Many different species have been used by managers reintroducing grazing on Commons; sheep, cattle, ponies and even goats have been tried. As in the New Forest, sheep do not appear to have been commonable animals on Ashdown Forest. Sheep were banned by custom, taken up by those complaining against attempts to enclose the Forest at the end of the 17th Century, reinforced by early-19thC court barons, and by drives of the Forest with impounding at Nutley. But many turned out sheep - including quite large farmers. Although there appears to be no written evidence that suggests that sheep were excluded from some commons because of competition with deer, it was probably this reason originally. It is difficult to see why 18th and 19th century Commoners would object to sheep as deer were no longer an issue and would not have been since before the Commonwealth. There is plenty of evidence of sheep and deer being grazed together in the parks of the great houses.
To read more about how grazing helps manage the forest today follow the link.
Also this video clip has gone viral on YouTube - Benton is now a famous dog for all the wrong reasons - so this artical is both timely and helpful. The clip involves deer in Richmiond Park - but it could so easily be Ashdown Forest deer or sheep.