This summary of the work involving the New Forest Livestock Society was written by its chair, Lucinda Lang. It was first published in the New Forest CDA annual report for 2024/25.

Three sales were held at the Beaulieu Road Saleyard with a further online auction in December during 2024. Thanks must go to Southern Counties Auctioneers (SCA) for their continued support
with these sales and for providing enhanced catalogues giving vendors the opportunity to incorporate more detail of their animals and a photo.

The Beaulieu Road social media page has also provided vendors the opportunity to provide more information before the sales to buyers which has proved useful. Two NFLS pre-sale shows took place for registered New Forest ponies with the youngstock pre-show in the spring and foals in the autumn.

All animals entered are required to be halter broken, be able to lead out and be presented to an independent judge with a final Overall Champion and Forest Bred Champion for each show.

Our thanks to Mrs Faye Turner (youngstock show) and Mr Michael Goddard (foal show) for their time to come and judge. Thanks also to Dave Readhead who kindly donated the Ashdene Cup to the Forest Bred Champion foal in the Autumn; this cup is in memory of his father and the Ashdene New Forest ponies.

Prize money continues to be generous but only awarded if the animal is then sold through the main sale.

30th May sale with Youngstock pre-sale show

There were some 90 entries forward across all the sections (Section 1 registered New Forest; Section 2 part bred New Forest ponies and Section 4 other horses / ponies / donkeys).

Portmore Rico, a roan three-year-old gelding was the highest priced registered New Forest pony in Section 1 selling for £2,050; a brown four-year-old filly Hazelhill Little Scrumpet fetching £1,500 and Ridley Architect, a bay yearling filly for £920.

There were two classes for the pre-sale youngstock show (one for yearling fillies, colts, and geldings and the other for two, three and four-year-old fillies, colts, and geldings). Eleven came forward on the day.

Ridley Architect, a bay yearling filly sired by Cadland Masterplan took both the Overall Champion and Forest Bred Champion awards and Hazelhill Little Scrumpet, a dark brown four-year-old filly sired by Mallards Wood Law and Order taking both the Reserve Champion and Forest Bred awards.

3rd October sale

The first autumn sale for 2024 with some 84 animals forward. The weather was kind and there were plenty of bidders in attendance which resulted in a strong trade although back compared to the late September 2023 sale.

Top price for Section 1 went to Peters Pirouette, bay three-year-old filly fetching £1,500. Section 1 foal prices included Rushmoor Viola, bay filly foal at £710 and Foxhills Dillon, grey colt foal at £330 (colt foals averaged at £194 and filly foals at £507 on the day in this section).

Beaulieu Road Saleyard

7th November sale

Over 120 animals forward on the day with a good trade throughout with a lot of interest and bidding for the registered New Forest foals. Several animals were sold, raising funds to support the Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington.

A huge thank you to all those commoners who supported this charity. Top prices for Section 1 foals included Shallowmead Euphoria, bay filly foal fetching £1,180 and Burnford Mulberry, roan colt foal making £1,020 (colt foals averaged at £395 and filly foals at £685 on the day).

Older ponies in Section 1 included Durleyfarm Merlin, bay three-year-old gelding selling for £1,500; Farringdon Gold Comet, chestnut four-year-old gelding £1,290; and Blakeswater Duchess, six-year-old dark bay mare for £1,300.

After a four-year break, the NFLS held its pre-sale foal show with some 18 entries forward. There were four classes (one for filly foals and three for colt foals) with a good mix of both stud and Forest Bred foals (forest bred foals are sired and born on the open Forest) across all classes.

Overall Champion went to Shallowmead Euphoria, a bay filly foal sired by Blakeswater Quantum Solace with Brock Gold Rush, a chestnut roan colt foal by Knavesash Gold Fever in Reserve.

Tilebarn Francis Falcon, bay colt foal sired by Fidleywood Falcolner took the Forest Bred Champion with Burnford Mulberry, a roan colt foal sired by Sandhole Raven taking Reserve. All 18 of the foals entered in the pre-sale foal show sold through the sale ring.

New Forest ponies in a pound

4th December online sale

The final sale of the year was online and there were some 152 entries forward, 110 being in Section 1. Top prices in Section 1 included Tiptoe Rebel Prince, a bay four-year gelding fetching £1,600, Buckland Full Speed, a black filly foal making £1,200 and Buckland Drummer Boy, a dark brown colt foal at £920.

The Committee

Throughout the year the NFLS committee has worked hard with the general maintenance [of the saleyard], which is no mean task and is continuous. Several rows of new pens were completed during the period and this work will continue going forward in 2025.

