The landscape and habitats in the Kaimanawa Ranges are both ancient and unique. Because of this, the management plan for the horses requires them to be kept out of especially fragile areas. Elsewhere, the herd is kept to around 500, so that there is some balance between the horses and the environment they live in.
Each year, around April, a herd count is undertaken by the Department of Conservation (DoC) using helicopters with a GPS (Global Positioning System).The number of surplus horses is identified and these are then mustered around the middle of June.
The horses are mustered by helicopters to a set of yards where the drafting team takes over. They run a very tight and smooth operation where the horses are sorted with the utmost care and the minimum amount of fuss. Nigel Coddington is the resident veterinarian and he also keeps a very close eye on all phases of the muster.
The horses are relatively strung out as they mainly trot down to the yards, where they are sorted by age and sex. The weanlings and yearlings are sent out to new homes as soon as possible (within 24 hours, they are often at their new home). The older horses are kept overnight to allow time to settle down and become aware of the concept of a fence. They are fed hay and water while in the yards. The yards are 1.8m high and the drafting and loading race is lined with rubber matting halfway up the sides.
If you are interested in obtaining a Kaimanawa horse, please complete an application form. After the due processes have been successfully completed, a horse will be selected for you at the next muster. It is not possible to view these horses before delivery because of safety considerations (for people and horses) at the Waiouru yards.
The selected horses are then sent to central yards where they can be picked up by their new owners. The transport costs from Waiouru to these central yards is free, but all costs of transport from drop-off yards to the purchaser's property will be their own responsibility. We do this to reduce the overall stress of transportation and handling for the horses.
You will need Adobe Reader to read / download the Application Forms above. If you don't have it, click on the icon to download.
Please use the forms below to register your interest in purchasing horses from the 2008 muster or to adopt a rescue horse.
2003 Kaimanawa Wild Horse Muster
It was a big job...still a total of 88 horses were home placed by the Kaimanawa Wild Horse Preservation Society Inc. this year.
Many applications were received in the last few days prior to the muster as a direct reponse to a "One News" item alerting prospective purchasers to take action. There was an overwhelming response from the public and the committee were stretched to the limit processing applications.
A BIG THANK YOU once again to the International League for the Protection of Horses (NZ) for their tireless efforts up and down the North Island, carrying out home checks. It has been so reassuring in the past; to know that these horses are being given the best possible opportunites in their domestic homes with responsible, caring owners who have the facilities and ability to care for these special horses. Your efforts and expertise will be sadly missed at the 2004 muster unless the control of home placement of horses is placed with a welfare minded organisation beforehand.
KWHPS Inc. carries enormous reponsibility to the horses, the people of New Zealand and the Department of Conservation in the re-homing of the horses from each muster. They will certainly be challenged to carry out this task successfully without the generous help of ILPHNZ and MAF officers who perform the majority of home checks.
The following horses found wonderful new homes:
20 filly foals
13 colt foals
13 yearling fillies
8 yearling colts
12 fillies 2-4 yrs
10 colts 2-4 yrs
11 mares over 5
1 stallion
The 10 foals funded by Scotswood Trust for handling and future re-homing by KWHPS Inc. are included in this number.
This website is sponsored, designed & maintained by Simone Frewin. Copyright 2003 Simone Frewin. All rights reserved.
2004 Kaimanawa Wild Horse Muster
198 horses were removed from the Argo Management Zone and adjacent Awapatu catchment. 67 of these were from the southern section of the zone (Tarn track area). We had set a target of 192 for this part of the muster.
27 horses from the northern area on the military training area were also successfully captured. 22 of these were from the area covered in the April count and a further 5 from Army zone 9 near the boundary of the training area and Ohinewairua station. (A further 8 zone 9 horses in the vicinity of Bobs hut were left). 23 of the 27 northern horses were able to be kept distinct from the rest of the muster.
About 90 of the total of 225 have been placed by KWHPS. I will not have a final figure until later today as there was some over-subscription for some classes (young fillys & filly foals in particular) in the total of 95 requests. These placements include the juveniles & some mares from the north.
The remaining horses were sent direct to abbatoirs.
Nigel Coddington considered the horses to be in similar condition to last year. No injuries during the course of the muster were reported although some older injuries were seen.
Here are some of the 2004 mustered horses, now safe in their new homes. We wish them & their new families all the best in adjusting to each other & forging lifelong partnerships!
Click on the thumbnails to view full size.
Gorgeous photos of two new Rotorua residents. These fillies look to be settling in well & have such a safe environment in which to come to terms with their captivity. Well done to their new mum!
Pretty as a picture! A colt (behind) & filly (in front) delivered to North West Auckland. These two are destined for ridden careers & have already displayed some impressive movement!
