May

New Life

The year’s Forest-bred foals are beginning to arrive, progeny of the stallions selected and turned out last summer. Not all foals are Forest-bred or from New Forest stallions; some owners will put their mares to stallions off the Forest, turning them back out to give birth in their most natural environment and for the foals to learn to graze successfully. As a result a few foals will be born outside the April to June period when most of those bred on the Open Forest arrive.

One of the year’s two Verderers’ “welfare tours” take place, with a range of national and local organisations setting out in buses from the Verderers Court to assess the condition of the herds around the Forest.

On holdings fronting the Open Forest commoners’ animals will be looking out, sure that the grass is greener and the view is far more interesting! Soon they will be turned out to wander freely once more. As conditions allow commoners will be letting them out to benefit from the spring growth, and keeping the special habitats for nature in good condition.

Where the fields have been laid up hay and silage making begins, preparing fodder for next winter.