well meaning but misguided visitors to the forest frequently feed them, which can create dietary problems and sickness (e.g. colic) and cause the ponies to adopt an aggressive attitude in order to obtain human food. New Forest ponies are raced in an annual point to point meeting in the Forest, usually on Boxing Day, finishing at a different place each year. The races do not have a fixed course, but instead are run across the open Forest, so competitors choose their own routes around obstructions such as inclosures (forestry plantations), fenced paddocks, and bogs. Riders with a detailed knowledge of the Forest are thus at an advantage. The location of the meeting place is given to competitors on the previous evening, and the starting point of the race is revealed once riders have arrived at the meeting point. References Bibliography External links The New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society The Verderers of the New Forest New Forest Livestock Society New Forest National Park Information New Forest Pony Association (USA) New Forest Pony Society of North America New Forest Pony Association of Australia New Forest Pony Owners and Breeders of Australia New Forest Pony, Norway The Swedish New Forest Pony Society The Danish New Forest Pony Society Netherlands New Forest Pony Studbook New Forest Pony Society of Finland Horse breeds Horse breeds originating in England New Forest Feral horses Animal breeds on the RBST Watchlist