There is an important and immediate need for your assistance. Please read on and learn how you can help.
Yesterday was very special day for the Newfoundland Pony because there was another fund raising event. This time it took place at Bay Roberts, NL. Byron Hierlihy, a fellow pony owner, co-ordinated this event on behalf of Newfoundland Pony Pals to help the Newfoundland Ponies in the province through the Change Island Newfoundland Pony Sanctuary and the Cappahayden Newfoundland Pony Sanctuary. This was the second event of its kind. The first took place at Cupids a few weeks ago and it was a great success. If you live in Newfoundland, you probably heard about these events through the media. I have attached a letter from Byron explaining their purpose (.docx and .doc format). Many pony owners and supporters like Tammy Webber and Kevin Dawson are helping with this endeavor and I wish them continued success because the cause is good and the need is great. The Change Islands Newfoundland Pony Sanctuary and the Cappahayden Newfoundland Pony Sanctuary are very important to Newfoundland. These sanctuaries must be able to continue their good work and we can help from afar by providing support and financial assistance.
The Fund Raising Events
Change Islands Newfoundland Pony Sanctuary
I know most of you are familiar with the Change Islands Newfoundland Pony Sanctuary. It was originally called the Change Island Newfoundland Pony Refuge. Visiting Change Islands is a must see for anyone visiting Newfoundland and wanting to understand the history and the culture of outport life. This cannot be done without understanding the role the Newfoundland Pony played in the remote and isolated outport existence. Netta LeDrew has deep roots in Change Islands and has been involved from the beginning in bringing the Newfoundland Pony back to these beautiful islands. Netta manages this sanctuary and she loves the Newfoundland Pony. Since Newfoundland Ponies once again became part of her life, she has had all manner of experiences with the ponies she cares for and has wonderful stories to tell about them including how she successfully mothered the rejected foal Angel. Many tourists make their way to Change Islands just to see and hear about Newfoundland Ponies. In reality, Netta is also running a Newfoundland Pony Education Centre. She has all manner of ponies - from old mares to babies and others in between. There are 11 ponies in total at this time. There is a breeding program to help increase the numbers of these critically endangered ponies. Netta also provides pony, buggy and sleigh rides. Of course, the resident and visiting children are wild for the ponies and this is a wonderful starting place for a lifelong love of the Newfoundland Pony. If we cannot interest the youth in becoming involved and loving these heritage animals, there will be no one to preserve and protect them when we are gone.
Please see the following webpage: http://www.changeislands.ca/popups/pop_ponies.htm and also read this recent article for more information about this sanctuary and the current situation:
http://www.lportepilot.ca/News/Local/2013-06-05/article-3269993/Pony-sanctuary-forges-on . Netta needs a new barn in order to breed and/or rescue more ponies. For this, she will need significant funding and there is no government grant money available. She has already acquired the necessary land for the new building and will be preparing the site for construction. Netta is also in the process of applying for charity status for the sanctuary. Change Islands is reached by ferry from Farewell. It is located near Twillingate and Fogo Island.
Sanctuary Barn Yearlings on One of the Pastures
Netta and Gelding Jigger Netta and Young Betsy with Strawberry
(27 years Old) in Background
Cappahayden Newfoundland Pony Sanctuary
Liz Chafe is another steadfast rock in the Newfoundland Pony’s world. She returned to Newfoundland after living in Ontario for a number of years where she bred and showed various breeds of dogs. Liz has always loved and kept horses so she is a very horsey person full of equine knowledge. Liz grew up with Newfoundland Ponies in the Goulds area and never lost her passion for the ponies. It is not surprising that her intention on her return was to help the breed. She researched bloodlines and acquired a number of Newfoundland Ponies to start a breeding program. Of course, through this endeavor she made many contacts with pony people and found herself getting more and more involved in helping people with their ponies and educating people about the Newfoundland Pony. Liz is also an artist and her creative energy and talent have helped her promote the Newfoundland Pony too. She has provided a Newfoundland Pony exhibit at the Renews-Cappahayden Cultural Weekend Fair for a number of years.
