| King William the First originally established the New | | | | The new season foals are weaned from their |
| Forest shortly after he invaded and conquered | | | | mothers and may be sold off and even exported. |
| England in the year 1066. He set up the forest as | | | | One of the best places to see The Drift is beside |
| his own personal hunting ground, and it has been a | | | | Beaulieu Road Railway Station where permanent |
| wild open space ever since. | | | | pens are established specifically for the purpose. |
| The New Forest is situated in west Hampshire | | | | There is a hotel there too, you can actually watch |
| stretching from the Wiltshire border in the north, | | | | the spectacle from your bedroom window should |
| right down to the sea just east of Lymington. | | | | you be so inclined! To suddenly come across |
| The west side is bounded by the natural border | | | | hundreds of wild horses being herded into pens to |
| of the river Avon. These days the Forest runs to | | | | be checked and sorted is a sight and sound most |
| something above 37,000 hectares and within that | | | | of us will never forget. |
| area thousands of wild ponies and deer run pretty | | | | The Drift is organised with almost military |
| much unhindered. | | | | efficiency by the Agisters from their |
| Add to them the hundreds of cattle that are | | | | headquarters in Lyndhurst. The Agisters have |
| turned out on the common land plus pigs at | | | | many powers including the authority to order any |
| certain times of year to make the most of the | | | | owner to remove any animal from the forest if it |
| acorn fall, plus the donkeys too, and the Forest is | | | | is seen to be in a poor condition. The Agisters are |
| a rare oasis of wild life and something of a | | | | employed by the Verderers, a body of ten |
| surprise in this modern age, surrounded as it is by | | | | persons appointed to administer the law |
| the large cities of Southampton, Salisbury and | | | | concerning the New Forest. They hold the register |
| Bournemouth. | | | | of brands - all pony owners must use a brand to |
| Driving through the New Forest, particularly at | | | | identify their depastured stock. The Verderers |
| night can be a hazardous business, as animals | | | | also have complete administrative control of all |
| often choose to doze in the middle of the roads, | | | | the stallions on the New Forest |
| especially the newborn foals in May. Mandatory | | | | Once The Drift is finished and every horse is |
| speed limits of 40 mph are imposed throughout | | | | catalogued and branded, those that are to remain |
| the area, but they are not always abided by, and | | | | are returned to their part of the forest and the |
| unfortunately accidents and casualties are still an | | | | hectic day is soon forgotten, and the horses are |
| all too common occurrence. | | | | left in peace until the following fall. |
| Every autumn the ponies are rounded up, a | | | | If you'd like to visit the New Forest and witness |
| practice that has gone on for centuries, and the | | | | The Drift the best places to stay are |
| roundup is known locally as The Drift. The ponies | | | | Brockenhurst, Lyndhurst, Beaulieu, Burley, |
| are rounded up for several reasons. Firstly they | | | | Fordingbridge, or Lymington, all of which are small |
| are wormed, and branded to denote ownership | | | | and interesting country towns. Lymington has the |
| and their tails are cut in a specific way to show | | | | added bonus of being a sailing centre too, or for a |
| from which area of the forest they have come. | | | | larger base, try Salisbury just over the border in |
| All the ponies are owned by Commoners who live | | | | Wiltshire. You'll have a great time, and don't forget |
| within the bounds of the Forest. These ownership | | | | the camera, and of course a raincoat! This is |
| rights are ancient and jealously guarded and are | | | | England after all. |
| passed down from fathers to sons and daughters. | | | | |