Good ponies were in demand in the 19th Century and many good ponies were sold aff the Forest. One such was "Squib" foaled in 1814, although under 12 hh she is said to have gone 20 miles in 1.1/4 hours and 3 miles in 8 minutes. (Garth Starflower covered 3 miles in 6 mins 20 seconds. She stood 13.0hh and was carrying 11st 2lbs). Squib is described as "having a fairly large but remarkably Eastern type of head, a rather short neck, drooping and rather narrow quarters high on the hock, lightbone below the knee but good shoulder and great depth through the heart, with docility, courage and speed". Mr Dale in Vol: 1 NFPSB 1906 – 1910 said Squib might stand as a portrait of a Forest pony today. She was, incidently, another grey. Her description haunted us by being read out as a Breed Description at every major show where Foresters were shown throughout the 1950's.

By 1880 it was generally considered the stock had deteriorated, whilst there were a number of good mares, the stallions were deplorable. Since the good ponies sold well, most commoners sold them on the grounds that if they refused a good price when offered, the pony would probably break its leg in a rabbit hole or drown in a bog and theo he would have nothing. Those that were worth nothing vere turned out to breed. At the time it was thought the ponies were in-bred and outside blood was therefore needed. (Computer studies show a significant amount of in-breeding was unlikely, under natural conditions nature takes care of her own. Selection by selling the best was surely the trouble). There was no inducement to keep a good stallion since there was no chance of getting stud fees and no guarantee he would run with his owner's mares.

In May 1887, the Verderers decided to hire three stallions to improve the In 1888 this increased to four; Fitz George, Mr Mills' Welsh Star, Katerfelto and Bampton Boy. There was not much demand for Bampton Boy's services, Katerfelto served 47 mares getting 29 foals, (13 colts and 16 fillies). 6 mares slipped. Welsh Star got 16 foals from 23 mares, Fitz George 18 colts, 9 fillies, 19 slipped foals! After the Deputy Surveyor reminded the Court that for many years both stallions and mares had begn maintained in New Park by the Crown, Queen Victoria was persuaded to lend two Arab stallions, Abeyan (Note: Abeyan Vol:1 NPS number 2 bay, star, little white on legs, breed Anazt Tribe from Northern Arabia, very old when imported in 1885!) and Yuresson, but the commoners did not like the scheme, far preferring prizes or premiums offered to stallions that ran out. The Verderers therefore stopped financing the idea which was taken over by the "Four Ponies Scheme", founded in 1890 by certain Verderers and others. The idea was to stand in-hand one stallion in each of the four Agisters districts and to run stallions on the Forest in the season, keeping thee in-hand during the winter. It was estimated there were 2 – 3,000 mares on the Forest and a similar number in work or on the holdings, many of which were bred from. The Society was to run for 4 years and it's final report says it all: Four Ponies Scheme Report

The Lyndhurst Society

The Society for the Emprovement of New Forest Ponies was set up in February 1891 to run a Spring stallion show where premiums would be awarded to ponies that ran the Forest as the Commoners had rquested. It later became known as the Lyndhurst Society, and the Four Stallion Society amalgamated with it. Unfortunately, the first Minute book is missing, and until the Burley and District New Forest Pony and Catt1e Society was founded in 1906 and started a Stud Book, early stallion show records are uninformative since they just say Mr So & So's bay yearling, so was his bay tvo year old, the following year the same pony? There is no means of telling. Hovever, some ponies were named.

The Council for the 1891 Society consisted of a President, Lord Montague, at least two Uice Presidents Lord Manners and the Earl of Normanton, Sir George Meyrick and Sir George Thursdby MBH {Masters of the New Forest Hounds and New Forest Buckhounds at the time), Col. Cornwallis MP, Walter Gilby Esq. 8 land-owning commoners, 8 Commoners being pony owners, 4 resident non commoners and four non resident non commoners.

A stallion show was to be held each April, or such other time as the Council should decide, for members ponies. The minimum subscription was 5/- (it went down to 2/6 between the wars and only above 5/- in 1966t). The subscription included all entry fees for the show (in 1909 of 84 ponies entered 50 belonged to just three members who certainly got their money's worth). Prizes and premiums only to be paid on a certificate from the Agister, with the consent of the Verderers that the stallion had been running in the Forest from the date fixed by the Council until the following August. All stallions gaining premiums to be recommended to the Verderers to be passed and marked to run in the .Forest. No stallion to take a premium for more than six years. Young stock premiums paid only when the colt had run as a three year old. Each stallion shall be examined and passed by the assisting Veterinary Surgeon as to soundness, the Ministry Licence defects to be looked for (at that time these did not include slipped stifle, sweet itch or parrot mouth). All stallions of Russian or Polish blood to be disqualified. Were they fashionable?

