New Forest Stallions

I would like to share some interesting facts about the introduction of handpicked stallions to help maintain the blood lines and purity of our beloved New Forest Ponies.

Twenty one magnificent stallions for the New Forest this summer.

For the next few weeks until mid-June, twenty-one magnificent New Forest stallions will be roaming at their will in their designated areas of the forest to ensure the survival and quality of pure-bred New Forest ponies.

The release of the stallions onto the New Forest for a few weeks in early summer is an annual ritual essential to ensure the continued survival of pure-bred New Forest ponies. This year's stallions are released on Monday 12 May and will be in the forest until Monday 23 June.

The stallions are chosen after careful vetting by the New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society along with the verderers, who take into consideration qualities such as stamina, hardiness, and temperament, which will be passed to the next generation of foals. They are only allowed on the Forest for a few weeks to limit the number of foals born each year. Considerations include trying to predict the demand and market for foals a year or so ahead, as well as the numbers needed as replacement breeding stock so commoners can maintain their herds and ensuring enough stallions of different blood lines to maintain a diverse gene pool for the breed. Before the current scheme was introduced up to 100 stallions ran on the Forest year-round, with foals sometimes only fetching a few pounds at auction.  

Members of the public are urged to avoid getting too close to ponies during stallion season, due to the tendency for frisky and unpredictable behavior, and to keep dogs under close control.

Verderers' also particularly advise horse riders to avoid stallion areas. "Any equine entering their area will inevitably result in the stallion approaching to check if the newcomer is a threat to his herd or should be encouraged to join it an entirely natural reaction, which can be intimidating too

From Sarah, Shorefield Country Park Housekeeping Manager.