We Do Not Have The Funds For A New Home.
Please Help Us Protect These Endangered Ponies
- Click here: