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Welfare implications of the New Forest pony sales at Beaulieu Road, Hampshire

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2018

H. Randle
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drakes Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, U.K.hrandle@plymouth.ac.uk
V. Player
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drakes Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, U.K.hrandle@plymouth.ac.uk
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Extract

It has been suggested that there are no longer truly wild ponies present in the New Forest (Hargreaves, 1992). Indeed, as Russel (2002) pointed out, there are many feral equines present across the UK which have evolved from wild and domesticated stock and are typically managed as a commodity using extensive farming practices. The New Forest (NF) pony is such a commodity. The NF pony is one of the nine recognised U.K. native breeds (Tyler, 1972) and has been depastured on the New Forest for over 1000 years. The extensive farming of the NF pony is overseen by the New Forest Verderers Society. All ponies are individually owned but run unrestricted in semi-feral breeding herds on the New Forest. It was estimated that there were some 3500 head at the end of the 2005 breeding season. Every autumn (October to November) the ponies are rounded up for checking, marking, worming, weaning and the removal of surplus individuals. Weaned and surplus stock are then marketed and sold at the New Forest pony sales held at Beaulieu Road (BR).

Type
Posters
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Production 2006

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