Can I buy a New Forest pony?

If you have a genuine New Forest pony, you may need to prove its breed and unless it is registered with the NF Pony Breeding Society, this is very difficult. (In fact it may not be possible.) Amongst the mandatory identifying requirements included in this NF Pony Breed passport will be the pedigree.

Can you touch the ponies in the New Forest?

Feeding ponies causes serious issues in the New Forest and is against byelaws. Human food can give ponies bad stomach ache, which is very painful. Even stroking ponies can be dangerous. They may look friendly but they are unpredictable and can bite and kick, especially mares with foals.

Are New Forest ponies sold for meat?

Animals are auctioned and sold either for riding or occasionally as meat. In recent years, poor prices for ponies, resulted in many being sold for meat.

Can New Forest ponies be black?

To keep the breed pure, New Forest pony colours are restricted, most are chestnut or bay (dark brown with a black mane and tail). They are not allowed to be piebald or skewbald (black and white or brown and white), spotted or cream with blue eyes.

Where do New Forest ponies come from?

They are valued for hardiness, strength, and sure-footedness. The breed is indigenous to the New Forest in Hampshire in southern England, where equines have lived since before the last Ice Age; remains dating back to 500,000 BC have been found within 50 miles (80 km) of the heart of the modern New Forest.

What Colour are New Forest ponies?

According to the New Forest Pony Breeding Society, they may be any colour “except piebald, skewbald, spotted or blue eyed cream”. Most commonly, they are a bay or chestnut colour. They can also have white markings only on their head and/or limbs, and have eyes of any colour except blue.

Where is the best place to see ponies in the New Forest?

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.

Who owns the horses in the New Forest?

commoners
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).

Are New Forest ponies 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.

Where do New Forest ponies sleep?

Exact location often depends on the time of year and weather conditions – winter, for example, will often find New Forest ponies deep in the woods, sheltering from the wind and cold, whilst at other times of year, they are more likely to be out in the open.

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.

What age do New Forest ponies stop growing?

The age at which horses stop noticeably gaining height can vary quite a lot – between 3 and 6 usually. However, Very few horses will stop growing completely before 6 years, even though the changes may be unnoticeable and at 4 years most horses will only just have their major joints maturing.

When is the New Forest pony Society sale?

The New Forest Livestock Society, in conjunction with the Southern Counties Auctioneers and the New Forest Pony Breeding & Cattle Society is pleased to confirm that a second online sale will take place on Thursday 3 rd June 2021, replacing our usual spring sale at the Beaulieu Road sale yard. 03/06/2021 sale entry criteria:

Where did the New Forest pony come from?

About the. New Forest Pony. The New Forest Pony is a recognised British Isles breed but has an unusual background for a native pony breed. The earliest record of horses in the New Forest dates back to 1016 when rights of common pasture were granted to the people living in what was a royal hunting ground.

Why is it important to register a New Forest pony?

Registration increases the value of your pony, makes it more marketable and opens the door to many local, regional and national activities available to registered ponies. The NFPB&CS is the Official Breed Society and holders of the New Forest Pony Stud Book.

How many horses are there in the New Forest?

Hackney Horse and Pony Critical (Fewer than 300) Suffolk Horse Critical (Fewer than 300) Exmoor Pony Endangered (300 to 500) Dartmoor Pony Endangered (300 to 500) Clydesdale Horse Vulnerable (500 to 900)