Can I Ride My Horse In The New Forest?

You can ride a horse in the New Forest without a Forestry England riding permit. However we request that you adhere to all warning signs and the advice given on them. Help us to keep the New Forest a special place and follow our Horse Riding code of conduct.

Where can I ride a horse in the New Forest?

Forest Rides and Riding Lessons

• Arniss Equestrian. Godshill, Fordingbridge.
• Bagnum Riding Stables. Bagnum, Ringwood.
• Eastmoors Riding School. Ringwood Road, St Leonards.
• 4 Seasons Forest Rides. Ringwood.
• Burley Villa School of Riding. Wootton.
• Ford Farm Stables. Brockenhurst.
• Manor Equestrian Centre. Ower.
• New Forest Polo School. Sway.

Can you ride New Forest ponies?

The New Forest ponies are semi-feral and therefore generally don’t like to be handled. However, as a breed, ‘New Foresters’ have gentle temperaments and make excellent family riding ponies.

What do New Forest ponies eat?

grasses
In the summer, ponies will eat rich grasses, creating the close cropped (short) lawns of the New Forest which are important for rare flowers and insect species. In the winter their diet is more varied. Green plants such as holly and gorse are incredibly nutritious for them.

Do New Forest ponies have owners?

All the ponies, donkeys, cows and pigs that you will see roaming in the New Forest belong to local people called ‘commoners’ who have the right to graze their animals on the open Forest throughout the year (or part of the year in the case of pigs). The New Forest is really one big farm, and these are ‘farm animals’.

Can you free camp in the New Forest?

We’d like to remind people that Wild camping is not permitted anywhere in the New Forest, it’s illegal to camp without the land manager’s permission.

What are New Forest horses used for?

New Forest ponies also are used today for gymkhanas, show jumping, cross-country, dressage, driving, and eventing. The ponies can carry adults and in many cases compete on equal terms with larger equines while doing so.

How many horses roam the New Forest?

The New Forest is visited by millions of people from all over the world each year and one of its great attractions are the 3,000 or more New Forest ponies which freely roam the heathland and woods.

Who owns New Forest?

The Crown
Who owns the New Forest? Around 90% of the land in the New Forest is owned by The Crown and has been managed by Forestry England since 1923.

What happens to New Forest ponies in winter?

Exact location often depends on the time of year and weather conditions – winter, for example, will often find New Forest ponies deep in the woods, sheltering from the wind and cold, whilst at other times of year, they are more likely to be out in the open.

Where do New Forest ponies sleep?

They gather together in places known as ‘shades’ that, unlike the name would suggest, aren’t always under the cover of trees. Some of the shades frequented by the ponies are out in the open but will have a discernable breeze that keeps them cool. Often too you will see ponies lying flat out quietly snoozing in the sun.

What happens to New Forest male ponies?

These stallions are carefully selected each year to ensure a good blood-line and only approved stallions can be released. At other times of the year the stallions are kept on private land to the south east of the Forest. Young male ponies (colts) are usually taken off the Forest in January of their second year.

Can New Forest ponies jump?

New Forest ponies are known for being great at a variety of disciplines, and they’re a popular choice for Pony Club activities. They’re handy jumpers, so they can make fab eventers as they’re so bold and sure-footed.

Can you keep a horse in the woods?

Can horses live in the woods? Horses can live in a wooded area, but there are special steps you’ll need to take in order to ensure their wellbeing. If the woods have plentiful trees, then not much grass will grow. You’ll need to supplement their diet with additional hay or grain.

Do ponies get lonely?

Horses are known to be social creatures – herd animals by nature that thrive on a group dynamic. While there are varying degrees of friendship needs, from a large field with several herd members to a trio or even just a pair, horses that are on their own, by contrast, can get lonely.

Can you sleep in your car in the New Forest?

There are lots of laybys and carparks along the road, however, wild camping is illegal in the New Forest. There are lots of campsites in the New Forest, and several pubs that will let you park a campervan overnight if you are eating in the pub.

Which is the nicest village in the New Forest?

Burley – best village of the New Forest
Burley is the quintessential New Forest village. Found within Burley are traditional cottages and characterful thatched houses, while wild ponies wander freely about the village.

What animals roam free in the New Forest?

Probably the most well-known fact about the New Forest is that it is home to thousands of free-roaming animals. As you travel across the National Park you will see ponies, cattle, donkeys, pigs and sheep. They could be grazing on gorse, wandering through villages or even crossing roads.

Do New Forest ponies have shoes?

Manes and tails can be lightly trimmed. Ponies aged 4 and over may be shod.

Are there horses in the New Forest?

How New Forest ponies are looked after. There is a myth that the New Forest ponies are completely wild, however, they are only wild in the sense that they are able to roam freely around the National Park. They are in fact owned and cared for by New Forest Commoners.

Are Black Forest horses good for riding?

The Black Forest Horse is known for its great temperament and beautiful movement, which differentiate it from other draft breeds. Its long-strided and elegant trot make it ideal not only for driving but also for riding.