Stallions released in the New Forest including at Ashurst, Bank, Blackfield, Lymington, Minstead, Wilverley, Woodgreen and Wootton as part of annual breeding programme

FEWER stallions have been released across the New Forest this week as part of the annual turnout.

Eighteen stallions were released on Tuesday in areas including Ashurst, Bank, Blackfield, Lymington, Minstead, Wilverley, Woodgreen and Wootton.

Introduced in 2001, the stallion scheme ensures animals are chosen with important qualities such as stamina, hardiness and temperament, which will be passed to the next generation of foals.

They are allowed on the Forest only for eight to nine weeks to limit the number of foals born each year.

Before the scheme was introduced up to 100 stallions ran on the Forest year round, with foals sometimes only fetching a few pounds at auction.

Last year the verderers requested 20 stallions from a possible 30 be turned out for the second year running in a bid to protect the shrinking population of pure-bred New Forest ponies.

In previous years the number of animals has been set at 15, but concerns that the pandemic would affect demand for ponies led to a reduction to 10 for 2020.

A spokesperson for the verderers said: “For 2023, 18 stallions will be on the Forest from 9th May and will be in by 10th July.

“As always, please give them a wide berth as all ponies’ behaviour during this time will be unpredictable.”