The existence of ponies in the New Forest was first recorded in Winchester in 1016.  The New Forest pony has lived in a semi-wild state in the New Forest since then and has had an illustrious history.

1079 - 1189
The Forest was established by William the Conqueror as a royal hunting ground.  The area was first recorded as the New Forest in the Doomsday Book in 1086.
A system of Verderers was established.  The term ‘Verderer’, originating from the word ‘vert’, means green and refers to woodland.  Throughout the centuries, Verderers were tasked with investigating and recording minor offences and they handled the day to day forest administration.

 

1189 – 1875
Forest exploitation by the Navy for timber changed the face of the forest.

The New Forest Acts of the 17th and 18th centuries expanded the Verderers powers to include offences that hindered the planting and preservation of oak for ship building.

Descended from ancient stock, the New Forest breed of ponies has been exposed to many different influences, the first noted one being that of 18 Welsh mares that were put into the herd in 1208.

King Henry VIII was not fond of smaller ponies; records show he sanctioned the removal of all horses less than 14 1/2 hands from the forest, with the slaughter of mares that were considered to be "unsuitable for breeding".

In 1765, the introduction of the thoroughbred, Marske, to the forest brought the most distinguished external influence on the New Forest Pony breed.  The New Forest pony still has a horse-like head, and a very long, low stride. That said, even with Marske’s influence the quality of the ponies diminished considerably by the 19th century as a consequence of inbreeding within the herds.

In 1852, Queen Victoria lent an Arab stallion to the New Forest for the purpose of improving the breed, which was unfavoured by the commoners.

Since then, the introduction of various native ponies, including the Highlands, Dales, Fell, Welsh, Exmoor, and Dartmoor, have had a positive influence on the New Forest ponies.

 

1877 - 1963
The World Wars made a significant impact on the Forest.  Felling of broadleaved trees and their replacement by conifers began during the First World War to meet the wartime demand for wood.  Further encroachments were made during the Second World War.

During the 1960s a mechanical revolution took place.  The axe and cross-cut saw disappeared, replaced by the lightweight chainsaw. Stables became workshops as the use of horses for tree extraction declined.

The New Forest Act of 1949 increased the number of Verderers to comprise five elected, an Official Verderer and four appointed members.  The Act also gave the Verderers additional powers to make and amend byelaws.

 

1964 - Present
Modern society has changed our economic relationship with horses and the project will explore how increased motor vehicles and tourism have provided a fresh challenge for the horse human relationship

Today the New Forest is a nationally important environment of woodland pasture, health, bog and the remains of 17th and 18th and 19th century coppices and timber plantations.