New Forest Pony

People usually look up the New Forest Pony when they’re weighing up a small horse for riding or driving, or trying to work out whether the “wild” ponies seen in southern England are a breed in the usual sense. Size, temperament, and long-term care matter here, because a sturdy pony can still be prone to very ordinary horse problems like weight gain and sore feet if it’s managed casually.

The New Forest Pony is a British native breed shaped by centuries of life around the New Forest in southern England, where many ponies still roam freely under a long-running system of commoning (they are typically privately owned, not truly wild).^{3, 4} What follows is a practical, clear read on what the breed is like, what it’s used for, and what to watch for if you’re caring for one in Australia.

Size: Typically under 14.2 hands (148 cm); no lower height limit in the standard^{1, 2}
Weight: Varies by type and condition; many are “pony-compact” and can carry an adult when appropriately built and fit^{1, 2}
Coat: Dense, practical coat suited to outdoor living; thickness varies with season and management¹
Colour: Many solid colours are permitted; some patterns/colour types are not eligible under Australian studbook rules²
Temperament: Generally even-minded, trainable, and workmanlike when handled consistently^{1, 2}
Uses: Riding, driving, showing, and all-round pony club and adult leisure work²
Diet: Pasture and hay as the base; hard feed only when there’s a clear need (workload, growth, condition, health)⁹
Lifespan: Often into the mid-to-late 20s with good care (sometimes longer)¹⁰
Health watch-outs: Weight-related issues and hoof trouble (including laminitis), plus routine dental and parasite management⁹
Special characteristics: Hardy, sure-footed, and typically sensible in a wide range of settings^{1, 2}

History and origins

The breed comes from the New Forest area of Hampshire in southern England, where ponies have long been part of local life and land management. Many of the ponies people see on the open forest today are turned out under “commoning” rights: privately owned animals grazing on Crown lands, with oversight and day-to-day management support through local officials (including Agisters) working with the Verderers.^{3, 4, 5}

This semi-feral context matters. It has favoured ponies that cope well outdoors, move efficiently over mixed ground, and stay workable when brought in for handling and training—useful traits whether you’re riding on trails, putting a pony in harness, or producing one for the show ring.^{1, 2}

Physical characteristics and appearance

New Forest Ponies are best thought of as “working” riding ponies: compact, strong through the body, with straight limbs and hard, rounded feet when correctly bred and managed.^{1, 2} They’re not meant to look delicate. The good ones carry substance without being coarse, and they tend to move in a free, active way rather than with exaggerated action.¹

Height: Breed standards set a maximum of 14.2 hands (148 cm). There is no minimum height, and (in practice) the breed includes smaller and larger individuals within that ceiling.^{1, 2}

Colour: You’ll see many solid colours. Under the Australian Pony Stud Book Society standard, certain patterns/colour types (such as piebald/skewbald and some spotted types) aren’t eligible, and blue eyes are not permitted in the standard.²

Temperament and way of going

A good New Forest Pony is typically level-headed and straightforward to train, with enough alertness to be interesting and enough calmness to be safe in busy environments when properly educated.^{1, 2} Because many lines are selected for practical use, the breed often suits:

• children moving up from smaller ponies (with the right individual and supervision),
• adult riders wanting a smaller mount with real substance,
• drivers who value steadiness and a willing walk–trot rhythm.

As with any breed, temperament is shaped by handling, routine, diet, and pain. A pony that seems “stubborn” is often a pony that’s confused, unfit, overfed, or uncomfortable—so it pays to look at management before blaming personality.⁹

Uses and disciplines

New Forest Ponies are used broadly as riding and driving ponies, and they’re common in showing where breed classes are offered. In Australia, they’re often seen as versatile all-rounders: steady enough for everyday riding, athletic enough for dressage basics and low-to-mid-level jumping with suitable training and conformation.²

They’re also well suited to activities where stamina and sensible foot placement matter more than flamboyance—trail riding, pony club skills, and long days at low intensity.

Training and care in Australia

Most New Forest Ponies do best with a quiet routine: consistent handling, enough turnout to move freely, and training that rewards relaxation and straightness. Their bodies are efficient, which is a gift under saddle—and a risk in the paddock.

Feeding and weight management

Many ponies, including New Forest types, can gain weight easily on improved pasture. Excess condition raises the risk of laminitis and other metabolic problems, so feeding is usually about restraint rather than supplementation.⁹

• Base the diet on forage (pasture/hay), measured when necessary.
• Use hard feed only when work, age, or health genuinely requires it.
• Track condition with a hands-on body condition score, not just a glance.

Hooves, teeth, and routine health

Even with “good feet” genetically, hoof health depends on trimming/shoeing, workload, surfaces, and diet. Dental care matters too: ponies can quietly drop weight, resist the bit, or quid feed when teeth are overdue.⁹

If you’re buying, it’s sensible to ask for current dental and farrier records, and to arrange a pre-purchase veterinary examination appropriate to the pony’s intended job.

Breeding, registration, and what to trust

In Australia, New Forest Ponies are typically recorded through recognised registries, with breed standards describing height, type, and colour rules for eligibility.² If papers matter to you (for showing or breeding), confirm registration status early and check that markings and microchip details match the documents.

Be wary of sweeping claims like “rigorous genetic testing” being a universal requirement. Some studbooks and organisations request specific tests in certain contexts, but requirements vary by country and by registry, and they change over time.^{1, 2}

Population, conservation, and real-world threats

The New Forest Pony is not generally described as a “rare and endangered species”. It is a recognised domestic breed with ongoing management in its home landscape, and it is supported by active breed organisations and local governance systems linked to commoning.^{3, 5, 6}

The more realistic pressures are the ones that affect working landscapes and small-breed ecosystems: maintaining viable grazing traditions, ensuring welfare for older or unmanaged animals, and managing interactions with roads, visitors, and seasonal hazards. In the New Forest, local schemes and programmes exist specifically to support grazing, bloodlines, stallion management, and pony welfare outcomes.⁶

Final thoughts

The New Forest Pony is a practical, hardy small horse with a long tie to a very particular place and way of land use. In Australian hands, the breed most often shines as a steady all-rounder: comfortable to sit on, capable of real work, and generally uncomplicated to train when kept fit and not overfed.^{1, 2, 9}

References

1. New Forest Pony Society of North America — About the Breed (breed standard overview)
2. Australian Pony Stud Book Society — New Forest Pony (Standards of Excellence)
3. New Forest National Park — Commoners & Commoning
4. New Forest Escapes — Guide to New Forest Ponies (commoning and “not truly wild” explanation)
5. Wikipedia — Agister (New Forest) (role description and current number of Agisters)
6. Verderers of the New Forest — Verderers’ Grazing Scheme (projects including bloodline, stallion, welfare programmes)
7. Verderers of the New Forest — Commoners (scheme context and timelines)
8. National Prescribing Service (NPS MedicineWise) — General health information reference
9. RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase — What should I feed my horse?
10. RSPCA — Horse health and welfare (general longevity and care considerations)