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This website was last updated: Dec 6, 2011
For information on the
Stars of the West
Sportpony In Hand Show
Series please see our
Show News
page.
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New Forest Pony
Breed Information
| New Forest Ponies
originate from the New Forest of southern England. Here the ponies
still run loose and are bred in herds. On the 37,500 hectares of
open forest there are approximately 3000ponies of which approximately 130
are stallions during the breeding season. The ponies have their
tails trimmed a certain way before being turned out which helps the
keepers of the forest determine which group they belong to. These
ponies are all owned by locals and Commercial studs that have 'Rights of
Common Pasture' on the Forest. |
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History
The earliest record of horses in the New Forest dates back to 1016. At
this time the Rights Of Common pasture were granted to the people living
in what was a royal hunting ground. Many outside breeds have been
introduced over time, either purposely or circumstantially to improve the
breed. These included Welsh, Thoroughbred, Arab and Hackney. Later
another effort was made to improve the New Forest blood by adding
the British Isles ponies including Fell ponies, Dales, Highlands, Dartmoor
and Exmoor. These improvements have lead to a pony that is hearty,
intelligent and very athletic. New Forest ponies are versatile
'ready made' sport and family ponies. They compete in the equestrian
sports at the highest levels and participate in many other activities such
as endurance, gymkhana, Pony Club, Combined Driving and many others.
They are suitable for children and adults alike. |
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The main stud
book for New Forest Ponies is the New Forest Pony Breeding & Cattle
society located in England. In North America the daughter stud
book is the New Forest Pony Society of North America. (visit the links
page for contacts)
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Height
The upper height limit is 148 cms (14.2hh).
There is no lower limit. All ponies should be judged equally
regardless of height.
Color
New Forest ponies may be any color except
piebald, skewbald, spotted or blue eyed cream. Palomino or very light
chestnut and cream ponies with dark eyes are not eligible as licensed
stallions. Blue eyes are not permitted. White markings on the head and
legs are permitted, except “a pony shall not have any white markings
on pink skin behind the head, above a horizontal line level with the
bony protuberance of the accessory carpal bone at the back of the knee
in the forelimb, and the point of the hock in the hind limb.”
Type
New Forest ponies should be of working type
with substance. They should have sloping shoulders, strong quarters,
plenty of flat bone, good depth of body, straight limbs and good hard
round feet. The ponies are quite capable of carrying adults, while
narrow enough for small children. The smaller ponies, though not up to
so much weight, often show more quality.
Action
This should be free, active and straight, but
not exaggerated.
Temperament
The New Forest Pony has an ideal temperament
and should be very easy to train.
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| NEW FOREST PONY SHOWING RULES |
- Ponies are shown unplaited, but may
have lightly pulled manes and tails. The jaw line and heels may be
trimmed, but the whiskers should be left untrimmed.
- Clipping, except for the legs, is allowed for ponies 4
years and over, in in-hand, ridden and working pony classes.
- No make up or false hair is allowed or any other
falsification of markings.
- Yearlings should not be shown in bits. Stud Stallions 2
years and over may be shown in bridles with bits. Chifney bits are not
allowed in any circumstances.
- Judges have been asked to take behavior and temperament
into account and not to judge ponies whose behavior they consider to be a
danger to either its handler/rider or other competitors. Such a pony will
be asked to leave the ring.
- No commercial, stud, or pony names to be displayed in
the ring.
- 2 year olds are permitted to be shown without a license.
(this excerpt taken from the NFPB&CS)
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