In November, Robert Maton and Sophie Harvey and I organised a fundraiser at Minstead Village Hall for the continued maintenance of the Beaulieu Road Saleyard, which raised approximately £3,800. A big thank you for everyone coming along and supporting; and an even bigger thank you to all the local businesses and organisations who kindly donated some amazing raffle prizes.

Finally, a huge thank to the NFLS Directors and NFLS committee members for the support and help throughout the year.

Lucinda Lang, chair of the NFLS

This is the Treasurer’s report by New Forest CDA committee member Richard Deakin. It was first published in the CDA’s annual report for 2024/25.

The year began with a requirement to pay what I thought was the last invoice associated with the encroachment case, which had fortuitously arrived at a conclusion.

An additional small invoice then came to light, which will show in the 2025 accounts. This should be the final expenditure for what has been an enormous total expense, and perhaps we also should breathe a sigh of relief that it wasn’t much worse.

As I reported last year, we are indebted to those organisations who provided significant financial support.

While thanking other organisations for their support, it is appropriate to mention that during the year the Association, in conjunction with the Honorary Vet, ran a trial cattle vaccination initiative.

We must thank the New Forest Trust for reimbursing us for all costs. The Trust also kindly offered to sponsor an extension of the Salt Lick road safety initiative, with those costs appearing in the accounts for next year.

Fundraising activities, mostly run by the Young Commoners, and of course involving the New Forest Show, generated a little less profit this year.

This was largely due to the need to purchase a new set of brands, signs, and Association clothing – an investment which should stand us in good stead for a few years and hopefully generate more future income. We must always remember that all fundraising is only possible because so many give generously of their time.

The association has now firmly embraced paperless internet banking. Bills are now paid online while a significant number of subscriptions are paid by standing orders or BACs.

Machines and Artificial Intelligence do the majority of the work, saving postage, paper, bank employee time and reducing the need to travel to a real live bank. The latter benefit being fortunate as there are now few bank branches, and their hours are uncertain.

In light of this efficiency move, I find it somewhat ironic, that January of 2025 brought a letter from the bank indicating that our account was to be renamed as a “Community” account, and that henceforth banking charges would be applicable.

Such charges have not been incurred for routine business, for the last 25 years, during which time we were not doing the work ourselves. Nevertheless, I would encourage as many members as are able to join the paperless world when paying subscriptions.

Richard Deakin, New Forest CDA treasurer

The CDA’s yellow signs have been placed back out across the New Forest to remind everyone to act responsibly around free-roaming livestock.

These signs, placed in key locations throughout the National Park, serve to protect not only the iconic New Forest ponies but also the people who come to enjoy the unique landscape.

They highlight some of the priority actions people should take while out in the Forest.

Keep your distance

While it may be tempting to approach or feed the ponies, it’s important to remember that they are semi-wild animals owned by commoners and allowed to roam freely. Getting too close can make the ponies feel threatened or anxious. In some cases, they may react by kicking or biting, which can result in serious injury.

Do not feed the animals

New Forest ponies do not need human help to find food. The Forest provides everything they need to stay healthy. Feeding them not only disrupts their natural grazing habits but can also lead to choking, colic, or other serious health problems.

Keep your distance from animals sign

Keep dogs under strict control

Visitors are also reminded to keep dogs under close control—and ideally on a lead—especially when near livestock. Even the friendliest dog can inadvertently scare ponies, cattle, or other grazing animals, potentially leading to dangerous encounters.

Lend a hand

If you do come across a fallen yellow sign, please take a moment to stand it back up. These signs play a crucial role in informing and protecting both animals and people, and your help in keeping them visible is greatly appreciated.

This report by New Forest CDA member Sam Dovey was first published in the CDA’s annual report for 2024/25.

Towards the end of 2024, two Forestry England properties became available for rent and, in line with the 2020 FE Housing Review, were offered to commoners based upon the agreed terms and rental formula that forms part of the agreed review.

The timescale for commoners to make the application was relatively short, and it was disappointing that the association were not notified directly of these properties becoming available so that it could notify members.

However, with the powers of social media and the usual Forest communication networks, we were pleased to hear a number of applications were received, confirming the ongoing need and demand for commoners housing. We are also aware that early this year FE have offered both properties to practising commoners.

Since the adoption of the FE Housing Review in 2020, a number of properties have been let to commoners following the agreed policy statements contained within, and those already occupying FE properties have also gone through the transition process to follow these principles.

The association continues to monitor the ongoing implementation of the agreed policy. We have, once again, requested dialogue with FE to understand how the implementation process has been going from its perspective, and to be able to feed in insights given to the committee from members.

