NLIS 10
June 23, 2000
(Forest Resources and Agrifoods)

Minister endorses Newfoundland Pony Trek 2000

Kevin Aylward, Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, will be present on Sunday, June 25 at 10:30 a.m. at the Trailway Pavilion on Southside Road close to the Job�s Bridge as Mary Liebau heads off on "Newfoundland Pony Trek 2000 to heighten awareness of the plight of the Newfoundland Pony.

Mary Liebau, 26, of Chesterfield, New Hampshire, will embark on a 1,000-kilometre solo journey by horseback with her Irish border collie, Bucket, and two Newfoundland ponies across Newfoundland's Trans Canadian Trail, the longest continuous trail in the world. In realizing a personal dream to ride alone across a foreign land, she will also serve an international mission, bringing attention to the endangered future of the Newfoundland Pony.

This is Mary's second "Trek". Her first was across Ireland. The Newfoundland Pony Trek 2000 will see her ride roughly 1,000 kms across Newfoundland throughout the summer following the old railway bed (Trans Canadian Trail). As this summer marks the millennium anniversary of the Viking settlement at L'Anse aux Medows, Mary has been working with the Newfoundland Pony Society to correspond her stops with as many of the planned Vikings 2000! events as possible.

Aylward said: "I wish Mary well on her journey and commend her for taking up such a worthy cause as the Newfoundland Pony. As a symbol of the spirit that settled Newfoundland, the pony deserves to see its numbers grow. In an age where the rate of extinction for many animals on this planet is approximately one species per minute, Mary believes Newfoundland Pony Trek 2000 will be an inspiration to anyone interested in the survival of a threatened breed."

The Newfoundland Pony Trek 2000 will also be posted on the Internet at EquiSearch .com

Where visitors can post questions to Mary and her supporters and read their replies. Through this Web site, visitors will be able to take a virtual ride with Mary and share the wonder of discovering Newfoundland by horseback.

Mary Liebau currently provides live-in assistance at Road's End Farm with the complete care of 52 horses along with general maintenance of a 550-acre farm. She is also a lead rider during camp reunion weekends and fall women's retreat weeks.

Mary also spent two summers as head trail guide though the Cape Cod National Seashore where she was responsible for the care of up to 22 horses and safety of up to10 people on trail.

Mary's first major trek was a four month solo pack trip in Ireland with four to seven hours a day of riding. This trip was self-planned, executed and throughly enjoyed.

She has 20 years practical use of English and Western pleasure riding, hunt seat and dressage instruction.

Media contact: Cynthia Layden Barron, (709) 729-6183, fax: (709) 729-2076

2000 06 23             5:05 p.m.