If you are looking
for a pony ideal for child or adult - versatile, kind temperament,
intelligent and agile - then consider the New Forest Pony. This
British Native pony is certainly proving its worth so read on
to discover why. There is no minimum height (they do come small)
and the upper limit is 148cm. It comes in all colours except
piebald, skewbald and blue-eyed cream. In order to be recognized
by the breed society, the pony must be registered with the New
Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society based in Bransgore,
Hampshire who issue a green passport. The society holds an annual
Stallion and Breed Show where performance tests for stallions,
mares and geldings are carried out. There is also grading for
both Forest Bred mares and those from studs.
The ponies conceived and born on
the New Forest - now a National Park - are known as Forest Bred.
These tough ponies live out in all weather, mixing with the
free roaming cattle, donkeys and occasional pigs, absorbing
valuable experiences in their formative months. Sadly, in spite
of the speed limit of 40 mph many are killed by the relentless
traffic. They have the right of way on the roads and lanes but
all too often the motorist or lorry driver does not give them
priority.
At Beaulieu Road Saleyard auction
sales of New Forest Registered ponies are held from May to November.
The auctions have two Pre-sale Shows per year, youngstock in
the spring and foals in the autumn, which are organised by the
New Forest Pony Publicity Group - ponies must be halter broken
to enter. The classes are judged by a top list show judge and
these show ponies when auctioned can expect to reach sums near
the 800 gns mark.
New Forest Ponies form the very
successful New Forest Pony Enthusiasts Club (celebrating 21
years in 2007), affiliated to the British Riding Clubs. It is
unique in that it is the only club in the country dedicated
to one breed of pony, competing against the far bigger horse
breeds and winning nationally. Last year (2006) the club won
the Rural Riders Championship at the BRC National Dressage Championships
at Lincoln, the Senior Novice Hunter Trials Title at the BRC
Hunter Trials Championships plus several individual wins. Also
a New Forest Pony wins or is consistently highly placed in National
and International Trec Championships
FOR BEAULIEU ROAD INFORMATION - see our web
pages: Pony Sales Dates and Pre
Sale Show Results.
FOR SALE LIST OF FOREST BRED PONIES - see our
web page: Forest Bred Ponies For Sale.
FOR MEETING THE NFPPG – see our web page:
Where to find us - a diary of dates
and places when we look forward to meeting you. Visit our stand
displaying masses of information and photos.
FOR PHOTOS OF NEW FOREST PONIES – see
our web page: New Forest Pony Gallery
FOR CURRENT UP TO DATE NEWS – see web
page: New Forest Pony News –
stories of the New Forest Ponies sent in by you plus news as
it happens. Thank you to so many of you for your feed back on
this versatile breed and helping to promote the New Forester!
Keep the news coming so that we can share it.
The findings are that the
prices of the NF pony have increased by a whopping 270% since
the NFPPG started. Please CLICK
HERE to read the full report.
Joy Alderson, Sec. of the NFPPG.
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