Advice please New Forest ponies...

A

alwaysbroke

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Some friend on our yard are looking for a 13 to 13.2hh pony for thier daughter, it would be her 2nd pony.

I have been looking at adverts and there seem to be alot of new Forest ponies for sale, just wondering, in general what the breed temperment is like, quite a few are advertised as being typical New Forest, calm and willing, I have no experience of the breed so hoping someone can help.
 
Hellooooooo
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I think they're brill. Intelligent. Keen to learn. Chilled. The one I know best is half NF and she's damn quick! Is three now and likely to get to 14hh.

Hardy. Live out happily. Good doers
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'Tis my experience of them
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. I'd happily have one should the need arise.
 
I have a fantastic coloured cob x 13.2 to sell. Brill attitude, vice free, has a go at anything. Only 5 though. has been to PC, hunted, shows etc

W the wonder pony is 1/2 newfie too
 
I love my british natives and currently have a welshie but am looking for another to lighten her work load (shes 19). I want a new forest next i think they are lovely. They are normaly calm gentel ponies and the forest bred ones are bomb proof in trafic. They do make great childrens ponies.
(there are exceptions to every rule though.)
 
they are the mainstays of our riding school - quiet enough to let the kiddies learn on but equally if we take the teenagers out hacking they are up there with everyone else . Our four all seem to be good jumpers as well = presume we haven't been that lucky and its a breed trait
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Imo Nf are the best ponies , very easy to train, easy to do , the onley down side that i have come across with the forest bred ones are that a lot of them dont like men, but that does'nt take much to overcome. If i was asked i would always say they are the best childs pony.
 
Like any breed they can vary. The mares can be pretty mareish and the geldings can be right lads. We have one of each and have friends all around us with both.

Geldings: I ride one, and several friends have them too. If treated right (as NF's have VERY long memories) they are hardy, will live on fresh air, are bright, quick to learn, quick to react, are fast and can turn their hands (or hoofs) to most things. They can also be stubborn and pretty strong too.

Mares: My OH rides one (and has done for many years). They are much the same as the boys, but they can be a little aloof, pretty opinionated and will let you know what they think of you, your rubbish riding and even more rubbish hacks/ schooling / jumping.

They are great characters and I swear my OH's mare understands every word you say to her. She will even nod or shake her head in reply to questions, she can also be pretty stubborn, but was retrained almost from scratch by my OH after being horribly mistreated by a previous owner, so maybe she had good reason only offer limited trust.

My gelding was described by the lady who broke him, as the most stubborn horse she has ever met, I can't see it myself, he's just a bit of a bloke, so if he can't see a reason for it, it does not interest him or excite him, he's not really interested in it.

Be aware that NF's need to be kept interested (I'm sure this is true of most horses) I have seen them get depressed and / or lazy. They are not good at plodding along in the same routine day after day and one little chap I know actually brought himself (complete with weak loan rider) from his stables to our field (about 2 miles) because he had been there a few days before staying with us for a long weekend and doing some hacks and jumping. When the owner realised how fed up he was getting, she completely changed his routine and he cheered up no end and became his old playful self.

They are great characters and can be very personable, affectionate and fun. They are great jumpers, have huge personalities and enthusiasm and at the same time they will adapt to the rider, allowing them to safely take a tiny tot or jump 3' with a teenager or adult on board.

I wouldn't be without mine.

EDIT: It would appear I ride a child's pony
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Not the first time I've been told that
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It's just my one that's nuts then, is it?
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Had him 5 years, never once managed to catch him in the field. He is forest bred, so think the initial catching and branding finished him off for life, and he just won't be caught, or walk through narrow places etc. Fortunately I have my own place so I just let him follow the rest in to the yard.

He has plenty of other issues too, bless him. He has managed to come home 3 times without a rider, and he has the homing instincts of a pigeon. Other than that, he is perfect. Oh, and he doesn't do presentations either, so if you win a rosette you have to get it on foot. But at least he wins them!
 
I think i ment they make the best childs ponies not that they were just for kids NeilM, we have four of them and i'm forty five, all though i do feel looked down appon somtimes for riding a pony, I DONT CARE.
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I think i ment they make the best childs ponies not that they were just for kids NeilM, we have four of them and i'm forty five, all though i do feel looked down appon somtimes for riding a pony, I DONT CARE.
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I'm in you club Fii. My OH and I are both...um over 49 and both ride NF's. On a fun ride last Sunday, I was wandering along and a lady came past on a tall, lean looking TB and said ' oh, your a long way down', I smiled and told her it was not so far to fall which made her smile.

Like I said, I wouldn't be without my beefy boy, what he lacks in height, he makes up for in determination and personality.
 
Personally I like them,but there is a 12yo on my old yard with one that I can't understand why a parent would have bought him for their child.

He's rude, bargy, kicks, can't be tied up, it difficult to get to the field. He is too strong for her ridden and she used to ask me to come and stand with her if she was going to get on (only in the school she was too frightened to ride him out).

He's not too bad for an experienced adult, and I thought he was a fun ride. She otoh was absolutely fine handling and riding my gelding. It seems to just be a match made in hell.

On the whole they can be smashing ponies, just be aware that the wrong one in the wrong hands, like ANY breed can be a nightmare.
 
I bought a weanling straight off the forest, he was quite a challenge to start with. I plan to keep and ride him myself he is three now and around 14hh as for the man thing amigo prefers men and follows my hubby around like a puppy i am definately a nf fan. They are small enough for kiddies and strong enough for a adult what more could you want!
 
They are fantastic ponies, can turn their hoof to any job. I have had the pleasure of sharing and caring for a number of New Forest ponies some of whom were forest bred, they are usually straightforward and suitable family ponies although you do get the odd quirky/stubbon one.

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I have two New Forests, and a New Forest X TB

They are all very different, but all wonderful.
Hardy, live on fresh air, good feet, sure footed, can turn their hoof to any job, and perfect for children or adults.

I think they are so versatile and great fun.
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There are three NF on our yard and one is mine - they all live out and are really sweet natured ponies - though they do have a tendency to get fat very easily.

Mine is quite opionated but a really darling - he can do anything - he jumps, he does dressage, showing and Le Trec. He also like hacking out on his own and in company. If they have lived on the forest they also tend to be quite brave as they get to see alot.

The only real negative thing about him is he does not like being stabled so he has to live out.

Obviously how they have been handled previously will make a difference but generally they are lovely natured versatile ponies suitable for children and adults.

Here is mine -

Jumping

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Doing Le Trec

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Getting ready to hack over to do dressage

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