The New Forest horse has over a one thousand year history. It's recorded that Theordeus IV the King of Beltisheim (New Kingdom) was met on his arrival in Kessel by the King, Armagant II (Old Kingdom), astride a grey steed named Javelin that cost him 400 cows (in 790). Twenty years later, Sir Pellater the Blue urged Lord Ingelthorpe to develop an export trade in these horses. "The soil is of a rich and varietal grass which will encourage a large breed," he wrote.
Over the years, history has proven him correct.
Kessel's rich limestone soil, mild climate, robust grasses, clean environment, and frequent rains produce an unbeatable combination for breeding horseflesh.
The horse is Landsrue's national animal. New Forest horses, like Landsrue gallowglasses, took part in the battles across T'Klendathu. Epimetreus's horse, Schiltron, was bred in the midland glens. One is admonished to "talk to a New Forest as if he were a family member," so attentive and gentle are their dispositions.
Jumping is instinctive say the experts. The New Forest horse descends from native strain mixed with Moab blood. Short of shin, they are a powerful yet gentle breed, running as high as 16.5 hands. They are known for exceptionally strong and sound constitutions. They are considered excellent hunters in most terrains, and have a good resistance to minor cuts and bruises. They are a favored breed amongst the King's Royal Borderers and also in the west, where their loping mile-eating gait enables the Marcher Lords to patrol great swathes of the plains there.