New Forest Ponies were named after The New Forest which is located in Hampshire on the South Coast of England and spreads out over 90,000 acres. The New Forest remains a protected region and wild New Forest Ponies still inhabit the area. The New Forest Ponies are one of the recognized breeds of Mountain and Moorland ponies of the British Isles. They are noted for intelligence, strength, versatility and quiet, willing-to-please temperaments.
Canute's Forest Law of 1016 records the presence of horses among the other wild animals of the Forest. Just how and when all the ponies passed into private ownership is not certain and few written references to them have come down through the years but in general the New Forest Pony always seems to have been valued for it's docility, hardiness, strength and sureness of foot.
Thoroughbred and Arab blood was introduced from time to time to improve looks and increase height but it was not until the end of the nineteenth century that systematic efforts to improve the breed were made.
In 1891, the Society for the improvement of New Forest Ponies was founded to offer Premiums to suitable stallions to run on the Forest. In 1906 the Burley & District New Forest Pony Breeding & Cattle Society started to register mares and youngstock and published it's first Stud Book in 1910. There was a current theory that the best way of improving the breed was to introduce stallions from other native breeds and as the earliest Stud Book shows, as acceptable sires for New Forest Ponies, a curious assortment of stallions.
From 1914 to 1959 registrations were recorded in the National Pony Society's Stud Book. In 1938 the two local Societies amalgamated and no outside blood has been permitted since the mid - 1930s. In 1960 the New Forest Pony Breeding & Cattle Society started to publish it's own Stud Book and has done ever since. The notable features of New Forest Pony breeding of recent years have been the increase in the numbers of New Forest Ponies bred in private Studs outside the New Forest and in the numbers of ponies exported. There are now flourishing Studs of Registered New Forest Ponies not only in the U.K. but all over Europe and as far away as North America and Australia.
Importation to North America began in the early 1950's.From the original 22 pure-bred ponies brought to the United States (of which three were geldings) and 12 pure-bred ponies imported to Canada prior to 1976,In 1992 records indicate approximately 300 purebred North American New Forest ponies have been registered with the New Forest Pony Breeding & Cattle Society and the Canadian National Livestock Record.
The pedigree of each New Forest pony listed in the New Forest Pony Association & Registry Volume 1 was researched back at least three generations prior to a certificate of registration being issued.
New Forest Stallion
Jacob's Pied Piper NFS 27/010 Pref
owned by Dr & Mrs J.G. Holbrook of Forest Hill stud in Dundas,Ontario Canada..
Left to right, Breed judge Mr G.E. Evans of Corwen, Clwyd, North Wales, Mrs Elizabeth Holbrook, Mr Ray Oekes and NFPA President, Mrs Lucille Guilbault presenting the Mudeford Streak Memorial Trophy at the 26th Annual Canadian Pony Breeder's Show June 21st in Aurora,Ontario..
The first imported New Forest Pony
Deeracres Sir Anthony
NPS3782 born 1956 ,Imported 1957
sire; Goodenough
dam; Deerarces.Pierrette.
dark bay, matured just under 14 hands.
He was bred in Lymington (England) by Mrs E. H. Parsons and arrived at Miss Patricia Wood's at Daffoglad Pony Farm in Rockridge,Ohio in 1957 as a yearling colt.
Between 1958 and 1966, Deeracres Sir Anthony sired 8 purebred foals. His line was Continued very briefly by two sons, Junco 1964, and Daffoglad Cupid 1967 who each sired a single purebred filly.
Daffiglad Peter Piper
NFS 4051
,foaled in 1958 at the Daffiglad Pony farm. He was a bright bay matured 13.3 hands. Peter Piper was imported in utero in 1957.
Sire; the famous British stallion Brookside David
dame;Mudeford Diana II.
He was sold as a two year old to Mrs Mary Wilson of Jabob's Farm,in Seekonk, Massachusetts,were he stood at stud until his death in 1984..Although Daffiglad Peter Piper was never shown in his lifetime, his progeny are much in demand throughout the US and Canada both as show ponies and top breeding stock.
Mudeford Streak
NFS 2655 Pref
born 1946,gray,13.2 hands.
sire; Brookside David
dam; Mudeford Grey. s) Duikers Happy & Glorious
Bred by Mr A.E. Burry, Windrush,Brockenhurst,Hampshire. He was purchased by Mr Ralph Mist in 1951 who stood him as stud in the U.K,before relocating with him to Ontario,Canada in 1958. Dr & Mrs J.G.Holbrook acquired him in 1960 and became the foundation stallion of their Forest Hill stud where he proved to be a prepotency sire and remarkably talented show pony before his death in 1974.He sired 27 purebred foals after coming to Canada and is fondly remembered as The Grand Old Man of Canada New Foresters.
Beechwood Jack Straw
NFS173, Pref, born 1960 ,14 hands imported to the US in 1961 .
sire; Oakley Jonathan II , s) Brookside David
dam; Mopley Dannette. s) Denny Danny
This grey stallion came to the US in as a yearling colt to Mr William R. Olmsted of Purton Plantation, Gloucester,Virginia .His breeder was The Hon.Mrs Barbara Piel of Abbot Village, Maine in 1964 and shared stud duties at the Piel Farm with imported NF stallion Merrie Marius. Beechwood Jack Straw sired 21 purebred NF.
Merrie Mars NFS 722 Pref
Born in 1961, Grey,13.3 hands.sire; Merrie Mercury s) Merrie Mistral.
dam; Merrie Midinette s) Merrie Matador
Foaled at the Sibley's Merrie Stud in England. Merrie Mars won the Muir Challenge Cup in April 1962 before being imported to Canada that same year by Mr George A. Huck along with the NF mare Merrie Mandy. This pair produced 14 foals for the Huck's Glovellen Farm in Goderich ,Ontario and were then sold to Dr and Mrs J.G.Holbrook in 1976.
Merrie Mars continued his stud duties at Forest Hill in Dundas,Ontario and also had a highly successful show career.
Of all the New Forest stallions imported to North America Merrie Mars is considered by many to be the most Welsh in appearance. He produced a total of 39 NF foals in his lifetime,through not all of his progeny are registered in the NFPBCS Stud Books.
Merrie Mars and Merrie Mandy both past away in 1986. This famous duo produced the approved stallion Forest Hill Marian.
Forest Hill Martian NFS 22/071
sire Merrie Mars X Merrie Mandy.
13.1 1/2 hands ,Steel Grey
Bullwoods Sunburst NFS 31/025 Pfp
Born 1988, Grey
sire; Forest Hill Superstar X High Meadows Night Capera.
1991 US Champion New Forest Stallion.
Sunburst was later on gelded and became a show pony.
Vernon's StarlingNFS 1402 Pref
British and Canadian National Champion, Vernon's Starling was bred by Miss A. Mcgrath, Vernon's Hill Cottage, Bishops Waltham (England).He was imported to Canada in1970 by Dr & Mrs J.G. Holbrook to assume stud duties from Mudeford Streak. He continued his magnificent show career on this side of the Atlantic and sired Champion New Forest stallions now living on three continents. Starling was a winner at the NPS Stoneleigh Show (England) in 1069; a winner at the Canadian Pony Breeders Show from 1972 though1982;Champion New Forest under saddle classes ridden by Miss Jane Holbrook. It's reported that he was also successfully trained in harness. This talented stallion sired over fifty purebred foals since his arrival at the Forest Hill Stud in Dundas,Ontario. He died peacefully in his stall on December 15th 1992 at the age of 26.
