UK Top 10 News

A routine feature celebrating the beauty and traditions of the New Forest has ignited a fierce debate among readers and animal welfare campaigners after it detailed the centuries-old practices of managing the area's wild ponies.
The contentious customs involve the annual roundup of the ponies, during which new foals are branded and some ponies have their tails cut—a practice traditionally used for identification and marking.
Activists have since labelled these methods as 'indefensible' and 'sickening,' arguing that they represent unnecessary cruelty to the wild animals in the name of tradition.
While commoners in the New Forest defend the practices as essential for managing the herd size, ownership, and maintaining the unique ecology of the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), opponents contend that modern, less invasive identification methods should be adopted.
The criticism focuses on the pain and distress caused by the hot branding iron to the foals and the perceived lack of necessity for the tail cutting.
This dispute reflects a broader tension in the UK between preserving rural traditions and evolving standards of animal welfare.
The debate is likely to increase pressure on the New Forest commoners and local authorities to review and potentially revise the traditional methods of pony management, seeking a compromise that respects both heritage and animal welfare standards.