Welfare Tour of the Forest: Tuesday 9th December 2008

The Verderers winter Welfare Tour was held today, attended by representatives of the RSPCA, the British Horse Society, The Horse Trust, the Blue Cross, the Donkey Sanctuary, the New Forest Commoners Defence Association and the New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society, as well as a senior Veterinary Officer from the Governments new Animal Health Agency (formally the DEFRA State Veterinary Service), Dr Malla Hovi.

The Verderers Welfare Tours take place every spring and winter, and give an important twice-yearly opportunity for the national and local welfare organisations to see the condition of the stock for themselves. The tour covered a wide area of the Forest and over 400 ponies were inspected, as well as numerous cattle and 23 donkeys.

Dr Hovi, who has taken a special interest in the semi-feral herds of the New Forest, commented after the tour that she found all the stock that she had seen to be in very impressive condition, especially after such a poor and damp summer. Her praise for the welfare of the ponies, cattle and donkeys was unanimously endorsed by all the other representatives.

Chief Inspector Robbie Roberts of the RSPCA went on to say that he felt he could sleep well at night, knowing that the Agisters and the owners of the stock on the Forest were working so well together caring for the animals.

The Official Verderer, Oliver Crosthwaite Eyre, said: We are obviously very pleased that the countrys foremost animal charities have endorsed what we do as Verderers, and once again have specifically asked us to pass on a big thank you to our team of Agisters for their continuous vigilance and hard work out on the Forest 24 hours a day, seven days a week.




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Well said Steve the Agisters do a very difficult job and do it very well.well done boys!!!

Yup! Our Agisters are good lads. Praise to owners of all ponies in the right condition, too.