Emily and George Aho “met over a horse” ten years ago, got married last year, and now, they’re planning a baby shower – for a rare Newfoundland pony born at their Jaffrey farm. Cabot’s Stormin’ Sam was born on Monday morning at the Newfoundland Pony Conservancy Center in Jaffrey. He is one of just two rare Newfoundland ponies expected to be born in the U.S. this year.
Newfoundland ponies are a critically endangered “landrace” breed of pony, which means their traits are naturally, rather than artificially, selected. There are less than 500 of their breed worldwide.
Emily Aho, executive director of the Newfoundland Pony Conservancy Center, sees this birth as a victory for every breed of pony. Because the Newfoundland pony, as a landrace breed, was naturally selected and adapted, the breed “has no genetic disorders whatsoever.” Aho stressed this as an anomaly compared to other pony breeds.
“A breed like this is important because (Newfoundland) genetics can be injected into less healthy breeds’ gene pools to save them,” she said.
Aho said that Sam the foal will not be gelded, and will eventually go to a conservation breeding home, where he’ll begin to be bred at age three or four.
“He’ll stay here for at least a year,” Aho said. “Typically people take foals away from their mothers at six months, but we like to keep them with the herd as long as possible.”
Sam’s lineage is especially significant as both the mare and stallion that sired him have had very few foals. This rarity of lineage is important from a genetic diversity standpoint, but Aho said that, with so few ponies overall, every successful siring is important.
Sam is named for Samantha Newton, who has volunteered at the Center for the past three years.
“She’s very dedicated, I love the volunteers who come here when it’s ten below zero,” Aho said, adding that Highland Snow Storm, or “Stormy,” Sam’s mother, has a special affinity for Newton.
“They’re born friendly, he’s really cute,” she said of the foal. “He’ll be running around in a couple days. … Tomorrow I’ll put a halter on him for the first time, that will be fun – not!”
Aho said she will schedule a series of Open Barn Days after the mare and colt get settled for additional opportunities to visit the new colt. Check the Newfoundland Pony Conservancy Center website and Facebook page for further information.