NFED Special Interest

New Forest Beaulieu Road Pony Sales

The Beaulieu Road sale yard has recently been refurbished to bring it inline with the latest health & safety and welfare regulations. These pages follow the refurbishment with photographs through to the first sale on September 5th 2002.

Site Photos 1 | Site Photos 2 | Site Photos 3 | Site Photos 4
The Painting | Other Information

Introduction

The practice of lawful depasture of ponies (as well as cattle, pigs, donkeys and sheep) upon the crown lands and adjacent commons of the New Forest Hampshire, is done by those known as New Forest Commoners. This unique form of extensive farming has taken place there for over a thousand years, and has, essentially changed very little in that time. Although all individually owned, ponies run without restriction in the form of a semi feral breeding herd. New Forest Commoners are legally entitled to depasture stock after paying what is known as a "marking fee" per animal depastured to the New Forest Verderers. There are approximately 3,500 ponies depastured on the New Forest (Verderers records 2001).

The Verderers who form the ancient court of swainmote are responsible for the for the day to day supervision of the herd which is policed by their team of Agisters, employees of the Verderers.

Each year, from late summer to early winter, the ponies are rounded up for checking, marking, worming and weaning of foals that have been sired and born on the open crown lands and commons. Surplus ponies are also removed during this period. At the same time a series of pony sales are held within the perambulation of the forest where weaned and surplus stock are marketed and sold. This has considerable benefit in welfare terms for the forest run mares and is also essential as the New Forest Commoners historically have neither the ability in terms or resources or financial means to keep and maintain weaned and surplus stock throughout the winter months.

The sale yard has evolved with the intention of selling stock of this nature and has created an ideal environment in which to market the ponies. The sales are in the heart of the production area, meaning the stock have as short a travelling distance as possible and the natural wooden construction of the pens with gravel floors situated on the open forest are ideal for the sale of semi feral stock.

The practice of commoning plays an essential role in maintaining the fragile ecological balance that has created a unique landscape not only within the UK but Western Europe. All of the crown lands within the New Forest are designated SSSI's and the forest also has Special Area of Conservation (SAC) status. The natural grazing patterns created by the practice play a vital role in the maintenance of this special landscape.

In addition to the ecological importance, commoning has also great cultural heritage. The New Forest Commoners have a very strong community based within the forest with many organisations such as the Commoners Defence Association, The New Forest Pony Breeding & Cattle Society and the New Forest Livestock Society all functioning intrinsically together. The commoners hold many social events as well as their very own farming calendar, a part of our rural heritage that we have lost in almost all of our rural communities nation wide.

The open crown lands and adjacent commons coupled with the unique landscape and geological location give the New Forest huge amenity value. There is a thriving tourism industry stretching right down to the south coast based within the forest, something that also owes great debt to the commoners who's ponies and other depastured stock are the acknowledged architects of the New Forest landscape.

Pony sales at Beaulieu Road have been in practice for over 90 years to the present day. Originally located within the "capital" of the New Forest, Lyndhurst, it is believed that they were relocated all those years ago, as the present site is situated next to the railway line, a once preferred method of transporting livestock.

Over the years the sales have become very well established and are known country wide as the place to buy broken New Forest Ponies and unbroken semi feral stock by all types of people. It has also become a focal point of the commoners' calendar, a meeting place for buyers, vendors and interested parties alike.

With the increasing health & safety and welfare regulations, and the changes in market forces, it has become necessary to carry out a complete redesign and rebuild of the sale yard if it is to continue to be a viable and sustainable in the future.

This is a major project to undertake and has been conducted by the New Forest Livestock Society, responsible for the management and running of the sales. The cost of rebuilding is massive and the Livestock Society have successfully tendered for a chunk of European LEADER + funding through the Forest Friendly Farming project which is designated for community based projects and schemes within the heritage area of the New Forest. This funding has to be match funded in order to qualify and the Livestock Society have received funding from many local parish councils, conservation bodies as well as the New Forest Verderers, English Nature and the Forestry Commission. They have also undertaken to raise some of the match funding required themselves through fundraising efforts.

The principle of this has been the commission of an oil painting of the sale yard in its original form on a sale day before the rebuild starts. This has been done by a local artist and a limited number of 850 prints have been reproduced from the painting for sale, with funds going towards the refurbishment of the sale yard.


The Old Beaulieu Road Sale Yard
Click on the image for a larger view

The Sale yard plays a vital part in the commoning tradition that is essential if the landscape, ecological and cultural heritage is to be maintained and preserved for future generations.

Click Here For an order form, or contact the New Forest Museum, Lyndhurst

SITE PHOTOS

13.06.02
14.06.02
14.06.02
14.06.02
15.06.02
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15.06.02

 

Other Useful Information

Where is Beaulieu Road? Map

Pony Drift & Sale Dates, General Information & Guidance Notes for Perspective Purchasers of Foals & Youngstock at Beaulieu Road Pony Sales can all be downloaded from the NFED Schedules & Docs page. Click Here

To Photos Page 2 >>


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