Photo credit and copyright - Maud Peters, 2014.
The typical Newfoundland Pony:
The Pony is often referred to as the "Poor Man's Horse" - we prefer to think of it as "economic". These ponies thrive as backyard ponies. They are multi-purpose, and can do anything from working hard, to taking the kids to school. Oh, and did we mention some of them even like boat rides?
Video credit to Twillingate Tours: This is our stallion, Ammy's, full brother. This is what we mean when we say the pony has adapted to life in Newfoundland. Can you imagine any other pony or horse hopping into a boat like that with only a halter and lead rope?
- Weighing between 400 and 800 pounds, and standing 11 hands to 14.2 hands, they have thick manes and very thick coats in the winter.
- Their characteristic low-set tails allow snow to shed more easily.
- Their distinct narrow chests allow for better cooling and warming.
- Close set front legs make them agile and sturdy on the rocky ground and able to navigate tight spaces.
- Their hooves are hard and slow growing.
- Short, furry, thick ears are more frostbite resistant and the hooding over their eyes protects them from rain, ice and snow.
- Commonly brownish in color, other colors such as blue roan, grey, chestnut, black and bay are found.
- Some ponies are mild to drastic color changers, changing colors from season to season. Examples include appearing black during the winter and blue roan in the summer, or chestnut in winter and red roan in summer.
The Pony is often referred to as the "Poor Man's Horse" - we prefer to think of it as "economic". These ponies thrive as backyard ponies. They are multi-purpose, and can do anything from working hard, to taking the kids to school. Oh, and did we mention some of them even like boat rides?
Video credit to Twillingate Tours: This is our stallion, Ammy's, full brother. This is what we mean when we say the pony has adapted to life in Newfoundland. Can you imagine any other pony or horse hopping into a boat like that with only a halter and lead rope?
The Newfoundland Ponies Are:
Now here's the cool part: the Newfoundland Pony has no known genetic defects. How awesome is that? It means that they don't have the modern day equine's struggles with PSSM, HYPP, LFS, OLWS, or any other inheritable diseases. This is why Villi Poni, along with Newfoundland Pony Society and and other Newfoundland enthusiasts are trying so hard to save the Pony from extinction. While we currently discourage cross breeding using the mares, our hope is to one day return the Pony's numbers to their previous population of several thousand, and when we do, the Newfoundland's healthy genetics can be used to help other breeds stabilize. Newfoundland crosses retain their healthier genes and are generally good-natured, healthy, sturdy and intelligent horses.
Also "inside" is a very diverse base of genetics, carried forward from their ancestors - Exmoor, Dartmoor, Kerry Bog, Eriskay, New Forest, Scottish Galloway (extinct), Dales, Highland, Fell, Connemara, and Welsh Mountain. The Newfoundland Pony is a 4-legged time capsule of antique genetics, having not had their genetics manipulated by people, as the majority of their ancestors did. Most of those breeds are not the same today as they were during the Newfoundland Pony's creation. People changed these ancestral breeds by adding outside blood to their gene pools to make them suit human needs as horses became less essential to day to day life, and more of a luxury. Some of those "improvements" also unknowingly added undesirable traits and health issues to those breeds - such as the American Cream Draft's introduction of the junctional epidermolysis bullosa gene, or "JEB" - also known as "Hairless Foal Syndrome" or "Red Foot Disease". In a large population of horses, introduction of lethal genes are unfortunate, but in a small group like the Newfoundland and the American Cream, it is disastrous. With so few left, we cannot risk the introduction of any life threatening addition to their gene pool.
For more information about the breed and the threats it faces, please visit The Newfoundland Pony Society's page.
- Hardy - capable of hard work as well as play, they can pull heavy loads, and handle both adult and children riders.
- Friendly and curious - they want to be where you are, doing what you're doing and hey - what's that in your pocket?
- Docile and social (including the stallions) - they are often said to be more dog-like in their personality.
- Healthy - no known genetic diseases or defects are carried by the breed.
- Easy keepers - they don't require grain unless underweight, thrive on pasture and first cut hay through a slow feeder.
- Extremely smart and easily trained - they like to puzzle through things, are always eager to learn something new, and don't forget training easily.
Now here's the cool part: the Newfoundland Pony has no known genetic defects. How awesome is that? It means that they don't have the modern day equine's struggles with PSSM, HYPP, LFS, OLWS, or any other inheritable diseases. This is why Villi Poni, along with Newfoundland Pony Society and and other Newfoundland enthusiasts are trying so hard to save the Pony from extinction. While we currently discourage cross breeding using the mares, our hope is to one day return the Pony's numbers to their previous population of several thousand, and when we do, the Newfoundland's healthy genetics can be used to help other breeds stabilize. Newfoundland crosses retain their healthier genes and are generally good-natured, healthy, sturdy and intelligent horses.
Also "inside" is a very diverse base of genetics, carried forward from their ancestors - Exmoor, Dartmoor, Kerry Bog, Eriskay, New Forest, Scottish Galloway (extinct), Dales, Highland, Fell, Connemara, and Welsh Mountain. The Newfoundland Pony is a 4-legged time capsule of antique genetics, having not had their genetics manipulated by people, as the majority of their ancestors did. Most of those breeds are not the same today as they were during the Newfoundland Pony's creation. People changed these ancestral breeds by adding outside blood to their gene pools to make them suit human needs as horses became less essential to day to day life, and more of a luxury. Some of those "improvements" also unknowingly added undesirable traits and health issues to those breeds - such as the American Cream Draft's introduction of the junctional epidermolysis bullosa gene, or "JEB" - also known as "Hairless Foal Syndrome" or "Red Foot Disease". In a large population of horses, introduction of lethal genes are unfortunate, but in a small group like the Newfoundland and the American Cream, it is disastrous. With so few left, we cannot risk the introduction of any life threatening addition to their gene pool.
For more information about the breed and the threats it faces, please visit The Newfoundland Pony Society's page.