Why is feeding the ponies bad?

Firstly, some ponies and donkeys can develop an unhealthy craving for human food. In this case they become aggressive with people who, quite rightly, try to keep their picnics to themselves. The result can be that innocent people are kicked or bitten through no fault of their own, or that a tent is destroyed by an animal searching for lunch!

Secondly, feeding of ponies makes them more vulnerable to traffic accidents. This is because they tend to gather near roads (looking for people with food) and of course as most people know, they have little or no road sense!

Third, human food can give the ponies colic (bad stomach ache) – which is very painful. There is plenty of natural food in the Forest and they are best left to the gorse, grass and holly they have become accustomed to over the last few hundred years. If a particular pony does need additional food, the local Agister will know this and ensure that the commoner who owns it provides food, usually by taking it to back-up land away from the Open Forest.