New forest ponies

samisheen

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Hey, I have just brought a 3year old new forest mare. She is very light in build and is extremely bum high. 14hh on the bum. Has anyone got experience of 3 year olds leveling up and filling out? I have been told she will end up quite stocking
 

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I’m not sure until I get her passport. They said her registered name is hilldown wood mellick if that helps. Aw they said she will bulk out a bit. I’m worried she won’t be big enough for me. I’m 5ft 2 and 10 stone
 
I have a New Forest, had him from 7mths old. He levelled up at 3 and i was worried he would'nt make a good height, then went bum high again around 4 and had growth spurts ever since.

He is now 8 and is perfect. He isnt a stocky New Forest, he is an athletic type!
 

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I have a New Forest, had him from 7mths old. He levelled up at 3 and i was worried he would'nt make a good height, then went bum high again around 4 and had growth spurts ever since.

He is now 8 and is perfect. He isnt a stocky New Forest, he is an athletic type!
Aw wow he is beautiful. If my girls turns out like this she will be prefect
 
Congratulations on your new pony! If she's already 14hh on the bum she'll carry you no trouble once she's matured. My first pony was a New Forest and I do have a real soft spot for the breed 🥰
Aw thank you
She will be just fine … I used to ride my daughter’s 13.2hh Forester, I am 5’4” and he took up my leg easily. We have had 2 Foresters and a NFXTB and they were all amazing.
thank you. Can’t wait for her to arrive
 
Remember that wither height reflects posture and ability to level the ribcage and push up in front, not just conformation/growth :). Plenty are level, plenty are not, in fact I'd say more are downhill than not but nearly all will be at least partly posture. I've saddle fitted a LOT of NFs over the years.
 
As others have said, New Forests are the Best. I tragically lost my 💙 NF pony 3 weeks ago at the far too young age of just 4 to OCD/arthritis in neck vertebrae (very rare) and now starting the search for his replacement. Hubby has one, & we both have had some great ponies in the past.

Enjoy your lovely girl, she's beautiful and will carry you when the time comes perfectly!!
 
Good luck with your lovely Forester mare. We have one that was lightly built from a foal, he has remained that way but is well put together and actually pretty strong. He grew well, has made about 14.1. The one in my avatar we bought as a 3 year old, he was 14.1 but is now 15hh which is lovely. They are such good ponies.
 
So I have a bit more info. I have no idea where to look to find info but her Dam is Crabbswood Strawberry and her Sire is Sandhole Whispering Grass. Would love if someone could help me with more info possibly pictures. Thanks
 
Type in Sire's name NF Stallion & that will take you to NF Pony Breeders - then click on pedigree, or try Allbreeds Pedigree - anything with a star beside the name will show a photo. You will be amazed how far back you can get (all 3 Arabian foundation stallions for starters) + highlands, welsh mountain, even a clydesdale.
 
There is a FB page called NFPP.

Lots of breeders on there with a wealth of knowledge, someone will be able to help.

I put a post on when i first got my boy and some replied with pictures of him at 2 weeks old ☺️🫶🏻

So i now have his whole history (even though i had him from 7mths)
I have pictures of him grazing with his mum and out on the forest just being a ‘wild’ foal!
 
New Forests are awesome - Baggs my 20 year old is a 50/50 cross between an Appaloosa and a New Forest and he's an absolute hoot. I've got the best of both breeds in a handy little pony package (he's 14.2 but built more like a sports type pony so doesn't have the stockiness of the New Forest.).

He's fiercely loyal and a great teacher - but he hates schooling with a passion (I on the other hand love it!) . So I negotiate with him that we school a few times a month and spend the rest hooning around the countryside and he seems pretty happy with that agreement 😅

He also is rather opinionated and you have to persuade him that things are his idea otherwise he'll simply stand there and you end up looking like a right fool.....

I recall having tons of tests done on him when I first got him as I was mega concerned about his behaviour, and I remember what my lovely vet (who is still my vet to this day!) said to me - "He's a cracking pony but he is devilishly smart too. He knows exactly what you're asking, but he's been desensitised to the leg/aids given when riding which is why he is coming across as stubborn. He's not stubborn, he just needs a new way of realising what you want him to do. Once you crack that, he'll be one hell of a fun ride!".

I can safely say that my vet was 101% correct - some retraining and training of new cues and 11 years on - he is my little pocket rocket that I can hoon up a massive hill with, stop on a dime, ferociously loyal, can out run an ex racehorse on a fun ride (NOT my plan or idea but Baggs was feeling good, and next thing I know we're cruising past the 16.3 ex racer and his friend.....), puts a smile on my face when I want to bury myself and hide, but above all my he is my best friend and heart pony ❤️

Wishing you lots of fun with your lovely pony - do keep us updated! x
 
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