Standing strong

Last weekend marked the first day of Spring, March 20th, 2022.  Time jumped forward an hour, but civilization appears to have fallen back decades, so much so that tomorrow, for many people and animals, may never come. 

Though we are not going through what the people of Ukraine are, sitting here taking it all in, and reflecting, I am beyond horrified to see history repeat itself.  My father, Emilio DiPalma, at 19 years old was Sergeant of the Courtroom Guard at the first Nuremberg trial, of the top Nazi war criminals. I wrote his memoirs at the request of the German historians we met at the courthouse where the trials took place, concerned because this history was not being taught in the German schools. From there my Dad and I did all we could to educate “Lest people forget”.  

Apparently there are many people who have "forgotten" or perhaps never knew. Dad is gone now, a victim of Covid 19 in early 2020, along with many other soldiers who lived at the Holyoke Soldiers home. Honestly, in a sense I am glad he is not seeing what’s going on.  

My mind reflects on closer to home difficulties over these past 2 years which included major life-saving Surgery of the human kind, Veterinary emergencies, Real Estate Roulette, Fraud, Lies, Rumors, Deceit, and being stabbed in the back behind the scenes. Uncertainty of the future most definitely occured.  But, we stayed the course. Considering the source of the challenges served good purpose. There was simply nothing to do but to pick ourselves up, dust off, on move on. 

Over the winter, numerous people contacted us to see if we were open for tours, but we don’t do tours in the winter. Honestly, I got the feeling some inquiries were people wondering about our status; possibly wondering if we were still in existance, or if our ponies were going to be dispursed. 

I’m here to say that we were and still are alive and well, despite it all.  Our volunteers, believers, and followers would not let such a thing happen.  Everyone came together - all of them brilliant, honorable people.  

Our mission has not changed.  In fact we have evolved to be where we had dreamed of being one day. Our plan was never to collect all the ponies we could find, never to put notches in our belts. We have always stuck to our mission. We have always considered the Newfoundland Pony first in every thing we do.  We have always believed the herd should grow in Newfoundland. Always believed in their traditional usage being preserved and promoted. Always believed that the pony is Newfoundland's Pony and Newfoundland's heritage, not Canada's, not the USA's.  

We continuously assess who is benefiting from every step we make.  Proud to say it has and will always be, the pony.  No one associated with us has profited from their plight. Our mission is clear, our boundaries are as well. 

We have moved forward with those whose sense of decency is the same, honest people whose hearts are true. We, including our ponies, have found safe haven. 

That said, the world is still a mess and the incidence of mental health issues has risen drastically. But the number of professionals who can help them has not. There is sadness, depression, anger, dispare, frustration.  Add this all up and it is no surprise that substance abuse has ensnared more people, good people.  

Today the ponies work side by side with people battling substance disorders at a therapy farm close to our new location. We are offering Equine Assisted life skills development programs there, both for residents and the community. 

While the residents learn about the breed, and how to care for the ponies (and other animals there), through our Side by Side People & Ponies EAL program, they are also working on building relationships, both with the ponies and with people. 

Unlike humans, ponies don’t lie, they don’t judge, they don’t hold grudges, they’re not vindictive, and they give immediate feedback. Interactions are life changing. In this case it is life changing for all - on top of ponies and people working together for a better life, the farm has joined us in our mission.  Newfoundland Ponies will be bred and born there. 

Other aspects of what we do have changed as well.  Our new farm is no longer open to the public. Bittersweet, while we were busy helping ponies & people for 11 years, we forgot about taking care of ourselves.  But no worries, in due time, there will be opportunity for the public to meet the ponies.   We will announce that as soon as plans are firmly in place. 

In the meantime be well, be safe. Please keep the people and animals of Ukraine in your hearts.   Little Blue and Daffodil are proud to wear the blue and yellow.