Judges to be two Council members, who are also Verderers, two Council members who represent quarters of the Forest as pony breeders and one non commoner assisted by a Vet. (Two of the same judges officiated for 20 years). No judge could enter a pony at the Show.

The show was held at Cuffnells Park, Lyndhurst and a rope passage was constructed down the centre of the ring to make the ponies trot in a straight line. Once the Burley Society started a stud book it was agreed all ponies awarded premiums should be registered in it and no pony docked after 1909 would be passed, since the docking act was not passed for another 40 years this was very advanced.

The Silver Cup presented by Mr Purkins in 1898 was won outright by Lord Arthur Cecil's "Lord Ebrington" (the pony was given the name of his breeder), an improved Exmoor who ran at Decoy Pond in 1901. Ten Exmoor mares were turned out at Ferneycroft as an experiment that year. By 1909 judges had been reduced to 2 and it was felt necessary to include in the catalogue "The Council again desire to state that the Verderers assisted by their Veterinary Surgeon, Mr Goodall, alone passed as sound the staliions to run in the Forest and that the Association has nothing to do with this business, the ponies being only judged after they have been duly passed". Obviously some rather sensitive toes had been trodden on!

At the 1896 show, 35 out of 46 were bred on the Forest at the 1896 show, and these were considered to have done better on the Forest than the imported ponies. Although Exmoors were favoured because a bay/brown with mealy muzzle, mealy round eyes and under the belly was considered to be the good old Forest type, which had deteriorated, partly because attempts to gain height and bone for a draught pony, had led to coarse round bone and large common heads, the result of introducing cart horse blood. The very hairy-heeled heavy types have been bred out with mechanisation no longer requiring draught ponies. Ten Exmoor mares were turned out at Fernycroft as an experiment in 1901.

The judges report for 1901 survives and reads "Yearlings, the winner of the medal in this class showed a touch of Arab blood". 42 animals contested the class for 4 years and upwards. Taken as a whole they showed a remarkable eveness in both quality and condition so the competiton for the 20 2 Pound premiums was keen. 16 three year olds competed, 10 were awarded premiums. Several of these ponies, considering their age came out remarkably well. 2 year olds were well supported, for 15 premiums there were 21 entries all looked promising. It may be of interest that there were 26 brown ponies, 19 bay, 14 grey, 14 black, 9 roan, 3 chestnuts and 1 dun. Mature and broken ponies for sale were also at the show. By 1909, judges had been reduced to 2 and it was felt necessary to include in the catalogue:

"The Council again desire to state that the Verderers assisted by their Veterinary Surgeon, Mr Goodall, alone passed as sound the stallions to run in the Forest and that the Asscoiation has nothing to do with this business, the ponies being only judged after they have been dly passed."

Obviously some very sensitive toes had been trodden on!

As the Lyndhurst Society was short of cash it was proposed that races be held at the stallion show and in 1913 that each Master of Hounds that hunted the Forest be asked to hold a cap far the Society in April when the visitors came to hunt in the Forest.

Burley & District New Forest Pony and Cattle Society

Meanwhile, in 1905, on August Bank Holiday a show was held on Burley Lawn in conjunction with the Burley Athletes, who ran a race from the Chapel to the Show Ring across Frogmoor (a course that would present difficulties today, wet feet and gorse-scratched legs to start with). The show was for Forest mares not exceeding 12.3hh with foal at foot and youngstock. It was a great success and led to the formation of The Burley & District New Forest Pony Breeding & Cattle Society.

They held their first show in Burley Manor Park on August Bank Holiday 1906. Premiums were awarded to foals that were then branded with the Society's brand under the mane to identify them when they came to claim their premiums the following year. At first a register of ponies shown was printed at the end of the Annual Report.

1. The objects of the Burley Society were defined as follows:
2. To compile free of charge, a register of New Forest Ponies belonging to Members.
3. To encourage the best breeding strains by giving Premiums (to mares) and other means.
4. To endeavour to obtain WInter keep for Member's ponies.
5. To institute an Annual Show for the encouragement of N.F. ponies and cattle.
6. To take any other measures which shall promote the interests of breeders of New Forest Ponies.
7. To receive subscriptions and other payments for the general purposes of the Society. The headquarters shall be at Burley and the show to be held at Manor Park, Burley (so long as Mr Cootes give permission).

