Equine flu continues to spread through the New Forest herd and cases have now been seen in ponies in the Brockenhurst and Burley areas. You should expect to see ponies with a heavy nasal discharge and a dry, cough.

The Verderers are following veterinary advice, which is to leave the affected ponies where they are to avoid causing them unnecessary distress and potentially spreading the virus further.

Although mostly airborne, the virus can spread by contact with an affected animal. The advice to horse riders and walkers is to give the ponies as wide a berth as is possible and not to allow ridden horses to drink from communal water troughs.

29th June 2026