Feeding and petting ponies

Feeding of ponies by well-intentioned but misguided people can become a serious issue in the New Forest. It is against the byelaws (with a fine of £20) for good reason.

Even stroking ponies can be dangerous. They may look friendly but they are unpredictable and can bite and kick, especially mares with foals. A good tip here is never to stand between a mare and her foal – they may take fright if they fear they are being separated.

Only when really necessary, do Agisters remove individual ponies from the Forest – they have the right to graze here and the problem is essentially one caused by people, not by the animals. Similarly, additional fencing to keep people away from ponies (and vice versa) is seen as a very last resort. The New Forest is a wonderful open landscape and should stay that way. For families who want to picnic away from ponies, there are fenced picnic areas at Blackwater, Bolderwood and Wilverley.