New Forest ponies and commoners

• There are six common rights in the New Forest: common of pasture, mast, turbary, fuelwood (or estovers), marl and pasture of sheep.
• Five agisters employed by the Verderers look after the animals in the Forest.
• Ponies have right of way over vehicles on New Forest roads.
• Ponies are rounded up in ‘drifts’ in late summer and early autumn for a ‘health check’, branding and sales.
• There are between 500 and 600 commoners active in the New Forest today.
• The New Forest pony is now a recognised breed, but it comes originally from Welsh stock with introductions of other ponies such as Highland, Exmoor and Dartmoor.
• The ancient Verderers’ Court is the second oldest court in the country.
• The name ‘Verderer’ probably comes from ‘vert’, the French for green, reflecting the role’s Forest origins. The Verderers control grazing and regulate common rights.
• There are 6,500-7,000 commoners' animals grazing on the Open Forest.
• More than 100 animals are killed or injured each year in road traffic accidents, most during the hours of darkness.
• The tails of New Forest mares are cut in distinctive patterns enabling the Agisters to see at a glance if the animal’s marking fees have been paid and in which area her owner lives.
• New Forest stock are classed as ‘wild’ animals – nice to look at, but not to touch.

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