Tuesday 25 September 2018

Willow Creek Stables Open House

Back to our regularly scheduled program! This was really fun! After the tornado, and the crisis in Ottawa/Gatineau/NCC, we went to an open house. It wasn't, apparently, a fundraiser. I looked and couldn't find anywhere to donate.

The soybeans are nearly ready for harvesting. A lovely spot, with lots of visitors. The parking was tricky. Farm lanes aren't made for crowds!


The purpose was to call attention to the Newfoundland Pony Society. They were fun to meet. This farm rehabs and/or rehomes them. Some have difficult health issues. There is a great article in the paper, which JB had noticed.

Newfoundland ponies at the heart of farm open house on Christie Lake Road

The pony owes its origins to the earliest settlers who brought a variety of mountain and moorland ponies from Europe to this province as an essential ingredient in taming this rugged land and in meeting the many challenges of survival.
The pony population is at risk for several reasons. There used to be 12,000 in the 70s, and dropped in the 80s to fewer than 100.
  • Ponies were replaced by machinery;
  • By-laws limited breeding and pastures;
  • Owners were encourage to have the stallions gelded;
  • Ponies were sold to Quebec for meat, which was resold to Belgium and France.
We were happy to meet these ponies, and their wonderful advocates. They used to run free in Newfoundland, and their distinct Landrace breed interbred with wild herds when they ran wild off seasons.



Happy JB! He loves horses.


I loved the barn. As is typical of this area,there is a ramp built up to the upper floor.


On our way to the car, I spotted a Monarch!

From here, we went for a Sunday afternoon drive. More to follow!

9 comments:

Olga said...

My kind of outing. That monarch, like a period on the day.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari Om
lovely outing - am envious of the communion with ponies! YAM xx

Anvilcloud said...

What a fab find!

Nancy J said...

Lovely barn, great for wintering the ponies, and I am guessing hay in the upper area, easy to store it on the top level from the ramp, and throw down when it is feeding time. Great idea to have an open home.

Christine said...

Interesting visit!

William Kendall said...

Those are beautiful horses!

Red said...

I would find the ponies interesting even though I'm not a horse person.

Romance Book Haven said...

Beautiful horses. This is my kind of outing.

Angie said...

Lovely ponies!