Commoners’ Dwelling scheme

This year, the New Forest National Park Authority is planning a partial review of its adopted 2016 – 2036 local plan. An initial consultation took place in early spring on the proposed ‘direction of travel’ and scope of this review, with the review itself commencing later this year and into 2026.

We understand that the review will not give rise to a rewrite of the adopted local plan, it will be an interim five-year review to see how things are going, and if any adjustments need to be made since implementation, responding to any changes in circumstances since the previous adoption in 2019.

It will also help the Authority to understand if more significant changes would be required for future local plans considering a change of national administration and planning policies.

The Commoners’ Dwelling Scheme (policy SP29) will of course be included within this review, and looking at the initial paper, it is currently assessed as green noting: ‘the importance of commoning to the New Forest National Park justifies a bespoke policy which will be reviewed based on the experiences of applying the current policy since 2019’.

In addition, the current plan for the consultation includes reference to the scheme under the ‘Vibrant Communities’ section, asking if consultees agree with the Authority’s intention to retain policies focusing on commoners’ dwellings and Estate workers’ dwellings.

The association intends to respond to the full consultation and to confirm the importance of the commoners’ dwelling scheme. We urge members to also respond, supporting this unique and special policy of exception for commoners contained within our local plan.

Sam Dovey, New Forest CDA committee member

New Forest commoners and their livestock have benefitted from several generous grants given to the CDA by the New Forest Trust.

The Trust, which funds projects aimed at helping sustain the New Forest for future generations, has provided a £5,000 grant to go towards the vaccination of cattle against the viral disease BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea).

The vaccinations have taken place over the past few months and will not only help prevent the transmission of the disease in the Forest but also help stop abortions from taking place.

New Forest CDA chair Andrew Parry-Norton said: ‘I would like to say a massive thank you to the New Forest Trust for funding this project. We could not have carried this out without their backing and support.

‘New Forest commoners are not immune to the rising costs of living so I was delighted the CDA could help them out financially with these vaccinations.

‘The program is a really important initiative and one which we hope to replicate in the coming years to boost the overall health of cattle in the Forest.’

The Trust has also funded the salt lick project, which is an ongoing scheme overseen by commoners Tony Vanderhoek and Bill Howells.

The project sees bowls of Himalayan salt put out in various places around the New Forest to encourage ponies and other animals away from the road, and stop them licking the grit spread on roads during icy conditions.

It is aimed particularly around the times when the clocks change and drivers are getting used to different conditions on their morning and afternoon commutes, and also during the winter months when it is dark for longer periods.

Salt licks are among various initiatives, including signage and fencing, aimed at reducing the number of accidents between vehicles and livestock.

Chair of the New Forest Trust William Ziegler said: ‘We are delighted to help New Forest commoners with these two grants. They contribute a huge amount to the landscape and we are happy to support them in any way possible.’

For more information about how to apply for a grant from the New Forest Trust, head to the page here

This report, by New Forest CDA member Sam Dovey, first appeared in the CDA’s annual report for 2024/25.

The New Forest CDA holds an insurance policy with the NFU Mutual covering legal liability (Public Liability) for its activities. Our level of cover, or indemnity limit per claim, is currently set at £10million.

This covers the CDA’s general (and usual) activities such as holding and organising meetings, fund raising events, our mentoring scheme, stock road signs and of course our annual stand at the New Forest Show.

The association also holds Employers Liability for any stewards or helpers assisting directly in connection with association activities.

As an additional membership benefit, the policy is extended to cover legal liability in respect of damage to third party persons or property for all fully paid up ‘full’ members, in respect of their lawfully depastured stock turned out within the fenced and gridded perambulation of the Forest and adjacent commons for the sole function of ‘grazing livestock on the New Forest’.

This is provided for individual members who do not have their own, more specific insurance in place covering their stock, farming and commoning activities which covers the same risk and activities. Where a member has their own, more specific policy in place, this would take prominence in the event of a claim and the association’s policy would not need to be called upon to respond.

The association’s ‘safety net’ policy is, therefore, a real benefit particularly for members who only have a small number of lawfully depastured stock, and for whom arranging an individual policy could be expensive given the very small margins commoners receive.

It must be remembered however, that it should be regarded as a cover of last resort, and the committee would expect most practicing commoners to be arranging their own, more specific cover.

It is also important to be aware that whilst the association’s insurance cover includes legal liability arising from lawfully ‘depastured’ stock whilst grazing on the crown lands and adjacent commons, it will not cover any liability for stock kept in fenced land owned, rented, occupied or used by members; or from any other common land away from the gridded perambulation of the forest or other associated activities other than ‘grazing livestock on the New Forest’.

