Villi Poni Farm in Jaffrey was recently awarded a $2,444 grant for portable fencing for a demonstration ring.
The demo ring, which has already been installed according to farm owner Emily Chetkowski, and will allow people to see the ponies up close and in action. The grant was awarded by the Binky Foundation.
“It’s going to allow people to interact with the ponies,” said Chetkowski. “There’s been a lot of great things happening here.”
Villi Poni Farm is a not-for-profit 501c3 corporation, established to provide a safe haven for critically endangered Newfoundland ponies, which have dwindled in population from thousands to near extinction. The farm’s mission is to save the breed from extinction through careful breeding and public education.
Among the great things happening, according to Chetkowski, is the addition of two new Newfoundland ponies, geldings named Smokey and Erik.
The farm will also soon welcome a colt named Lucky Ace.
The farm was recently recognized by Great Non-Profits as a top-rated non-profit for 2016, the second year in a row Villi Poni Farm has been given the designation.
“The reviews on the site are amazing,” said Chetkowski. “I cried when I read some of them.”
The farm is also gearing up for a fundraising event later this month at Monadnock Inn.
On Nov. 17 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., there will be a Celebrity Bartender Night, where sanctuary board members and Penny the Pony will be serving drinks, with all tips going to the sanctuary.
There will also be a “screeching in” for supporters of the sanctuary that night, where people will have to down a drink of their choice and kiss Penny, in honor of a tradition in Newfoundland where one can become an honorary Newfoundlander by downing a shot of rum and kissing a cod on the lips.
For the months of November and December, Villi Poni is the non-profit for Hannaford’s Bags 4 My Cause program at the Rindge store.
For every reusable “Good Karma” shopping bag purchased, $1 will be donated to Villi Poni.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.