Foster/Mentor program*
Cabot's Vinland Chapman, stallion, with mare Dundas Heather. Outstanding, full-blooded Newfoundland Ponies.
They were fostered together, the result of which was colt Emilio's Honor. We are very grateful to foster Marcia Benes.
Our goal, our dream, has always been to see a network of breeders and responsible owners educated about the breed, working to save the Newfoundland Pony for all that it is, as is.
True preservation is not adding genetics from other breeds (not ever ancestral breeds) to the gene pool to increase numbers rapidly.
True preservation is not breeding by selecting out specific traits, not breeding to one market or another.
Breeding a rare breed to another breed and practicing "grading up" is not preservation at all! It is playing Russian roulette with a healthy gene pool, and creating a whole new breed. It is starting all over.
This island pony breed has been around for over 400 years. It is clearly a distinct breed. It is unique. It is precious.
Contrary to some people's opinion, it also has a viable, healthy gene pool. It ain't broke, so why fix it?
Misinformation and misunderstanding what this breed is all about, is its greatest threat.
These days we are seeking new people to mentor and establish breeding farms in the USA. We have our core ponies who will always be with us, but others live in foster situations. Those fostered ponies that can be bred, are being bred. In our arrangement, the foster then owns the resultant foals. Our network is growing and we are very excited to see this.
Why are we so particular? Why don't we sell ponies or foals? A bit of history can explain that.
The Center was formed after discovering several ponies "floating around" in the USA, not a part of the cause to save the breed. Ponies of all breeds tend to get passed around, from one home to the other, as children outgrow them or lose interest. Maintaining a "tether" so to speak, on the individual ponies avoids that problem. We ensure that they stay in the correct situations to help the effort. Every pony, every genetic package lost to the effort essentially weakens the gene pool and endangers the breed further. As said above, at this moment in time, the Newfoundland Pony breed's gene pool is extremely healthy. We aim to keep it that way.
Because of our efforts since 2010, organizing in 2012, there have been 10 foals in 10 years born in the USA from a group of ponies that were not a part of the cause to save the breed until we stepped in. Slow and steady wins the race. Doing things correctly, knowing which source is a reliable source (and one that practices true preservation), is the key to fighting and winning this battle with extinction.
Please remember that there are less than 55 ponies in the USA. Of those roughly half are able to be bred. Breeding ponies go only to breeding homes. All in all, this means there are not a lot of ponies up for fostering. Fostering is not a common occurrence*
If you are looking for a companion pony for your horse, etc, we don't have companion ponies. The Newfoundland Pony must be priority #1. There are some great rescues around with wonderful companion ponies and donkeys looking for homes where you should start your search.
Our foster homes are carefully screened, and the application below will need to be filled out to begin the process. FYI - while we appreciate the global interest in the Pony, our foster homes MUST be within a two hour radius of the Newfoundland Pony Conservancy Center. This accommodates transportation of our ponies in situations where life happens and their foster can no longer keep the ponies, as well as regular visits by NPCC representatives.
Email
[email protected]
True preservation is not adding genetics from other breeds (not ever ancestral breeds) to the gene pool to increase numbers rapidly.
True preservation is not breeding by selecting out specific traits, not breeding to one market or another.
Breeding a rare breed to another breed and practicing "grading up" is not preservation at all! It is playing Russian roulette with a healthy gene pool, and creating a whole new breed. It is starting all over.
This island pony breed has been around for over 400 years. It is clearly a distinct breed. It is unique. It is precious.
Contrary to some people's opinion, it also has a viable, healthy gene pool. It ain't broke, so why fix it?
Misinformation and misunderstanding what this breed is all about, is its greatest threat.
These days we are seeking new people to mentor and establish breeding farms in the USA. We have our core ponies who will always be with us, but others live in foster situations. Those fostered ponies that can be bred, are being bred. In our arrangement, the foster then owns the resultant foals. Our network is growing and we are very excited to see this.
Why are we so particular? Why don't we sell ponies or foals? A bit of history can explain that.
The Center was formed after discovering several ponies "floating around" in the USA, not a part of the cause to save the breed. Ponies of all breeds tend to get passed around, from one home to the other, as children outgrow them or lose interest. Maintaining a "tether" so to speak, on the individual ponies avoids that problem. We ensure that they stay in the correct situations to help the effort. Every pony, every genetic package lost to the effort essentially weakens the gene pool and endangers the breed further. As said above, at this moment in time, the Newfoundland Pony breed's gene pool is extremely healthy. We aim to keep it that way.
Because of our efforts since 2010, organizing in 2012, there have been 10 foals in 10 years born in the USA from a group of ponies that were not a part of the cause to save the breed until we stepped in. Slow and steady wins the race. Doing things correctly, knowing which source is a reliable source (and one that practices true preservation), is the key to fighting and winning this battle with extinction.
Please remember that there are less than 55 ponies in the USA. Of those roughly half are able to be bred. Breeding ponies go only to breeding homes. All in all, this means there are not a lot of ponies up for fostering. Fostering is not a common occurrence*
If you are looking for a companion pony for your horse, etc, we don't have companion ponies. The Newfoundland Pony must be priority #1. There are some great rescues around with wonderful companion ponies and donkeys looking for homes where you should start your search.
Our foster homes are carefully screened, and the application below will need to be filled out to begin the process. FYI - while we appreciate the global interest in the Pony, our foster homes MUST be within a two hour radius of the Newfoundland Pony Conservancy Center. This accommodates transportation of our ponies in situations where life happens and their foster can no longer keep the ponies, as well as regular visits by NPCC representatives.
[email protected]