A Curious New Resident

01 April 2026

Something unusual has appeared on the hotel grounds.

It began with a few guest reports earlier this week. An unfamiliar animal had been seen grazing near the lawn at first light, stockier than a pony and lower to the ground, with a noticeably rounded snout.

What we know so far

We made enquiries with the Verderers of the New Forest, who told us they had received similar reports from elsewhere in the Brockenhurst area. No confirmation of what it might be.

Our head gardener Neil offered a theory. He recalled reading about an old hybrid known locally as a Shig, a cross between a Shetland pony and a pig. References to the animal appear in older Forest records, though sightings are extremely rare. Neil believes the last one was reported sometime in the early 1990s.

Recent sightings

Since then, the animal has returned several times. Always at dawn. Always near the tree line. It grazes quietly, appears unbothered by its surroundings, and slips back into the woodland before the morning gets busy.

Spotted something?

If you're visiting soon and notice anything out of the ordinary, we'd be grateful if you'd let us know. We're keeping a record of sightings and will update this page with any developments.