In search of the New Forest ponies (Brockenhurst, UK)

Welcome to the New Forest, England. In this video I visit the attractive village of Brockenhurst and take a closer look at its centre and ford (where the river flows across a public road).
The village has been named “the most beautiful in England” and is said to be the most expensive location to live near or in a National Park in the country, with very high property prices.
In this video we go in search of New Forest ponies on our first trip to this remarkable piece of the British countryside, driving along the “ornamental drives” across the forest and heathland.
We end up in a clearing called Barrow Moor and relax with our folding chairs, savouring a close encounter with the local wildlife.
During our visit we had a slightly weird experience with the ponies. If you watch the final few seconds of the video, you’ll see a horse come round to the front of the large tree - and there’s a long twig/branch from a tree snarled up in its tail. As it shakes its tail, you can briefly see it has a twig “extension”.
The branch from a fir tree had become entangled in all the hairs of its tail and the more it shook, the more tangled it became.
Being the hero that I am, I waited for the horse to wander on to that grass - and then I had a couple of delicate goes at trying to assist it. It involved grabbing the stick and then trying to extricate it from all the tail hair, without the pony noticing me, getting distressed or kicking me!
Fortunately, I was successful. It was almost as if the pony knew I was trying to help as it stood calmly. The tail hair was still a bit matted afterwards - but at least the twig was removed. I should imagine that it was really annoying to have it stuck like it was, especially in the heatwave.
Filmed using my Apple iPhone SE. Commentary by Ian M Bullock. Recorded on Friday, July 16, 2021.

[@oddjobman1000]

I lived in Brockenhurst in the 80s and worked at R Purkess Ltd it's now Tesco. It's always been a grocery store and before the Purkess family sold the business it had been trading under the family name for over 100yrs

[@TPerry2828]

The New Forest looks like a thoroughly pleasant place to spend a few days in the summer! 😊

[@TheIanBullock]

Thanks so much, Tim.

[@nickb6449]

Really enjoying these holiday videos, lots of interesting wee snippets and not a part of the country I know at all. Next week...Bullock Towers gets a horse grid installation :D

[@TheIanBullock]

Thanks so much, Nick. It’s nice to know that my videos are being watched and enjoyed!

[@issness_god]

hundreds of students commute there

[@StarsManny]

Keep your distance from the animals