Liz’s pony activities cannot help but bring her in contact with ponies in distress or trouble. Here she has worked relentlessly when help was needed. You may recall a few urgent requests for financial assistance to help Liz rescue ponies from difficult situations. She continues to help the Newfoundland Pony in any way possible. Liz helps everyone with their pony questions. If she doesn’t know the answer, she will find the answer. She is knowledgeable about the Newfoundland Pony – its history, care and feeding, breeding and pedigree lines. Liz now has a few stalls available should it become necessary to take in rescues. Winter is usually the time when these serious circumstances present themselves. Having funds readily available will help her to make the quick decisions necessary to save ponies’ lives or get them immediately out of bad situations. Sometimes the best route to take is to purchase the needy animals and remove them rather than wait until they are beyond or almost beyond help. Many animals will need veterinarian attention. They will also need care and maintenance until they are rehabilitated and can be placed in new homes. All this requires financial assistance. Liz was involved in helping at least 6 ponies in trouble during the last year.
Liz’s website is as follows: http://newfoundlandponies.weebly.com/ . Her farm is located at Cappahayden which is on the Irish Loop south of Ferryland on the Avalon Peninsula. Many tourists travel this route and many stop at her door when they see her ponies. This is another prime education opportunity site and Liz does her best to share her knowledge about the pony with everyone who stops by.
Liz with a Few of Her Ponies
Liz Leading Her Very Pregnant Mare Queen while Her Stallion Dawson Mares on the Pasture
Looks On
Recent Rescues
Filly and mare from the Trepassey rescues – Joie and Queen Ally – summer 2013 on Feather Point pasture. Debbie Bray was also involved with these rescues. She and her father Herb Bray provided them with a new home. Debbie rescued many ponies while she lived. It was one of her greatest joys.
Queen and her 2013 filly. Vicky Walsh and her family fostered these ponies back to health. The filly was born at their place.
Queen (pregnant at the time) along with the stallion Mozart, gelding Andy and a yearling colt were in a starvation situation early this year. The yearling succumbed before the rescuers were able to get him off the property but the rest were saved in time. The remaining ponies have since recuperated and have found new homes thanks to Liz Chafe, Vicky Walsh and others who provided support and/or funding.
Sanctuary Situation in Newfoundland
Many of you may be under the mistaken impression that the equine sanctuary at Hopeall, NL is still taking in ponies and horses in distress and caring for them. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The gates to the HAPPA-NL Sanctuary at Hopeall, NL are closed and the fences are in disrepair. There are no resident equine and this has been the case for over a year. It is my understanding that HAPPA-NL is still somewhat functional since they will try to place animals in trouble in foster homes when they receive calls for assistance. However, this is a long way from the work that was being done by this organization in the past when food and shelter could be provided immediately at their Hopeall farm location.
I think you can understand that there is a great need for Newfoundland Pony rescue and education work to continue. Thankfully, Netta LeDrew and Liz Chafe are doing their best to help the Newfoundland Pony in the province but they need our assistance. The current situation re the HAPPA-NL Sanctuary has made their work all the more urgent and important. These ladies have been working for the Newfoundland Pony for a good number of years and are dedicated to its cause and passionate about its survival. Please help them help the Newfoundland Pony. Please read the attached letter from Byron. I can only emphasis the need and importance of these funds for the Newfoundland Pony and reaffirm the commitment and dedication of both Netta and Liz to the Newfoundland Pony’s cause. Please consider donating funds to help Byron and his team with the fund raising events or directly to Netta and/or Liz toward their ongoing work for the Newfoundland Pony.
Byron can be contacted as follows:
Byron Hierlihy
C/O P.O. Box 267
South River, NL
A0A3W0
709-786-7062/ 709-222-0121
