'Cash for ponies' crackdown launched by government to prevent New Forest from being overrun Chris Packham is among locals who have complained the area is over grazed saying, 'the place is like a blasted billiard table' The New Forest pony has grazed since the end of the last Ice Age Credit: RUSSELL SACH A crackdown has been launched by the government amid fears the New Forest has been overrun with grazing animals. Currently, the amount of money each commoner receives in subsidies from the government is worked out according to how many animals they have. However, after complaints from locals, who have seen the number of animals go up by 65 per cent in the last five years, the scheme will be changed from next year. Commoners will be paid an average of what they received per year since 2015.