LAURIE WEIR
PERTH — A colourful fall afternoon of creativity and community spirit is coming to Willow Creek Stables in October.
On Saturday, Oct. 18 from 1 to 4 p.m., the gates will open for Painting and Ponies, a unique fundraiser that blends art, food, and furry friends, all in support of pony rescue care.
Guests can look forward to sign-painting activities, tasty refreshments and nibbles, and a chance to meet the stables’ sweet ponies up close. Selfies are encouraged, and the rustic-chic setting of Willow Creek, surroun
ded by rolling pastures, promises a relaxed backdrop for laughter and connection.
Tickets are $75, with all proceeds going toward the care of Willow Creek’s rescue ponies, allowing owners Korrine and Wayne Jordan to focus on Korrine’s cancer treatment and recovery.
Korrine has been candid about the challenges of chemotherapy and radiation. “Week 2 has been more about the increased discomfort from radiation. It really has me wondering how I’m going to get through another five weeks,” she wrote in a recent Facebook post. Despite the fear and fatigue, she said she feels “overwhelmed by the love and support” of her barn family and friends who have stepped up to keep the ponies cared for. “When friends and family step in without being asked and just make our lives easier, it literally means the world.”
The GoFundMe campaign launched by Robin Norris highlights the reach of Willow Creek’s work. Over the past eight years, the Jordans have rehabilitated and rehomed 90 Newfoundland ponies, supported 4-H and Girl Guides, and offered therapeutic opportunities for seniors, veterans, and individuals with special needs. Today, 22 sanctuary ponies, mostly seniors, continue to call Willow Creek home.
Rescue costs are significant: hay and grain (with extra rations in winter), dental floats for seniors, farrier visits for ponies like Devlin, who regained mobility after severe hoof neglect, medications for asthma and arthritis, and routine and emergency veterinary care.
With regular fundraising programs such as summer camps, pony treks, barn visits, and open farm days on hold, donations and community events are critical to keeping the ponies healthy. The Jordans hope to resume their traditional Valentine’s Day open farm day and winter pony treks in 2026.
For now, Painting and Ponies offers a chance to give back. Organizers say it’s not just about raising funds, but about celebrating the strength of community.
“Grab your friends and your paintbrush,” the invitation reads. “This is one afternoon you won’t want to miss.”
Related Article: Willow Creek Stables puts pony programs on hold as rescue founder begins cancer treatment
