Meet Mudder: Elderly, endangered equine granted a new lease on life

Mudder the pony's story starts out grim:living in a muddy stallin Quebec, underfed and underloved.

She was being used for rides at a children's camp.

"The kids were still riding this ponythat didn't have the energy to really hold herself up," saidKorrineAffleck,acouncillor at large with the Newfoundland Pony Societywho helped rescue Mudder.

It didn't look good at the beginning, as Affleck recalled the first pictures of Mudder showed her "severely emaciated."

"I had no idea who she was or where she was from," she said.

It would take a few different owners, some interprovincial travel and one key DNA test to turn Mudder's life around.

The real thing

Affleckfirst heard aboutMudderfrom a pony sanctuary in New Hampshire. The sanctuary had been in touch with awoman in Augusta, Ont., who bought Mudderin Quebecbut found her too sick to care for.

The woman said she was told Mudder was around 25 years old, and that shemay be a Newfoundland pony, an endangered breed that numbers about 400 worldwide.

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Theslim details aboutMudder's past were enough for Affleck tojustify the trip from her home near Ottawa to Augusta, to put those tidbits to the test.

TheNewfoundland Pony Societyperforms DNA testing on ponies to determine whether they actually belong to the breed, so Affleck snipped off a bit of Mudder's hair and sent it in for testing.

Sure enough,Mudderwas the real thing.

More than that, the test results showedshe's one of the oldest currently living Newfoundland ponies, far older than that initial age of 25.

Affleck estimates Mudder is about 36 or even older. A healthy horse's average lifespan isbetween 25 and 30 years old.

Mudder'ssome happy

With an elderly and endangered equine on her hands,Affleckput the word out that Mudder needed a loving home.

Barb Steinin Stittsville, a suburb ofOttawa,responded. Mudder moved to Stein's farm in March, Affleck said, where she'sflourishing.

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"Mudder is living the life of leisure and being spoiled to no end," Affleck said.

"She has gained weight and her coat is shiny and healthy. She is being treated like a princess and loving all the attention."

Affleckhopes that uncovering Mudder's story will lead to more Newfoundland ponies being found and registered with the Pony Society's DNA testing programs.

"Finding out who she is now opens the doors to find out where she has been and if she has offspring," she said.

"[And then]finding out where they might be and perhaps even finding another pony to register."

Affleck's own love for Newfoundland ponies was sparked as soon as she met one, she said.

"I never came across an animal that is so loyal and so smart," she said.

"The pony personifies the wonderful characteristics of the province and the people. I think the ponies are so much a product of their land."

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