Rescue of Newfoundland ponies subject of new documentary

The cross-country rescue of 20 Newfoundland ponies has been turned into a new documentary film narrated by Gordon Pinsent.

Last year, the Newfoundland Pony Society found out the malnourishedponies were left abandoned in British Columbiaafter the owner encountered difficulties.

"People need to know about them and what they represented, and how they were so important and theymattered so muchand then they were more or less discarded," said Chris Richardson, who directed a film called Where Once They Mattered about the cross-country rescue mission.

"You can't help but start to fall in love with them and [say], 'What can I do here?'"

• 20 Newfoundland ponies returning home
• Newfoundland pony is endangered but returning to Nova Scotia

The Newfoundland Pony Societyorganized a caravan to bring the ponies home, which caught the attention of Gander-born Richardson.

After getting the green light from CBC's Absolutely Newfoundlandand Labradorseries, Richardsonwent to work on the film.

He told CBC's Weekend AM that the film tells an interesting story, with an important message about the endangered breed.

I was there trying to shoot through the camera lens and there were tears streaming down my face.- Chris Richardson

Richardson said the trip was more gruelling than he ever could have imagined, but that seeing the ponies get to their final destination was a special moment for everyone there.

"I was there trying to shoot through the camera lens and there were tears streaming down my face," he said.

"It was just an amazing moment. The sun was going down and we had just been on the road for six days constant."

There are only about 400 Newfoundland ponies left on the planet. Richardson said the 20 featured in the documentary represent eight per cent of the overall breeding stock.

He wants those who see the film to be as taken with the animalsas he was, and to be more aware of the danger the species is facing.

"It was a complete revelation to me and I fell in love with the animals as we went across the country," he said.

"I hope that that's what happens with people who watch the film as well."

Where Once They Mattered airs on CBC Television on Saturday, Aug.29 at 8:30 p.m. NT.