Tell me about you New Forest ponies

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Sprig

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As above really. I am off to look at one later in the week (to be my new riding horse, having just retired my TB) and I thought it would be interesting to know what you all get up to with yours (and of course see some pics). I am after something to go and do a bit of everything at RC level and also quite a lot of endurance in the summer months, I am hoping this one will fit the bill. It sounds like it should. I thought being a pure bred NF it then also gives me opportunities to do a bit of showing if I fancy it, as well as fun things like the NF P2P.
 
I have a stunning pure bred & registered New Forest mare, Howen Sunset, stable name Sunny and she is just amazing! We get up to all sorts of things, hunting, show jumping, eventing, showing, pleasure rides, a bit of dressage, gymkhanas, mounted games, pony club, WHP, in fact, I don't think there's anything we haven't done so far in the 2 years we been together! They are just the perfect allrounder! Sunny is beautiful, kind, gentle, a very good jumper, and VERY fast (she once overtook a 4yo 16.3 ex racehorse out hunting!) and just the most fabulous horse to be around. She excels in any discipline, particularly in SJ, XC, showing and hunting. She has LOTS of scope, and is gentle as a lamb.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend NFs to anyone!

Here are a few photos of her.

Jumping a HUGE 1m10 XC jump back in August, it looked much bigger in person! :'P
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Tacking her up in June.
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Barlow Performance Hunting Pony Champion 2014
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Jumping a small 80cm stone wall out hunting in January earlier this year with the 4 Shires.
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Beaver Hall WHP Champion 2013.
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In case you're wondering Sunny is 8 years old and 13.3hh and I'm 13.

Good luck with your future new NF pony!
 
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I love ours; he's only 5 but he's a lovely mover and very easy to jump has already done really well at a few local workers sj and dressage. They're amazingly well balanced physically and mentally my nine yr old daughter helps me with him and hacks and jumps him. He's 14 HH ish I'm nine stone which he seems to carry fine. I wish I could have more ! And he's got amazing feet so no shoes. Good luck I hope you find a nice one.
 
she's not mine but theres a new forest x at my yard who is 13.2hh and can jump courses of 1m and has jumped up to 1.30m in the past also did novice eventing. she's also insane at hunting and is well known for trotting a five bar gate and also being hunted bareback!! she's only about 7 now
 
I have had 3 New Forest Ponies. Two geldings and one mare. My first gelding did a bit of everything but mainly Xcountry and Hunting. He was only 12.3hh but could jump like a stag and would stay out all day. My mare was a great little trap pony and she was 12.2hh. My last one was a 13.2hh who was a great Endurance pony completing several 100miles over Exmoor.
 
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I don't 100% know as my little chap is a rescue but I believe he's a New Forest Pony, if he is I can 200% recommend the breed. He is huge fun to be around and a real character xx
 
I have a 12 year old 14.2hh new forest pony called Neddy, and i love him to bits. Don't get me wrong, he is not perfect, but i wouldn't change him for the world and he has taught me so much because of this. He is certainly very cheeky and always thinks about his stomach but I've had some fun times on him. He is brilliant hacking out, sometimes can be lazy but then other times quite forward :) we got him as a mother daughter share and I would say they are great family ponies. He only has shoes on his front hooves because his feet are good and lives out all year long! When we were looking for a horse to buy lots of people recommended new forests and i think they are great ponies :) Here are some pictures

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I have a Forest bred New Forest pony. She's 12yo and I've had her since she was 8 months old, 2 days after she came off the forest. She's a 13.2hh chestnut mare by Royal Oak Ron. I do showing with her, I've been showing her since she was 2yo.
 
I've got a NF x who came off the forest. Five years old but with the maturity of a 10 year old. I backed her myself - she was really easy and from the age of 4 has hacked out happily on her own. I've not done much schooling on her yet because I'm enjoying so much having an easy pony to hack out - something I've not had for a while. Yet although she's easy, she's very forward going - definitely not a plod. She also learns new things really quick. Leg yield was learned out hacking and we're working on shoulder in on our hacks now too. I'd have another any day. :)
 
Oh forgot to say as well OP - like you, I got mine after I lost my last TB. I still have a TB but she has just started a years break with tendon injuries - possibly retirement. My NF x is very different to the TB but just as enjoyable in a different (and easier!) way. :)
 
My kids loan pony is a NF and he is awesome. He can turn his hoof to anything and is so loving and gentle with my girls yet also cheeky and a wee bit of a trouble maker if bored ( serial wheel barrow tipper!). He has a lovely jump and hacks all day and is strong enough for me to hop on occasionally too. He can be a bit stubborn and opinionated at times but i like that as he has taught my kids to really listen to him. He is great with my two horses and my livery horse and is boss despite being smallest. He is best buddy with my old boy and keeps the two hooligan youngsers in line. We love him dearly and if the opportunity comes up to buy him I would do it without blinking.
 
