Why Save This breed?

There are so many lovely ponies and horses out there, and many of us have been fortunate to have a beloved horse in our lifetime, one that we will never forget. As I am writing this, my favorites immediately come to mind and thoughts of them warm my heart. 
 
These days, my life is filled with Newfoundland Ponies and nothing else.  Docile, willing, friendly, sane, once you know a Newfoundland Pony you quickly become aware of how special they are.  The qualities we desire and cherish in our horses/ponies are not just in select animals of this breed. With the Newfoundland Pony those desirable traits are inherent to the entire breed. 

To know that 99% of Newfoundland Ponies are beyond docile, and easy to be around, is really remarkable. Despite my owning really nice horses, until I lived with a Newfoundland Pony, I had no idea that an equine like this even existed, I only knew what was available out there in the horse world. I didn't know it could be better.  Once I owned Newfoundland Ponies, it still took me many years to stop automatically expecting a typical negative horse reaction, which just does not happen with the Newfoundland Pony. 

For me it started with a cross-bred.  That cross-bred soon turned into a full-blooded pony.  That full-blooded pony soon turned into the rest of her family. And so on and so forth.  

Quickly I learned of their plight and ponies just kept finding me.  Within a few years we grew into a sanctuary, and a non-profit at that.  We now have over 20 ponies under our care, on farm, at fosters and at adoptive homes. Of all of the ponies I have encountered since being involved with this breed, every single one has that amazing temperament and personality, even ones that have been mistreated.  

The Newfoundland Pony is what every parent dreams of for their child.  The Newfoundland Pony is what a whole lot of us adults dream of too.  

Sure, it is critically endangered and it has a great mind but that is not the only reason we should save it. There is more, much more that is precious about this breed...  

Join us next week to learn the other reasons.

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© Emily Chetkowski 2018