With the weather getting milder and the holiday season starting, a warning from the Verderers to visitors and local residents regarding the ponies of the New Forest.

Official verderer, Oliver Crosthwaite reiterated that residents should not feed the ponies with scraps outside their properties in the New Forest which could lead to poor health or possible death.  He appreciated that residents thought that they were being kind but in fact they were more likely to cause problems such as malnutrition and encourages the ponies to hang around the roadside for more because they think this is easier than foraging for natural food in the Forest.

Even giving the ponies proper animal feed, for example hay, is detrimental to the ponies because they are not given enough and therefore become thinner and suffer possible poor health.

Visitors too must be warned to not feed the ponies or encourage them to come closer to the car, whilst in the car parks and enclosures.  Many ponies will obviously wander over to see what food is available but this tends to train ponies to follow cars into the road and the likelyhood of a collision with a motor vehicle.

Ponies even with a slight accident may have to be put down so take care with these animals, enjoy the delights of the Forest but don't encourage the ponies to come closer.  When finding ponies on the verges slow right down and give them a wide berth.  In case they panic or bolt you then have time to stop quickly.

Whilst driving within the New Forest the mandatory max speed limit is 40mph except on major roads where the signs indicate National Speed limit (max 60mph)

Last update : 26-03-2008 07:22

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