The programme for the 1907 show was:–

11.00am

• Class 1 NF mare with foal at foot (22 entries). Prizes: (In Pounds)3, 2, 1, 10/-. Entry fee 2/6.sp 2 Pounds best riding type and 5 premiums 1 Pound each.
• Class 2 Mare with foal, branded and tail marked for the year having run without hand feeding since August 1906 to be owned by a small commoner (6 entries).
• Class 3 Yearlings (11 entries). Prizes: (In Pounds) 2, 1, !0/-.
• Class 4 2 yo fillies and geldings (11 entries).
• Class 5 3 yo fillies (14 entries).
• Class 6 Yearling heifer suitable for the Forest (7 entries).
• Class 7 2 yo heifer suitable for the Forest (14 entries).
• Class 8 Cow in milk that has run the Forest. 2 Pounds given by Deputy Surveyor as 1st prize. (9 entries).
• Class 9 and 10 Pure (4) and cross bred sows (9). (These classes cancelled, swine fever precautions.)
• Class 11 Donkey Jacks (2) branded and tail marked. 1st Prize 1Pound.
• Class 12 Donkey Jennys (3) branded and tail marked. 1st Prize 1 Pound.
• Class 13 5 furlong race for NF ponies n/e 12.2l)h (7)
• Class 19 ditto n/e 13.0hh (9). All men riders.
• Class 14 Harness n/e 12.2hh (11)
• Class 15 Ditto over 12.2hh (9). Both NF ponies,
• Class 16 NF suitable for draught shown in trucks (11).
• Class 17 Ride and drive NF ponies entered in the 3 harness classes to be ridden (19).
• Class 18 5 furlong race ex 13.0hh (4),
• Class 20. 5 furlong race open ponies n/e 12.2hh1 (5).
• Class 21 NF ponies jumping (9) – one lady rider.
• Class 22 Jumping open 14.2hh (6).
• Class 23 Jumping horses (9).
• Class 24 10 furlong race open 14. 2hh the property of farmers within the Parliamentary District (10). Prizes (in Pounds) 5. 2. 1.
• Class 25 Driving competition NF ponies driven at not less than 8mph round markers in the ring. (10).
• Class 26 Potato race, NF Ponies, (Competitors 10 men and a girl)
• Class 27 Held at 7pm. 5 furlong consolation race ridden bareback

Cold luncheons were available at 2/-. Teas 6d. A band of '25 musicians played in the afternoon and evening and dancing continued until 10,00pm.

The 1908 show introduced a class for a pony suitable to carry a man to his work, the property of the commoners and ridden by the owner (6). 1909 introduced a yeld mare class. Several heifers were disqualified for being a year or even 2 years older than described.

Old Show Pictures

Keep was obtained with shelter and plenty of grass for 20 ponies for 5 months from November, at 5/- per head.

The Royal Commission

A Royal Commission 1912 defined a Mountain & Moorland Pony as "one whose ancestors had 1ived on Mountain, Moor or Common for the last three generations in a semi-feral condition".

Their terms of reference were to:–

1. Consider the value of M & M Ponies in relation to other breeds.
2. The best methods of giving assistance.
3. The most practical way to assist the small owner, marketing, cost of transport and state of the pasturage.
4. Preservation of breed purity.
5. The advisability of an interchange of blood to avoid in-breeding.

They decided M & N Ponies were the foundation of all light horses in the country including thoroughbreds! and so were important foundation stock. They stressed the importance of Registration in recognised Stud Books and of Associations in each district. The best method of help was to award premiums to stallions, mares and young stock.

On marketing, they noted prices at Lyndhurst Fair. Brood Mares 8 to 9 Pounds broken ponies averaged 25 Pounds, top price 50 Pounds, yearlings 5 to 10 Pounds, 3 years old 10 to 15 Pounds. Transport costs by rail were 25% above that for cattle. Nonetheless, 61 ponies travelled from Brockenhurst to Canterbury for 17 Pounds 9s.6d.

They recommended 6 premiums be awarded to registered M & M stallions brought to the Show. Judged by a Judge appointed by the Board of Agriculture, who would provide the cash, they would be awarded a district to run from May 15th to August 1st, though there could be difficulties in getting them to stay where they were put! They further recommended the Commons Act to be enforced to remove unfit stock.

