Where To See New Forest Ponies, Hampshire’s Most Adorable Locals
Semi-wild ponies roam the New Forest at large. And while there are no certainties as to where they will be on any given day, there are some hotspots where you’re more likely to see them. This guide will show you where to see New Forest ponies.
When visiting the New Forest, you’ll be hard-pressed not to notice the adorable 4-legged locals — the New Forest ponies!
Spread across 350 square miles in the south of England, the New Forest National Park is known for its unspoilt woodland, open heathland, river valleys, and of course, its thriving population of wild ponies.
The native New Forest ponies are one of the national park’s most iconic attractions, and can be seen roaming freely through the countryside, and even in the towns and villages. I was quite perplexed upon my first visit to the New Forest when I saw some ponies standing outside a local pub!
So how do you recognise a New Forest pony? Who looks after them? Where can you see the New Forest ponies? Here is everything you need to know about these famous locals.
A brief introduction to the New Forest National Park
Although it’s called the New Forest, it’s actually anything but new. Following the Norman conquest, William the Conqueror proclaimed the area a royal hunting reserve in 1079, where he would pursue deer and boar on royal hunts. It was he who named it “the New Forest.”
He also established a system where verderers (judges), agisters (stockmen), and commoners (land users) would manage the forest. They must have done a good job because, remarkably, the landscape has remained unchanged and unspoilt for nearly a thousand years.
To this day, the New Forest retains its open heathlands, beautiful woodland and quaint villages, thanks to the tentative care from hundreds of locals, many of whom have roots going back centuries. It was designated a national park in 2005, and while it may be England’s smallest national park, it’s by far one of my favourites.
About the New Forest pony
Horses have lived in this part of the world since before the last ice age, with equine remains dating back to 500,000 BC having been found within 50 miles of the New Forest.
The New Forest breed we see today, though, is estimated to be around 2,000 years old, with DNA studies showing they share ancestry with two ancient Celtic pony breeds, Asturcón and Pottock.
New Forest ponies are valued for their hardiness, intelligence, friendliness and strength and are usually between 12 and 14 hands high (122 – 148 cm), which makes them excellent riding ponies. They are most commonly bay, grey or chestnut in colour, although can be almost any colour, except for piebald, skewbald or blue-eyed cream.
The New Forest ponies are not just attractive additions to the landscape, but they are also crucial in maintaining the forest. As they have been around for so long, they are an essential part of the local ecology, and their presence has transformed the New Forest into what we see today.
Are the New Forest ponies truly wild?
In the 1600s, a law was passed that gave commoners (land users) the right to graze their livestock in the forest.
To this day, people who live in the New Forest still have that right, and are allowed to “turn out” their livestock — cows, donkeys, pigs and, of course, ponies — to roam free in the national park. So, most of the ponies you see in the New Forest aren’t actually wild and are owned by commoners.
The ponies are often considered wild because they don’t rely on humans for food, water or shelter, and are free to roam around the national park as they please. However, as they do all have owners, semi-wild is probably a more accurate description.
Every autumn, the verderers head out into the forest and round up all 5,000 of the ponies which graze here. Since every pony actually belongs to someone, each must be identified and inspected before it can return to the forest for the winter. This annual roundup is called the drift.
So while they aren’t truly wild, it’s still a fantastic sight to see ponies roaming free all over the national park.
Are you guaranteed to see New Forest ponies in the New Forest?
Put simply, yes, you are pretty much guaranteed to see New Forest ponies in the New Forest.
Although the number of ponies dwindled to about 600 in the 1940s, it’s estimated that there are now about 5000 ponies in the New Forest. This means that there are about 14 ponies per square mile!
I’ve been to the New Forest many, many times and have always seen lots of ponies each time. I think it’s impossible not to see them — they’re everywhere! You’ll see them grazing in the woodlands and heathlands all across the national park, and you’ll even see them strolling through towns and villages.
If you drive around the national park, you’ll frequently see ponies grazing in the surrounding heathland. Sometimes you may have to drive around a little to find some ponies, but your chances of encountering many over the course of, say, a weekend visit, are exceptional.
Where to see New Forest ponies
Areas of the New Forest which are commonly occupied by ponies are referred to as “haunts.” When an animal is let out into the forest it tends to “haunt” particular areas, rather than roaming the forest at large.
Some haunt locations include Beechern Wood, Hatchet Pond, Meerut Road, Bolton’s Bench and Horseshoe Bottom, although, really, you’ll see New Forest ponies all over the national park.
In my opinion, spring to early summer is the best time to see the New Forest ponies because foals are born every spring. It really is a joy to see foals trying to make sense of their new world.
If you’re keen on cycling, I really recommend biking the Ornamental Woods Cycle Route. This circular trail begins and ends in the village of Brockenhurst, which is right in the heart of the national park. I always see plenty of New Forest ponies on this trail. Alternatively, if you prefer to walk, the Brockenhurst Village Walk will take you through lots of New Forest Pony haunts.
Here is a map I’ve created of some New Forest pony haunts:
How to be a responsible traveller in the New Forest
If you come to the New Forest by car, please drive carefully. The ponies are not scared of cars and will casually wander into the road and walk in front of oncoming traffic. Every year, a number of New Forest ponies are sadly killed in road-related accidents.
Following a number of pony deaths, including foals, a campaign called #add3minutes was released a few years ago to remind drivers to drive extra slowly and give a wide berth when passing ponies.
In my opinion, the best way to get around the New Forest is actually by bicycle! There are lots of incredible cycling trails to try and it’s a fun and eco-friendly way of exploring the national park.
Also, don’t feed the ponies. I know, we all want animals to give us attention, but feeding ponies the wrong food can give them colic, which is potentially fatal. They have plenty of grazing space in the forest and don’t need additional feeding.
If you see a sick or injured pony, you can contact the Verderer’s Office on 023 8028 2052 (open during office hours only) or the Forestry Commission (open 24/7) on 023 8028 3141.
About The Author
Lauren Pears is a freelance travel writer and blogger based in London. She writes about active adventure travel, aiming to encourage and inspire travellers to make the most of the great outdoors.
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