Explained: Wild Horses, Are There Wild Horses In The New Forest

In this piece, I’m going to discuss the subject of “Are There Wild Horses In The New Forest?”, and I’m going to do my best to cover as much ground as I possibly can in terms of information.

How

new forest ponies

are looked after. There is a myth that the New Forest ponies are completely wild, however, they are only wild in the sense that they are able to roam freely around the

national park

They are in fact owned and cared for by New Forest Commoners.

Wild Horses: Where are the wild horses in the New Forest

Park highlights 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: Why are there horses in the New Forest

It has survived because William the Conqueror made the Forest his

private hunting reserve

and imposed strict laws on the people who lived here In return they were given the right to graze their animals on the ‘common’ that we now call the New Forest.

New Forest Ponies: What happens to the New Forest ponies

Each year, the ponies are rounded up in what are called drifts Over thirty of these drifts take place during the summer and autumn each year giving the commoners a chance to check the health of their animals and wean and handle the foals.

New Forest: How many ponies roam the New Forest

The New Forest is visited by millions of people from all over the world each year and one of its great attractions are the 3,000 or more New Forest ponies which freely roam the heathland and woods.

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 there New Forest ponies in Lymington

The New Forest holds one the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest. Here the wild New Forest ponies run free Their calm temperament makes them majestic and a true sight to see.

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.

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: 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 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: Can you ride New Forest ponies

Horse riding in The New Forest is one of the finest ways to experience the natural beauty of the National Park. With over 3,000 New Forest Ponies roaming the beautiful and varying landscapes, The New Forest is truly the perfect backdrop for a relaxing hack or carriage ride.

New Forest Ponies: Do New Forest ponies get culled

This is how the population of the New Forest ponies is managed today – and not by culling , as happens in some wild horse populations in other countries – however, there were attempts in Tudor times to improve the breed by slaughtering smaller, under-height animals.

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: Can New Forest ponies jump

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: Can you touch 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.

True Wild Horses: Are there any true wild horses left

The only truly wild horses in existence today are Przewalski’s horse native to the steppes of central Asia The

best-known examples

of feral horses are the “wild” horses of the American West.

New Forest Ponies: How big do New Forest ponies get

The New Forest pony is one of the recognised mountain and moorland or native pony breeds of the British Isles. Height varies from around 12 to 14.2 hands (48 to 58 inches, 122 to 147 cm ); ponies of all heights should be strong, workmanlike, and of a good riding type.

New Forest: How many donkeys are in the New Forest

One of the more overlooked animals which can be found in the forest is the New Forest Donkey. Found throughout the Forest all year round, only around 200 donkeys are turned out into the forest in comparison with the 3,000 New Forest ponies.

Wild Ponies: Where can I see wild ponies in the UK

Despite their name, you can find Welsh mountain ponies on the coast near Stackpole in Pembrokeshire, and at the Long Mynd in Shropshire as well as in the Brecon Beacons.

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.

References


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Forest_pony


https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/app/uploads/2018/03/Who_owns_the_ponies.pdf

New Forest Ponies



Where to Spot the New Forest Ponies in Hampshire