Stallions Take Over Showground

Stallions Take Over Showground

The Verderers, with the support of The New Forest Trust, started the New Forest stallion scheme in 2002 with a view to improving the pony stock on the forest. The Stallions are taken off the Forest at the beginning of October as an agreed way of improving the condition of mares and foals, and they are released back onto the forest in April.

Initially there was a problem finding places to winter these forty plus stallions. Some spend the winter on the commoners holdings but, thanks to the support of the Manor of Cadland and the New Forest Agricultural Show Society all the others have a safe home over these months.

This year The New Forest Agricultural Show Society has had to change its plans. Usually the stallions would be grazing on the forty acre lorry park field but, due to the extreme weather conditions at the Show this year, this ground has been ploughed and reseeded in preparation for the 2008 Show. The stallions are instead currently grazing on the main showground arenas, often alongside one of the resident herds of deer. This gives the staff in the Show office, working hard in preparation for next year, a wonderful sight to see out of their windows.

The introduction of this Stallion Scheme is one reason for the recent improved sale prices for New Forest Ponies, with all the foals now being sold for leisure activities at a good return for local commoners. This, along with other initiatives funded by the New Forest Trust, is greatly helping the New Forest’s Commoners.

For further information on this and other schemes that the New Forest Trust support go to www.newforesttrust.org.uk