Cris Wetton writes:
The New Forest ponies roam wild in the New Forest, an area of mixed forest and
scrubland in Hampshire, S. England. Ownership is denoted by brand markings. During the
blackout, when vehicles ran on feeble, dimmed headlights, the wandering ponies caused a
serious hazard to traffic. The New Forest has a peculiar status in being the last place in
the UK where many feudal rights - such as turbery and estovers - still survive and these
priveleges and traditions are jealously guarded. Even today the area is policed by
New Forest Warders, with extensive powers over hunting, gathering, and grazing. At the
time, there was considerable resistance to the idea of restricting the free grazing of
animals - especially the ponies, but also pigs - and so the zebra-stripe idea was tried as
a desparate measure. It didn't work and the animals had to be restricted to paddocks. Even
today, it can be a hazardous place to drive at night.