New forest ponies

[Seahorse]

been down there this weekend, and this might sound like a numpty question but some of them had 1/2 their tails cut off and I was wondering what it means, is it marking them in some way for an owner or something?

Also they were very friendly and actually came over to be stroked this time, last year we went and you couldn't get anywhere near them!

 

[sally87]

i think they cut the tails short to stop them getting snagged on trees etc. i went down a few years ago & they seemed very friendly, a lot of them were stealing picnics!

 

[Seahorse]

some of them only had 1/2 of their tails cut, just wondered what it meant.

We pulled over to see some really cute little coloured ponies and one of them really whickered at us and came trotting over! They were so sweet and friendly we didn't want to go, bless them

 

[Faithkat]

The tail marking is done by the agisters when the ponies are brought in on the drift. It shows that their owner has paid the current year's fees.

Read the section headed "Commoners" :http://www.new-forest-national-park.com/new-forest-pony.html

 

[Seahorse]

brilliant thanks Faithkat, I knew it must have meant something!