| The forest abounds with deer, cattle, ponies, pigs and donkeys. New Forest Ponies
The New Forest is famous for its wildlife in particular the ponies (see also new forest wildlife page ). Every ‘wild’ pony is in fact owned by one of the 400 or so Commoners in the Forest most of whom belong to the New Forest Pony Society.New Forest ponies keep the grass and scrub short and are vital to the appearance of the Forest. Without these ‘wild’ animals the forest would very quickly revert to an overgrown wilderness. Please do not feed the ponies, donkeys or cattle - you may get injured.
Approximately 3000 New Forest ponies wander freely throughout the forest and often spill into the villages. There have been references to the New Forest pony as far back as 1016. Stud books have been in existence since 1906. The new forest pony sale takes place at the New Forest Pony Saleroom at Beaulieu Road in September and this is where you will find the new forest pony breeders and new forest ponies for sale.
Most of the ponies are the Native New Forest Breed, but there are other breeds known as the Shetland Ponies. The latter are known locally as the ‘little people’. Thoroughbred and Arab blood has been introduced into the breed from time to time to improve looks and increase height. The areas of the forest occupied by groups of ponies are commonly called “haunts”.
Showing New Forest Ponies
For showing New forest ponies are generally between
148 cm and 120 cm (12 hands). They are normally shown in two height sections 138 cm and under (competition type A) and over 138 cm (competition height B).
The New Forest pony may be any colour except piebald, skewbald or blue-eyed cream. Palomino or very light chestnut and cream ponies with dark eyes are only acceptable as geldings and mares. Blue eyes are not permitted. White markings on the head and legs are permitted. However, white markings that occur behind he head and above a line parallel to the ground from the point of the hock in the hind leg and the top of the metacarpal bone or bend in the knee in the foreleg are not permitted. | New Forest ponies should be of riding type with substance. They should have sloping shoulders, strong quarters, plenty of bone, good depth of body, straight limbs and good hard round feet. The larger ponies, while narrow enough for small children are quite capable of carrying adults. The smaller ponies, though not up to so much weight, often show more show quality.
Leg action should be free, active and straight, but not exaggerated. New forest ponies make excellent ponies for gymkhanas and mounted games because
of their free, swift moving bodies and speed. They also make good little showjumpers.
The New Forest Pony has an ideal temperament and should be very easy to train.
Care of the Ponies -
New Forest Ponies are wild animals; please do not approach them.
The ponies are looked after by the Agisters and the ponies’ tales are cut and styled in a unique way according
to the area to which they belong for identification
purposes.
Six times a year surplus ponies are auctioned at the newly refurbished Beaulieu Road sale yard near Lyndhurst. ‘Foresters’ are in great demand as both riding and driving ponies.
See also New Forest People for information about the Agisters and the Commoners who care for the ponies. Contact information for Agisters. AREA 1 - Yellow
Andrew Napthine - Tel: 023 80866320, Mobile: 07836 203883
Peter Rix - Tel: 01725 514769, Mobile: 08721 409755
Andrew covers the area between the A35 and A31 as far as the A337 Lyndhurst to Cadnam Road and the Northern Commons, the boundary to the west being the road from Stoney Cross across to Pipers Wait.
Peter's area is to the West of Andrew's patch (Stoney Cross to Pipers Wait roads) across to the Western Commons & South as far as the A31. |  | AREA 2 - Green
Jonathan Garrelli - Tel: 01590 682835, Mobile: 07836 602163
Jonathan covers Dur Hill, Holmsley South of the disused Railway continuing through at the bottom of Brownhills then up to the triangle formed by the Burley, Brockenhurst, Sway (Marlpit Oak) roads, along that road outside Setthorns and then following the road back into Sway. | | AREA 3 - Brown
Robert Matton - Tel: 01590 612195, Mobile: 07836 500106
Robert has the south of the Forest. His area boundary is the part of the Forest north of Jonathan's patch - i.e. Longslade and Wilverley then all to the South of the A35 right upto Lyndhurst. He then has the Forest south of the B3056 Lyndhurst to Beaulieu Road and then staying south of Beaulieu River so he has Bucklers Hard and the foreshore. His area then follows the perambulation of the Forest all the way round the edge of Beaulieu Heath right back to Brockenhurst so past Roundhill Campsite etc. | | AREA 4 - Blue
Mike Lovell - Tel: 023 8089 0596, Mobile: 07836 757579
Mike covers the Forest to the north of the B3056 to Beaulieu and then following the northside of Beaulieu River. His area extends across to the eastern boundary - Blackfield, Fawley, Marchwood etc all the way up to Ashurst and then north of the A35 up to Cadnam (east of the A337). | |
