The New Forest you see today is the result of hundreds of years of animals grazing and browsing the rough heathland and woodland of an area between Southampton and Bournemouth. This in turn has produced a hardy, thrifty, surefooted pony which, when broken in, is able to perform successfully in practically all disciplines of the horse world. Because it has co-existed with humans and their trappings for so many years the New Forest Pony has an ideal temperament which makes it easy to train. The height ranges from under 122 cm (12 hh) to a maximum 148 cm (14.2 hh) and all colours (subject to scrutiny) except piebald, skewbald or blue-eyed cream are permitted. Most (but not all) of the ponies on the New Forest have long pedigrees and are registered with the New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society.

THE PONIES: SOME QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWERS

AREN'T THEY WILD?

All the ponies are owned by New Forest Commoners. They are wild in the sense of running free - some can be handled by their owners and others have never been tamed.

HOW DO YOU FIND THEM?

Individual ponies usually stay in the same area known as the 'haunt'. This area would include water, shelter, shade and favoured grazing areas.

HOW DO YOU KNOW ONE FROM ANOTHER?

A combination of colour, markings and overall 'presence' plus of course the owner's brand, make each pony easily recognisable, particularly to the practised eye.

WHY CAN'T WE FEED THEM?

Unfortunately, your innocent throw-away apple core could eventually incite aggressive behaviour as the ponies learn to demand food, especially in car parks and camp sites. This in turn leads to the unhappy situation where the owner, through no fault of their own, has to remove and dispose of this alleged 'vicious' animal.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM?

Many of the ponies spend all their lives roaming freely and happily on the Forest - a natural but at times rigorous life as long as they are fortunate enough not to be killed on the roads by often inattentive or inconsiderate drivers. Others (including many weaned foals) are sold by their owners to be trained (at the appropriate age) for a variety of equine skills - from family companion to top competition winners.

THE COMMONERS

The ponies on the New Forest are owned by practising commoners, that is, people who exercise their Right of Common of Pasture. This ancient right is attached to land and cannot be withdrawn. The Right is free but the practising commoner has to pay an annual marking fee in respect of each animal to pay towards the cost of employing the agisters

THE AGISTERS Presently five in number, the agisters are a skilled group of men with a good working knowledge of the Forest and its depastured animals. They each have an allocated area and are responsible for over-seeing all aspects of the ponies on the Forest. This includes road traffic accidents involving animals - the animals have right of way at all times. The agisters are employed by the Verderers. For a map of the agister areas & contact details, please click here

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THE VERDERERS A body of ten persons appointed to administer the law concerning the New Forest. They hold the register of brands - all pony owners must use a brand to identify their depastured stock. The Verderers also have complete administrative control of all the stallions on the New Forest.

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