A information on the right way to purchase a New Forest pony

Trying to purchase a New Forest pony? The versatile breed ought to undoubtedly be thought-about when you’re searching for a hardy, clever and enjoyable pony to get pleasure from or compete.

What’s a New Forest pony?

The New Forest is among the British native breeds. The New Forest is a well-liked selection for a lot of disciplines resulting from their variation in peak, versatility and skill to show their hoof to many various spheres. New Forest ponies have an ever growing presence within the present ring in each flat and dealing hunter courses. The 2023 Horse of the 12 months Present (HOYS) ridden M&M champion was the stallion Vynnes Magical Version. In addition they make an awesome selection for different disciplines, from Pony Membership to eventing, from searching to showjumping.

The New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society is the guardian of the breed: “The earliest document of horses within the New Forest dates again to 1016 when rights of frequent pasture have been granted to the folks dwelling in what was a royal searching floor. Since then, both as particular makes an attempt to enhance the breed or simply as a part of the conventional life and commerce within the New Forest, many outdoors breeds have been launched. Notable bloodlines have been Welsh, Thoroughbred, Arab and Hackney. Later, one other concerted effort was made to enhance the New Forest blood and different British Isles pony bloodlines have been launched to realize this, together with Fell Ponies, Dales, Highlands, Dartmoor and Exmoor.”

The New Forest pony has an higher peak restrict of 148cm and there’s no decrease peak restrict. New Forest ponies could also be any color besides piebald, skewbald, noticed or blue-eyed cream. Palomino or very mild chestnut and cream ponies with darkish eyes are usually not eligible as licensed stallions.

The society gives the next breed normal for the New Forest pony:

Sort: New Forest ponies must be of working sort with substance. They need to have sloping shoulders, robust quarters, loads of flat bone, good depth of physique, straight limbs and good laborious spherical ft. The ponies are fairly able to carrying adults, whereas slim sufficient for babies. The smaller ponies, although less than a lot weight, typically present extra high quality.
Motion: This must be free, lively and straight, however not exaggerated.
Temperament: The New Forest Pony has an amenable temperament that usually makes it very appropriate for a number of disciplines.
White markings: Aside from on the top and decrease limbs: lack of, or absence of, pigment in hair or pores and skin that isn’t recognized to have been related solely with pores and skin trauma, is just not acceptable. So, for the needs of entry into the accepted part of the studbook, a pony shall not have any white markings on pink pores and skin behind the top, above a horizontal line degree with the bony protuberance of the accent carpal bone in the back of the knee within the forelimb, and the purpose of the hock within the hind limb, until confirmed to be resulting from trauma/harm.

What ought to I search for in a New Forest?

Vee Taheri-Sinfield is a choose and a breed fanatic who has competed New Forests for a few years at high degree. She primarily competes in working hunter courses, producing ponies by means of the ranks. In 2013 she made historical past when her pony Mallards Wooden Full Monty grew to become the primary New Forest to win a Royal Worldwide Horse Present (RIHS) working hunter ultimate.

“Whether or not you need to present, leap, occasion or do Pony Membership, the New Forest is an effective selection,” Vee begins. “Temperament is paramount and it’s a necessary attribute to look out for, alongside breed sort, which is so vital and shouldn’t be neglected.

“The pinnacle of a New Forest must be plain – it doesn’t must be fairly. Motion must be straight and never exaggerated; these ponies have been bred to outlive on hostile terrain, not on picnic lawns as some are led to imagine! They’ve been required to navigate bogs, ponds, steams and dense woodlands so hardiness can also be a key trait.

“Ponies ought to have a adequate quantity of excellent, clear bone for his or her measurement; I prefer to see at the very least 7.5 inches. They need to have a set of robust and open ft, not too upright or low on the heels; most ponies can compete and be labored barefoot.

“The higher peak restrict is 148cm nonetheless a number of the up-to-height ponies can lose their pony traits,” Vee provides. “Effectively-balanced and proportioned ponies ought to stay true to sort if scaled up or down.

“The New Forest will at all times be my selection; they mix temperament, bravery and willingness in equal measures. I might additionally by no means rule out a part-bred New Forest in case you are trying to showjump, occasion or do dressage.”

Main exhibiting choose Malcolm Fry tells H&H: “The New Forest might be tough to evaluate in some ways as a result of vary of varieties, sizes and styles discovered inside the breed, and the actual fact they’re categorized as a big breed regardless of having no decrease peak restrict. The larger ponies are typically extra profitable as they’re extra industrial, nonetheless smaller ponies are being neglected much less and fewer as judges turn out to be extra educated.

“You may have two beautiful ponies, yet another sporty with flash and motion, and yet another typey, maybe a Forest-bred pony with extra limb and substance, competing towards one another,” Malcolm provides. “We’re fortunate to have each, the horse that’s representing the kind and the opposite which might get up towards the flashier breeds within the ring. As a breed we’re scorching on good limbs, high quality bone, good ft – mandatory in any breed – brief cannons, massive joints, depth of physique and a very good, robust entrance.”

I need to purchase a New Forest pony – the place ought to I look?

There are on-line sale websites, similar to Whickr, which have New Forest ponies marketed after they come up on the market.

“Approaching breeders with a very good repute is an effective place to begin,” advises Vee. “In case you’re adventurous and have a very good eye for a pony, you can too decide up a very good teen or a foal from the annual Beaulieu Street Pony Gross sales.

“Whereas they do come on the open market at instances, the New Forest tends to remain within the household for some time; they’re versatile and might be handed to varied family members in order that they at all times have a job,” Vee provides. “Personally, I like to purchase kids to again, carry on and compete. Usually, I maintain a pony for years, although, as they’re such a pleasure to have round.”

How a lot ought to I anticipate to pay?

The worth of a pony will rely on a number of components, together with breeding, age and competitors document.

“I don’t are likely to spend some huge cash on ponies as I favor to purchase foals or uncooked kids,” Vee explains. “I’ve purchased high ponies for lots of somewhat than 1000’s as I received them as weedy kids that I believed had potential.

“Costs do range, however on common you must anticipate to spend at least £3,000 on a top quality pony that is able to do a job, although you may in all probability get a smaller or a extra Pony Membership high quality pony for much less. Some over-height Foresters which have made high occasion or competitors ponies might be price a fortune. In right now’s market the place the New Forest is a extremely valued breed, the sky actually is the restrict.”

What occurs after I’ve agreed to purchase a New Forest pony?

In case you determine to buy a pony it’s time to organise a pre-purchase vetting, one thing that’s strongly really useful. It’s vital to let the vet know previous to the vetting what you plan to make use of the horse for to allow them to assess it accordingly.

“I don’t are likely to have ponies vetted, however I might at all times really feel extra assured promoting a pony that has been vetted and would advocate a two-stage vet evaluation as a minimum in case you are much less skilled,” Vee says.

For extra data, you may learn H&H’s final information to purchasing a horse.

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H&H exhibiting editor

Born and raised within the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the exhibiting scene. She has certified and competed ponies on the Royal Worldwide, Horse of the 12 months Present and Olympia and has first-hand information of the present points within the exhibiting world in addition to the horses, ponies and riders who compete within the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 since when she has cemented its place because the main equestrian publication for each exhibiting stories and present exhibiting information within the UK.