Saving Horses

Posted by Kaimanawa Wild Horse Welfare Trust, 16 Mar, 2009

Kaimanawa wild horses are taken every year from their natural habitat, their family groups and plunged into the world of the domestic horse. What can YOU do to help them?

Every year the Department of Conservation conduct a muster of excess wild horses from the Waiouru Military Training Area and surrounding Kaimanawa Ranges. Many of us have felt compelled to adopt mustered horses but many have resisted the urge simply because they didn't know where to start or what to do.

Preparing The New Home

It is best to ensure that you have everything prepared well in advance of applying for a wild horse. You will need to show that you have the facilities to transport and contain a wild horse, the skills to tame it or the resources to pay a professional, prior to gaining approval.

The Day Of The Muster

The Kaimanawa horses are trucked by cattle truck to a central point where KWHWT Inc. can draft and drench the horses, ready to go to their new owners. Wild horses cannot be transported in horse floats or horse trucks as they're likely to injure themselves so you will need a stock truck or an empty horse truck (all partitions removed) that can be rear loaded from a cattle loading ramp.

Many small blocks don't have stock loading facilities for drop off. If this is the case, a rear, stock ramp loading horse truck that also has a ramp (either side or rear loading) is a good alternative. You will need to be able to drive the truck directly into the yard so the ramp can be dropped in a secure area and the horse unloaded.

Home Safe and Sound

New owners of wild horses are often amazed at how quiet they seem when they first come off the truck. Consider the ordeal these horses have been through and you will understand why; these horses have been chased by helicopters, drafted through yards, trucked to new yards (often a long journey of several hours) and then trucked again to your place. They're very tired and very traumatised!

Ideally, you will want to get your wild horse settled into a yard with a good supply of fresh water and lots of meadow hay. It is best to get the horse settled as quickly as possible so he can be let into a small paddock to eat grass. It is recommended that you have a companion horse on hand to stay a couple of nights in a neighbouring yard. Once they have established a friendship, you can use the domestic horse to lead his new friend to the paddock. The wild horse will usually stick close to his new friend and will be keen to follow his lead regarding how he should react to his new surroundings. The new arrival knows nothing about fences, motorbikes, dogs, children, etc so everything will be new and frightening. His older domestic buddy can teach him about fences, how to find water in troughs and how to eat hard feed. Be careful not to put too much pressure on your wild horse or give him a fright in the paddock as he doesn't know fences are there to stop him and may go straight through them!

Kaimanawa wild horses are used to eating reasonably bland feed so stick with meadow hay and short grass when he first arrives. It is best to introduce hard feed after a couple of days and get them used to eating it as soon as possible as this will make it easier to administer wormers or other medications that might be required prior to the horse actually being handled.

As tempting as it is to want to touch your new horse as soon as possible, it is not a race and is best achieved without undue pressure.

Help and Support

Please contact the Kaimanawa Wild Horse Welfare Trust Inc for application forms or to answer any questions available from

Michele Haultain phone 07 825 2970 email michele@wildhorses.org.nz

Marilyn Jenks phone 09 236 4115 email marilyn@wildhorses.org.nz

Or visit the website www.kaimanawa.homestead.com for applications forms or to answer any questions you may have.

Contact the seller

Contact: marilyn@wildhorses.org.nz

Website: www.kaimanawa.homestead.com/

Address: P.O. Box 133, Patumahoe, Franklin, Auckland

Phone: 09 236 4115

Mobile: 021 933129

The people who volunteer for the Kaimanawa Wild Horse Welfare Trust work tirelessly for the Kaimanawa Wild Horses as they make the transition from the wild to domesticity. They are always looking for people to help with this - can you? More Info

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