New Forest pony
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The New Forest Pony is one of the recognised nine 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 (which they are to some extent), 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.
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[edit] History
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".
[edit] Characteristics
[edit] 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).
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Temperament
The New Forest Pony has an ideal temperament and should be very easy to train.
[edit] Gallery
 Ponies grazing on new growth on burnt heath |
 A young foal on Butts Lawn |
 Ponies grazing by the Latchmore Brook |
 A pony drinking from the Beaulieu Mill Dam |
 Resting foal |
 Mother and foal at Gurnetfields Furzebrake |
 Pony on the Solent shore near Pylewell |
 Ponies grazing at Matley Bog |
 Ponies shading on Wilverley Plain |
 Ponies grazing at Dibden Bottom |
 Pony crossing a bog on a causeway |
 Trotting pony at Shatterford Bottom |
 Ponies grazing in a pond |
 Mutually grooming ponies |
 Ponies shading in winter on Setley Plain |
 Pony scratching on a small tree stump |
