A PROPOSAL to make reflective collars compulsory in a bid to slash the number of animal accidents in the Forest has been rejected by the Verderers.

Many of the ponies that roam the Forest wear glow-in-the-dark collars that reflect car headlights, making the animals more visible at night.

Some residents have called for reflective collars to be made compulsory – but their plea has been turned down.

The Official Verderer, Dominic May, said: “We give away reflective collars free of charge to commoners for their stock – cattle as well as ponies.

“Much as we’d like to have all ponies wearing collars, it’s simply not possible to enforce it for practical reasons. “Not all ponies are caught on the drifts (round-ups) and some are expert at rubbing their collars off on the nearest tree branch.”

Mr May was speaking at the Court of Verderers in Lyndhurst.