We have a forest bred gelding . We bought him as an unbacked 3 year old. He is 8 now and what a pony . He has got awful confo, long back, short neck and very upright hocks so no good for showing . He jumps like a stag , he hunts, bombproof etc. He is a cheeky character that we adore and we will not part with for any money ever .
 
going to generalise terribly now but the ones I have come across have been loyal, loving, strong willed and very trainable. Usually are great in traffic especially forest bred ones and seem to have a very calm and thoughtful approach to life. Good luck with the viewing you wont go far wrong with a forester or any other native for that matter. The best ones have been superb jumpers too
 
Both my boys are forest bred foresters.
Merryn is 14.1hh he's my happy hacker and last summer I broke him to drive. :)
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Herbie is only 12.2hhish he came to me very troubled but we now do vertualy everything. Showing, jumping, dressage, hunting ect.

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Foresters are amazing ponies. I was looking for a conni when I got Herbie and now I have two new forest ponies :D
 
Totally fantastic ponies. I had one on loan when I was 13 and fell in love with the breed. Spud was a great jumper and at 24 was happy to jump 3ft (occasionally mind!).

I got Benji 20 years ago as a replacement and supposed companion for a schoolmaster. I never got the confidence building scholmaster, just backed the NF instead! He's been an absolute pleasure over the years, albeit a energy saving lazy git at times, he's done a bit of everything, showing, SJ, XC, HT, colt hunting. A proper family pony, my kids clamber all over him.

I also have a 4yo mare, who is in the process of being backed. She's forest bred and a lovely tempered pony. Roanie, her mother runs the forest and has bred 6 foals. Flicka has been shown in-hand and is proving a sensible mount so far! Pepsi and Sky are forest bred too and are fab characters.

Foresters can turn their hooves to anything really. You can't beat a good one for a honest all round pony. If you want to compete in M&M classes etc just make sure that the pony has a green passport. (What's it's name btw? I am an anorack and love looking at the pedigrees)

Spud

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Recognise this chap laurynbilly?

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Gorgeous George (by Wayland Cranberry)

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Lazy git

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(Please note I know child is not wearing a hat, no comments needed please!)

Flicka (as yearling)

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Mine only has one working eye and currently does not live with me! 'Older' members may recognise him as Odin, the pony JM07 got from the sales a few years ago. He's a real cheeky sweetheart, by Backley Mistral (Peveril Peterborough lines) out of Ashley Harmony (Silverlea lines).

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I have had my forester for 7 years since he was 5. We are big RC fans and do a lot of hacking as well. He can do everything and has a gentle nature. The one downside is he is prone to getting very fat so I have to work really hard to keep his weight under control which is not easy and can be stressful.

If you are on facebook check out the new forest pony people group which has lots of information on the breed.
 
I've got 4 stallions and a gelding. The stallions were all Beaulieu Road purchases, and would doubtless have gone for meat else. With the exception of Miller who was scarred mentally and physically from being branded as a foal, they have been the most straightforward ponies you could meet. Even Miller, once we got his trust, has turned into a bombproof, willing, gentle little fellow. They are ridden by children and adults, and give us all confidence and plenty of excitement. They're a wonderful choice.

Shadow and Blue, (rising 3 at the time).
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Well today's was slighter in real life than I expected from the photos and rode quite small, so was not for me. I am however off to see a part bred NF on Saturday. Thanks for all your stories and pics.
 
Mine is fab but a bit oppinionated lol Hes out of Howen Moonlight Miss and by Farriers Rambler... wish I could post pics though lol Hes called Howen moonwalk and is a character! hated him at first but as I have started getting the measure of him, he is becoming a lovely, willing pony :)

p.s. Pennyturner how did you post your photos?
 
Ours is a 14h, stocky build, so quite capable of taking my 13st something as well as not looking overly small for my almost 5ft8 daughter. He's full of character, a really lovely chap, very good to handle (unless you are a silly young vet girl who walks in and waves a needle at him rather than make friends first). He's taken my daughter from a slightly nervous 10 year old to jumping pretty much anything. He's a regular on pony club and RC teams and has qualified for or won all manner of competitions and does well in whatever he does. He will do a reasonable dressage (mid 60s at novice level) although he's not as keen on dressage I'm sure with more schooling he'd do really well. However jumping (especially gridwork) is his forte, he usually goes clear jumping - he loves it and is pretty fast, so they've a nice collection of rosettes, yet he's perfectly safe to hack out a non-rider at a walk (me). He's the sort to turn his hoof to anything. He'll self load in a trailer, will stand all day (but needs hay: NF are food orientated IMO), he doesn't mind being groomed, the hosepipe, flyspray, you can dress him up in fancy dress he's just not bothered. He'll hunt (can be a bit keen as he think's it's a race as he's a little bit competitive), hack on his own or in company, he'll swim in the river or walk through a deep ford. He'll live out or will stable. He's been to camp many times too. He's cheap to keep and has always been barefoot. My daughter can hack him for miles on his own and he always looks after her.
The only thing he won't do really is grow another few inches, as daughter is still growing. Sadly.
 
I'm sorry to hear that he wasn't right Sprig. Good luck with the one today, hope the weather is OK with you, up in Derbyshire where we are it's raining cats & dogs and awful and cold. No wonder Sunny already looks like a woolly mammoth. Time for the clippers to come out I think....
 
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