You can help Kaimanawa horses
Kaimanawa horses
If you think you would like to own a Kaimanawa wild horse you need to consider the following information, which has been prepared by the Department of Conservation with the assistance of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
A Kaimanawa wild horse is wild. You cannot expect it to behave like a domesticated or trained horse. Kaimanawa wild horses do not know anything about:
- being left alone
- fences
- being tied up or stabled
- grazing inside confined spaces
- vehicles, people, pets or other things we have around domestic livestock
- being handled
- being transported (float or truck)
In 2012 horses will be offered to the public through two horse preservation groups as approved by the Kaimanawa Wild Horse Advisory Group (KWHAG).
If you wish to have some of these horses, you will need to register your interest with one of these organisations (listed below). Each group charges a standard fee and uses a common application form and similar standards to assess each applicant. A sample of the application form can be viewed from the following link.
The groups each offer different follow up and support and potential applicants are advised to familiarise themselves with those features so they can pick the group that best suits their needs. Respective groups will also advise of transport costs to be met.
Horses will be available only for a limited time and only a limited number of horses are available in any given year. To be allocated any horse, you will need to meet certain criteria as set by the agents. In general you will be required to prove that you have suitable land and facilities to manage horses and have no history of animal abuse.
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