Weight carrying New Forest Ponies

Great pictures.

HashRouge: It must be a genetic trait. If I did not have a Forester, I would have an Arab.

CobaLob: I have a picture of the Lad in exactly the same 'four feet in the air' position', but he would not be nearly as calm near cows as your other pony, they tend to make him a little, erm, excitable :eek:

Shortstuff: 25 and still stunning and still doing his thing in style, amazing.
 
This is cran in his late teens, he's 14.1 and I actually felt over-horsed on him yet on my 14.3 built like a knife I feel fine.
2575610367a8029259584l.jpg


He was an awesome pony who loved jumping so much he would squeal over the fence and each stride he'd throw a buck in (a big buck.) I remember once he put 2 bucks inbetween a 1 strided double! :eek:
I love riding him because of it and when he doesn't buck I get bored. :p

This is him taking a flyer, good job the jump was tiny. :)
2575610367a8029259652l.jpg
 
Last edited:
Where do some comments come from? 10 to a penny cheap and all that, Yes you can buy a Forest Bred Pony or Forest Run Pony cheap but if you want a good well bred new forester they will cost on par with most breeds, a very nice Haywards bred black 4 year old sold for £2500 not broken but a good prospect another recently not sure on blood lines sold for £4500 at 8 years old, as ponies go I think they are well to do strong and hardy compared to most. If you want a cheaper Pony then a Dartmore hill pony springs to mind but even then a good one will cost a couple of grand.

I am 11 stone and a good 12.2 would not blink at me backing it, I have seen some large riders on 13-14 handers so the rule of thumb of a stone per hand works well for me although I do think the weight should include saddle. Until you ride a forester or see one in action you will not know the full potential of these great ponies....
 
I think as well as being great weight carriers they seems to keep going FOR EVER! lol. As mentioned above my NF boy is 25 now, he still regularly wins/get placed at novice dressage can still spook and be crazy at the silliest stuff. Once a spectator said to my mum at a dressage show how that you could tell that he was obviously a 'youngster' as he was spooking trotting around the arena before my test. My mum got the giggles having to explain that he is actually old! Bless him. He also has no arthritis or lameness problems.

Sorry for the gushing post but I still think he is awesome and would definatley have a NF pony again! x
 
I've just become the proud owner of a New Forest yearling, from Haywards stud. Absolutely gorgeous, great personality, love him to bits already (he's only been here 2 weeks). Am hoping he'll make 14hh, but having hunted all day in the NF on a 13.1hh I'm pretty sure this little guy will suit me when he grows up whatever height he ends up. Sired by Longcopse Elton, and goes back to Smiler of Sheepwash on his dam's side. So excited for the future with him!
 
sorry to bring this thread up again! Loved looking at all the pics and reading the stories.
Here is my NF X

DSC00022.jpg


His dam was full NF, but sire unknown. He was three earlier this year and have had him for over 2 years.
 
Don't worry about bumping the thread up :D

Your lad looks like he has a lot of NF. Sure his sire was not a Forester too?

Regardless, he's a nice looking chap.
 
NeilM said:
Don't worry about bumping the thread up :D

Your lad looks like he has a lot of NF. Sure his sire was not a Forester too?

Regardless, he's a nice looking chap.
Click to expand...

Thanks NeilM. Yes I am starting to think he is pure NF. He was sold to me as possibly NF x WB??!! He was really fine until about 6 months ago and has alot more bone than he did.

Your boy is the most handsome NF i've ever seen, how long have you had him for?
 
samcrob said:
Your boy is the most handsome NF i've ever seen,
Click to expand...

Shhhh, don't tell him that, he will ponce about even more, and oh boy does he love an audience.

We got him in in the winter of 2007, when he was 6 and although well schooled in the past, he was very green / nappy which is why he was being sold.

He's 10 this month :D
 
How well do they take your leg up, out of curiosity? I'd have no worries about a well-bred and fit NF taking my weight, but I wonder if I'd be too tall (I'm somewhere around 5'9").

Just curious:)

There are some very nice looking ponies on here:)
 
Spudlet said:
How well do they take your leg up, out of curiosity? I'd have no worries about a well-bred and fit NF taking my weight, but I wonder if I'd be too tall (I'm somewhere around 5'9").

Just curious:)

There are some very nice looking ponies on here:)
Click to expand...

Have you seen the width of "fat lad" :D you'd look just fine on something of his stamp!!

