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New Forest Ponies New Forest Ponies - Helpful Information about The New Forest Pony New Forest Ponies are one of the nine recognised native pony breeds in the United Kingdom and all these native pony breeds are known for their hardiness and surefootedness. The New Forest pony can generally be found wandering around in the New Forest National Park and to many, the park just would not be the same without these lovable little rogues. The New Forest was first set aside as protected forest by William the Conqueror in 1079 as a private hunting preserve. Later, people who lived in the area were given grazing rights in the forest and so the ponies, sheep, cows and pigs were often turned out to forage.  The first actual mention of the New Forest Pony though goes all the way back to 1016, and over the centuries, many different breeds other than the native ponies have been turned out to graze in the forest, including specific breeds like Arabians, Welsh, Hackney and thoroughbreds as well as other British pony breeds like Dartmoor, Exmoor, Dales, Highlands and Fells, who have been released to improve the breed. Today, as they have for centuries, the New Forest ponies roam throughout the forest at will, without a care in the world (including your car!). They forage in the fields and foal in the open, and these hardy ponies have become synonymous with the New Forest area. The first Stud books have been registering this breed since 1906, and since 1930, no other breeds have been mixed into the New Forest bloodline. The New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society handles all registrations now and keeps the Stud book. Anyone who admires this breed can join the Society and learn more about them. The New Forest pony has a maximum height of 14.2 hands but there is no minimum height. Most New Forest Ponies are at least 12 hands high. The pony should be of good working type. The shoulders should have a natural slope and the quarters should be strong. The body should have a good depth with plenty of flat bone and straight limbs. The feet should be round and hard. When the pony moves, the action should be free, straight and active without exaggeration. The temperament should be gentle, friendly and easy to train. This breed is very intelligent and calm. All colours are allowed for this breed with the exception of piebald, skewbald and cremello. Palomino. Light chestnut and cream ponies with dark eyes are only allowed to register as mares and geldings. Blue eyes are a disqualification. White markings on the legs and head are permitted with the following exceptions: no white markings on pink skin are allowed behind the head or above an imaginary horizontal line level with the bony point of the accessory carpal bone at the back of the knee and the point of the hock. New Forest Ponies make excellent mounts for both children and adults and quite often this is put to the test when there is racing in the New Forest area, and these ponies prove their speed and agility time and time again, even over rough terrain. New Forest Ponies are suitable to compete in anything from Pony Club to driving, from polo to dressage. They love to jump and do gymkhana events, yet they are gentle enough to carry disabled riders. The endearing personalities of these ponies make them popular wherever they go. If you found this page useful please bookmark it for others to share - Thank you 
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