The Gallery
Learning about and practising commoning on the New Forest.
In medieval times a forest meant an area preserved for royal hunting, and not a wooded area as it does today.
The Agisiter ensures welfare standards of the free-roaming animals are maintained.
The ‘architects’ of the New Forest.
The New Forest landscape supports many species of plants, insects, birds and mammals. It should be valued as a reserve for nature.
One of many gatherings where Commoners can exchange news, information and knowledge.
Pannage season is part of the ancient commoning rights and a popular tradition.
Traditional management practices, particularly commoning, have conserved the ecological diversity of the Forest.
Category Archives: New Forest
New Forest: lost a pony and found a stallion
This week (May 2016) I found one of my mares that I hadn’t seen in a while. The Agister had seen her. Other commoners had seen her. Possibly many visitors –walkers, cyclists, horse riders, bird watchers etc. – had seen … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged dam, foals, Forestry, Lynx effect, mare, mating, New forest, sire, stallions
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New Forest: stallion-silly-season
I was pleased to see that British astronaut, Major Tim Peake, had posted images of the south coast from the International Space Station, circling 404km (251miles) above the Earth. It clearly showed the area of the New Forest and the … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged bluebells, foals, fox cubs, mares, New forest, silly season, stallions, trees
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New Forest: Stallion Areas 2016
Each year stallions are released onto the Open Forest to run with the free-roaming mares to sire the next generation of New Forest pony. The stallions are carefully selected by the Verderer’s of the New Forest, the Commoners’ Defence Assocation … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged Agister, breeding, foal, mare, NFCDA, NFPB&CS, stallion, Verderer
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New Forest: dog-days and mad dogs
In July 1826 it was reported in the newspapers that a six-year old child had died of hydrophobia, the dread disease otherwise known as rabies. The child and his mother were walking alone in the New Forest when a rabid … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest
Tagged attack, bite, dog-day, Dogs Act 1871, hydrophobia, Louis Pasteur, mad dog, New forest, rabies, saliva, Shirley, Southampton, strays, W C Spooner
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New Forest: lapwings reward the early riser
I’m really enjoying my walks on the New Forest at the moment. I start very early in the morning, when there are few people about, and often arrive just in time to see the sun appearing over the horizon. As … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest flora & fauna
Tagged bewitched, bird, breeding season, dotterel, habitat, lapwing, New forest, peewit, plover, superstition, Vanellus vanellus, wetland, wildlife, Wuthering Heights
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New Forest: jingling matches and donkey races
The New Forest has always enjoyed a close association with the monarchy. During the eighteenth century it was a favourite destination for George III, who would often stay with his family before moving on to the seaside town of Weymouth. … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest customs
Tagged Blindman's Buff, Crown Inn, donkey race, eighteenth century, Fair, George III, Golf Club, Jingle Match, London, Lord Warden, Lyndhurst, Lyndhurst Racecourse, New forest, newspaper, pony sales, Southampton, sports day, women jockeys
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New Forest: annual colt and stallion inspections
I attended the annual Stallion Inspections at Beaulieu Road last weekend, to watch the selection process for the colts and stallions that will sire future generations of New Forest pony. The weather was forecast for sunny intervals and, when the … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged breed, breeding, colt, Commoner, foal, inspection, mare, New forest, NFCDA, NFPB&CS, Open Forest, pony, sire, stallion, stud, Verderer
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New Forest: pony breeding through the ages.
Anticipation is mounting across the Forest, as the annual Stallion Inspection approaches. Owners will currently be working with their ponies to ensure that they are prepared for the show ring and can walk and trot whilst being led and are … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged Beaulieu Abbey, Beaulieu Road, breeding, colts, confirmation, courser, cull, destrier, drift, foals, garron, hand high, Henry III, Henry VIII, hobbies, mares, Middle Ages, monastery, monks, New forest, pack horse, palfrey, ponies, pony, rouncey, round-up, stallion inspection, stallions, stud farm, sumpter, trot, walk, war horse, warhorse
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New Forest: £1000 reward to find hit-&-run drivers.
I attended the Verderers’ Court recently (March 2016), which is something that I try to do whenever I am able. Apart from meeting my fellow commoners and catching up with all their news, it’s an excellent way of seeing the … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged £1000, Agister, cyclists, death, donkey, fatal accident, foal, hit and run, New forest, police, pony, reward, road accident, road incident, Swain mote, Verderer
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New Forest: Easter and the coming of spring.
The Easter holidays have a big impact on the New Forest. They traditionally mark the beginning of springtime and the time of year that many visitor attractions open their doors to welcome guests at the start of the season. Tourism … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest flora & fauna
Tagged animals, attractions, breeding season, circle of life, conservation, Easter, ecology, environment, nature, New forest, petrichor, spring, tourism, visitors, wildlife
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