The report was sent by his masters to the Deputy Surveyor of the New Forest for his comments. Mr Lascelles replied:

Sir,

I have the honour to return certain papers relating to pony breeding on Dartmoor which have been referred to me for any observations – presumably as to New Forest, for I know nothing about Dartmoor.

The control of the commoner's rights and of the turning out of ponies in the New Forest is now vested in the Court of Verderers. They have a power to regulate the turning out of stallions and what is even more important, to exclude inferior and immature stallions from being turned out.

As to the importance of this I entirely agree with what is said by Lord Arthur Cecil and Mr Pease. But the Verderers do not make by any means as full use of their powers as they might and are disposed generally to yield to the clamour of the commoners and allow any cheap, worthless animal which they have no convenience for keeping at home, to be run out.

As to improvement of New Forest ponies. The number being turned out and the persons who breed them seem to have considerably decreased of late years and it is quite certain that both the number and the quality of the ponies brought to the local fairs for sale has greatly deteriorated during the last ten years.

But it is the fact that Lord Arthur Cecil and one or two other persons have gone in largely for pony breeding as a speculation during the last ten years or so, and have imported and turned out various stallions of several different breeds in the New Forest. Thus, it is the fact, and this fact is largely advertised, that a limited number of persons are breeding in the New Forest a number of ponies of better stamp than used formerly to be bred, except by a very small number of persons. Consequently at the shows held by the Pony Association which is a rather close borough, there are exhibited sundry better class ponies, bred by some half dozen persons, and the breed is said but erroneously to have been improved. There are some better ponies bred in the New Forest than there used to be and better stallions are available; but the rank and file of breeders and of ponies are not one bit improved and are not likely to be so, because the one idea of the New Forest Commoner is to produce something to sell; whatever it is, it must be all profit for he will risk nothing. Hence he greatly resents it if he is prevented from turning out a two year old stallion that would give him trouble or eat some forage at home, and in that way just as on Dartmoor the general run of breeders are opposed to improvement rather than inclined to support it. And the greater number of ponies are no better than of yore – many are worse.

It is of no use to attempt to improve the breed of anything by turning out better sires unless the inferior ones are excluded, and this is recognised by the correspondents of the Board of Agriculture. A good deal might be done in this direction if the Verderers would summoning up the courage to do it; but they are an elective body and likely to deem it more to their interest to please their constituents than to improve ponies.

I have the honour to be Sir,

your obedient servant

Gerald Lascelles

In defence of the Verderers it has to be said that the Annual October sale of foals was an important part of a Commoners' income, no foal, no income, so it was necessary to pass enough stallions to cover the area. Not less than 80 mature horses were considered necessary. Some would be passed because no other stallion would stay in a particular place and, of course, Verderers could only pass what they were shown. A commoner could never guarantee his stallion would run with his mares and he got no advantage at all if it did not. In those days no horse could take more than 6 premiums and all had to be removed at the age of 18, or at any time if considered mischievous. A good gelding made a good price, whereas a stallion on the Forest was vulnerable to being beaten up by a rival, killed by a car, breaking a leg in a rabbit hole etc. Thus there was little inducement to keep a good stallion.

True wild horses do not breed till they are mature at 5 or 6 years old, but this is a long time to wait for any financial return, so commoners tended to sell as barren, mares that had not foaled before they were 5 and this encouraged those who were sexually early maturers to the detriment of the condition of the herds.

The Arab tooth was also a disaster in this department, even if it did come with a pretty head. Computer analysis of blood lines shows that whilst most stallions stock are either middling to good or middling to poor, thus Denny Danny's are either very good or poor probably according to the teeth they inherit.

Early sexual maturity was obviously not considered a problem as stallions were not required to be passed by the Verderers until they were 4, otherwise they are slow maturing making up till they are 8 years old. The other problem is that some yearling fillies are apt to get in foal which does them no good at all.

In spite of Lascelle's reply, the Ministry gave a Grant, taken over for a bit by the War Office and then by the Racecourse Betting Control Board (now the Betting Levy Board), the Grant being administered by the National Pony Society. In 1990 the largest part went in stallion premiums, but a substantial amount went on blood typing and some on insuring Forest stallions against being run over. It is noticeable that Lascelles took no notice of the comments on the pasturage.

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