In this ever-increasing world of litigation, it is your committee’s strong recommendation that members ensure they have cover in place for such situations that may arise off the open Forest, and therefore out of the remit of the association’s policy cover as well as while stock remain on the Forest.

It should be remembered that owning stock that are depastured on the Forest can also mean stock may need to managed away from the Crown lands as well – sometimes at very short notice.

This is particularly relevant for cattle keepers, as cattle will be off the forest for certain periods (eg annual TB testing and marking) and we believe that no cover is in place for scenarios such as this under the association cover.

The same principle would also apply in respect of stallions where cover for these would only apply for the period any stallion was lawfully depastured and running on the open Forest. There would be no cover under the association’s policy while they are off the Forest, or in the stallion grazing scheme.

Whether members rely on the association’s blanket safety net cover, or have their own policy in place, it should be remembered that all insurance policies have terms, conditions and limitations that need to be followed to ensure that the cover is in place correctly.

Ultimately, as a stock owner and keeper, members are responsible for the actions of their stock notwithstanding insurance cover that may be in place or any rights to turn stock on the Crown lands and adjacent commons.

If members have any queries concerning the association’s insurance cover, please do not hesitate to contact either myself or one of your committee members, we are always happy to talk.

Any formal insurance queries or requests that could involve a potential claim should be made, without delay, in writing via the association’s secretary.

Forest Stock: RTA recovery service

As reported previously, after many years of providing an uninsured loss recovery service for stock killed or injured on Forest roads, the association was unable to find a way of providing this service for members going forward.

The committee continue to keep this on the agenda, and if circumstances change and a solution can be found, then we will inform members.

On a more positive note, our insurers, NFU Mutual, have informed us that they have developed an option with ARAG Plc (formally DAS Legal Expenses insurance) to assist with recovery of these losses for their policyholders.

We understand that this service would be via an annual insurance policy that individuals may need to add to their existing NFU Mutual insurance policies and may incur an annual fee to maintain the cover.

For more information, please contact NFU Mutual directly at its offices in New Park, Brockenhurst.

Sam Dovey, New Forest CDA committee member 

The chair of the New Forest CDA has reminded members of the public to be extra vigilant in and around the Forest.

It comes amid the 21 stallions which are now out on the Forest for a six-week period, to breed with the free-roaming mares.

Their often unpredictable behaviour during this time means those out enjoying the New Forest should keep their distance, while dogs should be kept away and on leads.

‘Stallions are now out on the Forest and we’ve got some lovely looking animals out there,’ said chair Andrew Parry-Norton. ‘But please, members of the public, please do stay clear.

‘And if you’re out riding a pony, a stallion will come across to investigate and check you out to find out if you’re a threat or whether you can be included in the herd. So if you do ride, go right around the stallions and keep well away.

‘Also, the ponies are very skittish – they’re running all over the place at the moment and crossing roads very, very quickly so as drivers, please be aware of that.’

The stallions are are let out each year to help maintain the New Forest pony bloodlines and control the number of foals born each year. 

They are out on the Forest for several more weeks and can start coming in during the week beginning Monday, 16 June.

Commoners are invited to a summer round-up at the start of next month.

The event, which is being put on by the Young Commoners committee, is open to all New Forest commoners and is taking place at Nuthatch Cottage, Storms Farm in Cadnam on Saturday, 5 July.

There will be a barbecue, live band and games, as well as a bar. Tickets cost £5 per person while under 15s are free.

All profits from the round-up go towards the Young Commoners’ Injured Stallion fund.

More information on the Facebook event page here and tickets can be purchased here

New Forest CDA chair Andrew Parry-Norton has raised his concerns about the introduction of food waste bins by New Forest District Council.

In a presentment at Verderers Court on Wednesday, May 21, he spoke about the risk to livestock. He said commoners’ animals could access the bins and consume the food waste – potentially affecting their health.

Andrew urged Verderers to speak to the council – who are introducing a phased roll-out of the bins – about changing the advice to the public from leaving the bins outside enclosed areas to leaving them within, to help protect animals.

‘Not only could the bins be a problem for pigs, but also donkeys and ponies who will quickly realise this could become a potential food source,’ he told the court.

‘We, the CDA, ask the Verderers to persuade New Forest District Council to retract their advice and request that these bins are kept on the residents’ premises where stock do not have access to it.’

You can read Andrew’s presentment in full below.

CDA Presentment at Verderers Court – May 2025

The introduction of new food waste bins for New Forest residents and a recent visit by DEFRA officials were among the topics of discussion in Andrew Parry-Norton’s monthly video update.

In his latest chat to New Forest CDA members, he also talks about preparing to go into a Landscape Recovery scheme and issues a reminder to members of the public about stallions.

Watch his full update below or on our Facebook page