New Forest pony
 |
New Forest pony, Fawley Enclosure |
The
New Forest Pony is one of the recognised 9 Mountain and Moorland or Native
pony breeds of the
British Isles, valued for its hardiness, strength and sureness of foot. Many of them can be seen running loose on the
New Forest in southern
England; although the ponies may appear wild, they are privately owned by
Commoners of the New Forest. The ponies are looked after by their owners and the
Agisters (employees of the
Verderers of the New Forest). The Verderers are a modern statutory body with ancient roots, that shares the management of the forest with the
Forestry Commission.
There have been references to the New Forest pony as far back as
1016.
Stud books have been in existence since
1906.
Thoroughbred and
Arab blood has been introduced into the breed from time to time to improve looks and increase height. The areas of the forest occupied by discrete groups of ponies are commonly called "haunts".
Height
The upper height limit is 148 cm. There is no lower limit but New Forest ponies are seldom under 12
hands (120 cm). They are normally shown in two height sections 138 cm and under (competition type A) and over 138 cm (competition height B).
Colour
The New Forest pony may be any colour except
piebald,
skewbald or
blue-eyed cream.
Palomino or very light
chestnut and cream ponies with dark eyes are only acceptable as
geldings and
mares. Blue eyes are not permitted. White markings on the head and legs are permitted. However, white markings that occur behind he head and above a line parallel to the ground from the point of the
hock in the hind leg and the top of the
metacarpal bone or bend in the knee in the fore leg are not permitted.
Type
New Forest ponies should be of riding type with substance. They should have sloping shoulders, strong quarters, plenty of bone, good depth of body, straight limbs and good hard round feet. The larger ponies, while narrow enough for small children are quite capable of carrying adults. The smaller ponies, though not up to so much weight, often show more show quality.
Action
This should be free, active and straight, but not exaggerated.New forest ponies make excellent ponies for
gymkhanas and mounted games because of their free, swift moving bodies and speed. They also make good little showjumpers.
Temperament
The New Forest Pony has an ideal
temperament and should be very easy to train.
Image:Pony grazing on yew tree heath.JPG|Ponies grazing on new growth on burnt heathImage:NF pony foal head.jpg|A young foal on Butts LawnImage:Ponies grazing at latchmore bottom new forest.jpg|Ponies grazing by the Latchmore BrookImage:Pony drinking from the mill dam beaulieu.JPG|A pony drinking from the Beaulieu Mill DamImage:Resting foal at matley passage.jpg|Resting foalImage:Ponies at gurnetfields furzebrake.jpg|Mother and foal at Gurnetfields FurzebrakeImage:Old pony by the solent.jpg|Pony on the Solent shore near PylewellImage:Ponies at matley bog.jpg|Ponies grazing at Matley BogImage:Ponies shading on wilverley plain.jpg|Ponies shading on Wilverley PlainImage:Ponies at dibden bottom.jpg|Ponies grazing at Dibden BottomImage:Pony on a causeway at penny moor.jpg|Pony crossing a bog on a causewayImage:Trotting pony at shatterford bottom.jpg|Trotting pony at Shatterford BottomImage:Ponies in a pond.jpg|Ponies grazing in a pond*
The New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society*
New Forest Equine Directory
