Nick and Karen Smith have managed Newlands Farm in the New Forest since establishing it in 1992 as one of the most successful livery facilities in the region with a Full Livery Offering alongside breeding and selling sport horses and New Forest Ponies for over 30 years .

In 2019, they acquired Rockstead, adjacent to Whitsbury Stud, envisioning that this distinctive location would be ideal for retired horses to flourish, as it provides a natural, free-roaming environment for equine residents.

Rockstead was entirely a shooting and farming estate, now an established horse retirement home but still the New Forest pony breeding stud continuing with the “Newlandsfarm” prefix.

The Estate is focused on long term nature conservation enhancing existing wildlife habitats, regenerating over 100 acres of woodlands, new planting, with several pond creations. Every season, hundreds of metres of new native hedges are planted, connecting wildlife corridors throughout the Estate. The grasslands are managed to enable plants and flower species, with fungi to flourish supporting insects and mammals. The horses are constantly moving around to enable this.

After reconsidering our vision for natural horse living at Rockstead, we decided to stop offering full livery services. In late 2022, we sold part of the Newlands Farm premises, including the original yard with some land, keeping two thirds of the land for grazing and integrated the Newlands business into Rockstead.

Karen is hands on running the Estate or with her youngstock, whilst Nick really could do with an 8-day week. You will find him hay making, planting, fencing or endlessly mending things.  He looks forward to October when he is regularly shooting with his beloved Clumber Spaniel, dog, enjoying some downtime.

Both Nick & Karen  feel very lucky to be supported by a small team of reliable staff which makes, as we say……

“The Team Works”