In this piece, I’m going to talk about the topic of “Does Anyone Own New Forest Ponies?,” and in terms of the information that I cover, I’m going to do my best to cover as much territory as I possibly can. I hope you find this discussion interesting!
Who owns the ponies? All the ponies, donkeys, cows and pigs that you will see roaming in the
new forest
belong to
local people
called ‘commoners’ who have the right to graze their animals on the open Forest throughout the year (or part of the year in the case of pigs).
New Forest Ponies Friendly: Are New Forest ponies friendly
important information
on New Forest ponies They may look friendly but they can bite and kick, especially ponies with foals Keep your distance! Remember, too, that these animals are not tame – the
gentlest looking pony
can also kick and bite and children are particularly vulnerable to them.
Is the New Forest pony a
rare breed
?
The New Forest pony has been classed as a rare breed by an animal charity The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) listed the pony in its minority breed category on its watch-list, for equines with up to 3,000 breeding females.
Good Riding Ponies: Do New Forest ponies make good riding ponies
As well as having a super jump for the worker ring, they also excel as performance ponies in other disciplines , many being scopey enough for eventing and hunter trials. They are popular choices for pony club and riding club all-rounders as well hunting and dressage ponies.
New Forest Ponies: Do people steal New Forest ponies
This was usually as a result of horse-trading or swapsies between each other. The often-repeated assumption that New Forest ponies are wild and ownerless has led people to commit ‘horse-rustling’ and actually steal one.
New Forest Ponies: What happens to New Forest ponies in winter
During the winter, once most of the grass has been eaten and doesn’t grow back as quickly, the ponies may also eat holly and gorse to help supplement their diet Some ponies also choose to eat acorns, despite the fact that they are poisonous to them due to the high levels of tannin inside.
New Forest Ponies: Are you allowed to stroke New Forest ponies
Feeding ponies causes serious issues in the New Forest and is against byelaws Some ponies and donkeys develop an
unhealthy craving
for
human food
and become aggressive with people who, quite rightly, try to keep their picnics to themselves.
New Forest Ponies: Where do New Forest ponies sleep at night
Ponies can doze whilst standing but to get a really good rest they need to sleep lying down In the herd environment one of the ponies will stand sentinel and keep a look out while the others lie down and rest.
New Forest Ponies: Are New Forest ponies wormed
The ponies are gathered annually in a series of drifts, to be checked for health, wormed , and they are tail-marked; each pony’s tail is trimmed to the pattern of the Agister responsible for that pony.
New Forest Ponies: Are New Forest ponies branded
Every year many of the 3,500 ponies roaming the New Forest are rounded up and branded with a red-hot instrument which leaves an instantly identifiable mark on their back The equine “number plate” enables the authorities to trace the owners of sick and injured livestock.
New Forest Ponies: Are New Forest ponies sold for meat
Around 3,000 New Forest ponies can be found wandering freely in the Forest and its surrounds and have done so for many years. In recent years however, the future of the breed has not looked so healthy. With plummeting prices, many ponies have been sold for meat.
New Forest Horses Good: Are New Forest horses good for beginners
Breed Traits These gentle yet strong and sturdy ponies are typically easy to train , and they are also multi-talented, intelligent, quiet, versatile, and willing to please. Plus, compared to other native pony breeds from the British Isles, the New Forest Pony is the one that is the least afraid of people.
Male New Forest Ponies: What happens to male New Forest ponies
These stallions are carefully selected each year to ensure a good blood-line and only approved stallions can be released. At other times of the year the stallions are kept on private land to the south east of the Forest. Young male ponies (colts) are usually taken off the Forest in January of their second year.
New Forest Ponies: What do New Forest ponies eat
What do ponies eat? In the summer, ponies will eat rich grasses , creating the close cropped (short) lawns of the New Forest which are important for
rare flowers
and insect species. In the winter their diet is more varied. Green plants such as holly and gorse are incredibly nutritious for them.
How many New Forest ponies are killed each year?
Year:
There were a total of 38 deaths of ponies , down from 39. In 2018, 13 were killed, which was actually down from from 2017 (18). Twenty five ponies were injured and destroyed, which was up from 21 in 2017.
New Forest Ponies: Why do some New Forest ponies wear collars
The maximum speed limit is 40mph on unfenced forest roads and the use of reflective collars on ponies is a measure some Commoners are now using in an attempt to reduce the number of accidents involving ponies.
Why is brockenhurst called Brockenhurst?
Brockenhurst:
Brockenhurst has a long and colourful history, including a tradition that badgers, or brocks, as they are often called, lent their name to the village.
New Forest Ponies: What size are New Forest ponies
Of all the native British pony breeds, New Foresters are the least afraid of man. New Forest ponies range -in size up to 14.2 hh and while there’s no official lower limit, they seldom go below 12 hh.
New Forest Ponies: Where are the New Forest ponies
You can’t miss the New Forest ponies: don’t feed or touch them, but they’re beautiful to watch – especially the foals. A good place to see them is at Beachern Wood near Brockenhurst , the start of a lovely off-road cycle ride to the pretty hamlet of Bank.
New Forest: Can you touch horses in New Forest
Visitors who feed the New Forest ponies, and other livestock, are teaching them not to fear humans or cars.
Sources
https://www.nfed.co.uk/fff/index.htm
https://www.nfpsna.com/