Im still hatching a plan to steal him!
 
Spudlet said:
How well do they take your leg up, out of curiosity? I'd have no worries about a well-bred and fit NF taking my weight, but I wonder if I'd be too tall (I'm somewhere around 5'9").

Just curious:)

There are some very nice looking ponies on here:)
Click to expand...

I'm 6'1" and he takes up my leg just fine. Sorry, but the only decent picture of me riding (as opposed to jumping) is one that I don't have permission to post. However, if you look here: http://www.rexphotography.co.uk/Gallery/MBBA%20Cranmore%202011/930%20to%201030%20departures%20approx/slides/cran1%20062.html

Oh and don't look at my bl**dy hands, I don't know what they were doing there :mad:
 
Ok silly question Where oh Where do you find a New forest Pony?

Have you brought them on yourselves or is there a breed group etc etc?

Would love something like this....but am 12st 5 6" etc

Do you find in the usual H&H etc?
 
Thanks NeilM, he actually takes your leg well, doesn't he? And what a nice looking pony all round! I don't think I'd feel underhorsed, not on one of the larger versions anyway;)

Will add an NF to the potential horse breed shopping list for in a few years time then:D
 
Spudlet said:
Thanks NeilM, he actually takes your leg well, doesn't he? And what a nice looking pony all round! I don't think I'd feel underhorsed, not on one of the larger versions anyway;)

Will add an NF to the potential horse breed shopping list for in a few years time then:D
Click to expand...

He is my boy and I really could not be without him. This whole thread started because I was considering how I could get a bigger horse. The answer is... I couldn't, I've got the Fat Lad and he's got me.

indie999, here is another useful link: http://www.nfed.co.uk/index2.htm

EDIT: Meant to say, on the link to the photos, pictures 72, 73 and 74 are my OH on her NF mare. Two different looking Foresters you could not meet.

BSJAlove, what a lovely pony. The local riding school / dealer where pretty much all the local Foresters around here come from (including our two) has a mare of identical colouring and stamp, but just a little bigger, maybe 13.2hh.
 
Last edited:
Amigo taking up my leg pretty well I think - I'm about 5'7.

Excuse the cheesey grin on the second one - we'd just been highly placed in an elementary dressage at a championship show and I was DELIGHTED with him!

IMG_0249.jpg


IMG_0272.jpg
 
More pics...I am already addicted...was after a cob now quite like the look of the NF! Always thought I was far too heavy? Am trying to lose some!

off to look at NF anywhere and everywhere.....really nice pics again! Thanks for the web links too...more hours searching for the elusive!
 
Charem said:
I show a new forest, he's forest bred and the proper sturdy type that would carry anyone all day.

I find it very disheartening that we are often placed below the finer, stud bred types that wouldn't survive a day out on the forest nor carry anyone for hours across it.

I too find it odd that judges go for New Forests that look more like show ponies & not the typical ones.
Click to expand...
 
NeilM said:
I recently had a comment made about the ability of my 14.2hh NF gelding to carry my (12.5 stone) weight.

We have been together for four years now, but the comment stuck in my mind a little, as it is a concern of mine and so I decided to contact his breeder.

She was pretty cross at the comments and made this statement "In the case of the New Forest pony they were bred to carry a stone per hand or a man to his work, and still do. Most of our Agisters in the Forest patrol their areas on New Forest ponies."

I thought it was worth posting these comments, as I often see 'can my pony carry me' posts with some replies that would lead the novice to wonder how any horse ever carries anybody over 10 stone :D

My new motto is; New Forest Ponies, Bred with passion, Ridden with pride.
Click to expand...

I think the stone per hand thing is absolute cr*p. However, IMO a 14.2 hh New Forest should cope with your weight fine. Smaller horses can carry a larger percentage of their bodyweight than large/taller horses. I would not put more than a sixth of the weight of a 15hh+ horse on its back, but below that I would consider on fifth of the weight of a less tall horse. There are other factors to consider such as age, fitness, bone size and loin measurement too.
 
NeilM said:
Great pictures.
HashRouge: It must be a genetic trait. If I did not have a Forester, I would have an Arab.
QUOTE]

I have both, just wish my New Forest came in 14hh rather than 13hh. I rode her regularly when she was 4 but not so often now and as am up to 10 and half stone felt a bit guilty but won't now i've read this :) She is a super first pony and has taught lots of little people to ride.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top