MORE BIG NAPF NEWS

RULE CHANGE:  After polling our nominating owners, breeders and trainers it became abundantly clear that you want adults to be eligible to ride in all age groups of the NAPF performance classes. This change is activated immediately for the 2009 competition. 

LIFETIME NOMINATION:  We have had several requests for a lifetime nomination fee for the sires. Immediately in effect is a Lifetime nomination fee of $2000.00 If you have an interest in participating at this nomination opportunity, please contact Suzanne or Ellen for further information.

 NAPF TROPHIES AND AWARDS GALORE!

We have been blessed with pony fans coming forth to offer awards and perpetual trophies.  Margaret Bzdak will honor her mother, a long time breeder of the well known Tantallon ponies with the Tantallon Farm Perpetual Trophy, in Memory of Joan Barland. This award will go to the Best Young Pony from the breeding sections.

 Successful adult rider and former pony jockey Hilary Sheer Gerhardt will remember her favorite pony partner with the “Touch Me Not” Perpetual Trophy to be awarded to our 4 & 5 Year Old Performance Champion.

 Just this week I received a welcome email out of the blue from Welsh and Hunter Breeding USEF judge Mike Elmore.  He has expressed his enthusiasm for the NAPF by donating a fantastic bronze by renowned sculptor Marilyn Newmark. Ms. Newmark was a protégé of equine artist Paul Brown until his death and has her works included in major exhibitions and collections around the world. Our bronze is a casting of an adorable foal at play with a small bunny looking on. This magnificent piece will go to the High Point Sire of the entire competition. We will try to post a photo of it soon. 

 We offer our most sincere thanks to all our sponsors and nominees who are ensuring that this will be a fabulous sophomore year. Please visit our “Friends of the Pony Futurity” page to see how you can be part of our growth.

 If you would like to help with competition planning or volunteer to help at the show and reception please contact us. Please mention any special skills or talents you may be willing to put to use to advance our cause.  (Typing? Graphic design? Chair a silent auction? Help with the website?) 

INVITATION TO TRIBUTE TO MRS. JOAN DUNNING AND FARNLEY FARM
JULY 18, 2009 

 Mrs. Joan Dunning of Farnley Farm, White Post, Va. will be the inaugural recipient of the North American Pony Futurity Pony Breeding Lifetime Achievement Award. (www.ponyfuturity.org) The group has commissioned a portrait of Farnley’s foundation sire “Farnley Lustre” that will become the perpetual award for future years. This award honors Joan’s lifework and the bloodlines that run through more North American performance pony champions than perhaps any other breeding program in history.  Each year a new brass plate with acknowledgement of the new deserving winner will be placed on the frame surrounding the portrait.

If you have ever owned, ridden, loved or simply admired any pony of Farnley heritage you can be part of this fitting tribute to a special woman who lovingly guided the history of pony breeding as we know it today. Mrs. Dunning has just celebrated her 101^st birthday. You are invited to contribute to this important award by funding the commission of the portrait and celebration. Renowned artist Cheryl Hight will execute a likeness of this lovely pony to be presented on this special day. Visit her website at  www.CherylHightArtist.com to see samples of her work. Click on the equine portraits and view the lovely likeness of Scott Canard’s Otteridge Foxtrot.

We are also trying to assemble any photos, tributes and stories about your Farnley bred and related ponies to present to the family.

 A list of all contributors will be added to a permanent listing on the back of the portrait and will be known as the friends of Mrs. Dunning and Farnley Farm. Contributions start at $20.00 and are limited only by your imagination. Checks should be made out to the North American Pony Futurity and sent to NAPF, 1423 Gentry Lane, Charlottesville, Va. 22903. Download and print the form to fill out with your acknowledgement information. The NAPF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the interest of breeding performance ponies. For further information visit the website,  call 434 242 8937, or email:  odhs@comcast.net.