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Home > The New Forest > New Forest ponies New Forest ponies The New Forest is famed for the ponies which roam free through its villages and the forest itself.
Ponies in the Forest The ponies are as much a part of the history of the New Forest as the land and the people. In Brockenhurst, a village only minutes from the Filly Inn, you can see the ponies in the streets and outside the shops. Traditions The horses you see are privately owned by Commoners, those residents of the Forest who have traditional 'Commoners' forest rights' to let their ponies graze free. You may also see pigs at certain times of the year. Pigs are allowed to be released under the rights of pannage to eat the acorns which are very poisonous to the horses. The ponies are looked after on behalf of the Commoners by the Agisters, an arm of the Verderers, the old governing body of the New Forest. Twice a year the Agisters round up the ponies for auction. The most famous of these auctions is the Beaulieu Road sale (at the railway station between Beaulieu and Lyndhurst). Hundreds of ponies all gathered together in one place make quite a sight. The area a particular pony belongs to is told by the cut of its tail. The different shapes of cut (some part cut, some 'V', some angled) allow the Agisters to place the pony should it get lost. The ponies are also branded with their owner's mark. About the breed New Forest ponies, or 'Foresters', are one of the nine breeds native to the British Isles. Physically, the ponies must be under 148cm and any colour bar blue-eyed cream, skewbald or piebald (palomino ponies may not be used as stallions). These regulations ensure that only correct Foresters can be bred from. The New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society set these regulations and have a comprehensive website should you wish to learn more. Riding New Forest ponies are popular as riding ponies all over the world. They have a characteristically kind temperament which makes them ideal for children's ponies. However, they are more than strong enough for adults which makes them good all-rounders. Where to ride The New Forest has a lot of riding schools many of which use Foresters. If you would like to ride, many schools offer one-off rides through the Forest. For those who don't want to sit on the pony, there are places offering horse and cart rides. You can find out where offers horse riding at the New Forest Tourist website and their visitor centres.
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