Week 50: New Forest ponies

The New Forest pony is one of the recognised mountain and moorland or native pony breeds of the British Isles. Height  varies from around 12 to 14.2 hands (48 to 58 inches, 122 to 147 cm); ponies of all heights should be strong, workmanlike, and of a good riding type. They are valued for hardiness, strength, and sure-footedness.

The breed is indigenous to the New Forest in Hampshire in southern England, where equines have lived since before the last  Ice Age; remains dating back to 500,000 BC have been found within 50 miles (80 km) of the heart of the modern New Forest. DNA studies have shown ancient shared ancestry with the Celtic-type Asturcón and Pottok ponies. Many breeds have contributed to the foundation bloodstock of the New Forest pony, but today only ponies whose parents are both registered as purebred in the approved section of the stud book may be registered as purebred. The New Forest pony can be ridden by children and adults, can be driven in harness, and competes successfully against larger horses in horse show competition.

The last card of the 52 Week exchange, oddly enough cards 52, 51 and 50 arrived in reverse 

order. I am finally caught up to my January cards although I still have a backlog of cards which 

I received last year between the months of June to December, including cards from week 24 to

 week 49! Thank you Tom for doing this fun and big swap with me! So many great cards

and happy illustrations!

Sent: 30 December 2014   Received: 15 January 2014   Travelled: 16 days