New Forest Ponies were named after The New Forest which is located in Hampshire on the South Coast of England and spreads out over 90,000 acres. The New Forest remains a protected region and wild New Forest Ponies still inhabit the area. The New Forest Ponies are one of the recognized breeds of Mountain and Moorland ponies of the British Isles. They are noted for intelligence, strength, versatility and quiet, willing-to-please temperaments.
Canute's Forest Law of 1016 records the presence of horses among the other wild animals of the Forest. Just how and when all the ponies passed into private ownership is not certain and few written references to them have come down through the years but in general the New Forest Pony always seems to have been valued for it's docility, hardiness, strength and sureness of foot.
Thoroughbred and Arab blood was introduced from time to time to improve looks and increase height but it was not until the end of the nineteenth century that systematic efforts to improve the breed were made.
In 1891, the Society for the improvement of New Forest Ponies was founded to offer Premuims to suitable stallions to run on the Forest. In 1906 the Burley & District New Forest Pony Breeding & Cattle Society started to register mares and youngstock and published it's first Stud Book in 1910. There was a current theory that the best way of improving the breed was to introduce stallions from other native breeds and as the earliest Stud Book shows, as acceptable sires for New Forest Ponies, a curious assortment of stallions.
From 1914 to 1959 registrations were recorded in the National Pony Society's Stud Book. In 1938 the two local Societies amalgamated and no outside blood has been permitted since the mid - 1930s. In 1960 the New Forest Pony Breeding & Cattle Society started to publish it's own Stud Book and has done ever since. The notable features of New Forest Pony breeding of recent years have been the increase in the numbers of New Forest Ponies bred in private Studs outside the New Forest and in the numbers of ponies exported. There are now flourishing Studs of Registered New Forest Ponies not only in the U.K. but all over Europe and as far away as North America and Australia.
New Forest ponies range in size from 12 hands up to 14.2 hands. The colors allowed for registration are: bay, brown, gray, chestnut, roans, and blacks. Limited white markings are allowed on head and legs, unless white markings were acquired from scars. Blue-eyed creams, palomino, piebald and skewbald are not permitted.
The well-bred New Forester displays free, well balanced, strait movement, plenty of bone, strong quarters, good depth of body and must be of riding type with substance.
New Forest Ponies are suited to a kaleidoscope of activities from dressage, driving, jumping, Pony Club, polo, gymkhana, and are successfully trained to carry handicapped riders.
One of their most endearing qualities, is their natural, gentle manner. Their calm dispositions naturally recommend them as an excellent choice for children.
The New Forest Ponies have been actively bred in private Studs within the U.K and outside the the country. Their popularity has spread all over Europe, North America and Australia.
The breeding goals were to develop the highest quality riding pony for children, with specific ideals, such as low maintenance, elegance without sacrificing hardiness, and a good performance pony with excellent temperament, always keeping in mind that these ponies are solely for children to ride. In recent years, higher standards have been achieved by the breed due to the increased performance required by the sports of dressage, jumping, and driving. To meet the demands for a modern sport type pony, the registries have selectively bred for better movement in all three gaits, and to be a versatile luxury sport pony.
The demand for good sport ponies has continuously grown worldwide with an increased interest in the US in recent years. With the promotion of Dressage as a Junior’s sport by the
USDF, the demand for dressage ponies will increase significantly. The New Forest Pony is a proven athlete and is capable of performing to the highest levels. Many of the top European riders started their careers riding the well bred New Forest Ponies. At the 1991 European Pony Championships, the New Forest Ponies were represented by five highly bred individuals, and their abilities would have been considered world class, had they been horses. In 1977, the New Foresters competed at the International Four In Hand Driving Championship. In 1993 the pony Calypso won the USDF Bronze Medal in 3rd level dressage ridden by a 9 year old girl.
New Forest Ponies were named after The New Forest which is located in Hampshire on the South Coast of England and spreads out over 90,000 acres. The New Forest remains a protected region and wild New Forest Ponies still inhabit the area. The New Forest Ponies are one of the recognized breeds of Mountain and Moorland ponies of the British Isles. They are noted for intelligence, strength, versatility and quiet, willing - to-please temperaments.
New Forest ponies range in size from 12 hands up to 14.2 hands. The colors allowed for registration are: bay, brown, gray, chestnut, roans, and blacks. Limited white markings are allowed on head and legs, unless white markings were acquired from scars. Blue-eyed creams, palomino, piebald and skewbald are not permitted.
The well-bred New Forester displays free, well balanced, strait movement, plenty of bone, strong quarters, good depth of body and must be of riding type with substance.
New Forest Ponies are suited to a kaleidoscope of activities from dressage, driving, jumping, Pony Club, polo, gymkhana, and are successfully trained to carry handicapped riders.
One of their most endearing qualities, is their natural, gentle manner. Their calm dispositions naturally recommend them as an excellent choice for children.
The New Forest Ponies have been actively bred in private Studs within the U.K and outside the the country. Their popularity has spread all over Europe, North America and Australia.
The breeding goals were to develop the highest quality riding pony for children, with specific ideals, such as low maintenance, elegance without sacrificing hardiness, and a good performance pony with excellent temperament, always keeping in mind that these ponies are solely for children to ride. In recent years, higher standards have been achieved by the breed due to the increased performance required by the sports of dressage, jumping, and driving. To meet the demands for a modern sport type pony, the registries have selectively bred for better movement in all three gaits, and to be a versatile luxury sport pony.
The demand for good sport ponies has continuously grown worldwide with an increased interest in the US in recent years. With the promotion of Dressage as a Junior’s sport by the
USDF, the demand for dressage ponies will increase significantly. The New Forest Pony is a proven athlete and is capable of performing to the highest levels. Many of the top European riders started their careers riding the well bred New Forest Ponies. At the 1991 European Pony Championships, the New Forest Ponies were represented by five highly bred individuals, and their abilities would have been considered world class, had they been horses. In 1977, the New Foresters competed at the International Four In Hand Driving Championship. In 1993 the pony Calypso won the USDF Bronze Medal in 3rd level dressage ridden by a 9 year old girl.
New Forest ponies are shown in Devon under saddle and in-hand classes. We see them at the
ISR/Oldenburg inspections and at the AWS where they are approved and registered in the Sportpony division.
North America, has experienced tremendous growth of the New Forest pony breed in the last years. Two of the main founders of the breed’s existence in North America were thanks to the dedication of Mary Wilson of Jacob’s Farm in Seekonk, MA and Elizabeth Hollbrook of Forest Hill Stud in
Dundas, Ontario Canada. Both these women have bred and imported ponies for over 30 years. The U.S herd began with 22 pure-bred Champion ponies imported from England, in 1950.
In the mid 1990’s a Northwest breeder, Linda Kindle concerned with the now stagnated New Forest Pony gene pool addressed the founder of the New Forest Pony Association Inc. & Registry, Lucille Guilbalt to formulate a plan to promote the growth and quality of the standards for the breed. In the course of a few years she had imported two new stallions from Holland, Niewmoed’s Remco and Voster Valentino’s Hot Pepper. Other breeders started to recognize the potential of these sport ponies and had also began to import new blood into North America. Canada has imported new blood from England, and the East Coast of the United States has also imported the approved stallion Wicked Courtjester along with some New Forest Pony mares from Holland.
