A taste of the conditions in the Kaimanawa ranges

Like many New Zealanders I had no idea we had wild horses.

Going to the auction -- thank goodness a day earlier as the Desert road was closed on the day -- we were greeted by these small, hairy, scared animals - your heart could not but go out to them.

1993 auction: Kaimanawa wild horses being viewed by the public ...

The auction was well organised and I soon found my “Kaimanawa”. At the time there was no organisation to support the horses, but I soon became involved in a new organisation that would try and preserve the horses.

After spending 3 years with the Society fighting the Government and promoting the horses I knew there was a need to branch out.

Getting some dedicated horse owners and at the time people wanting to learn more about our Kaimanawa horses, we formed the Breed Society in July 1997. The main emphasis was on having a “new breed” to work with, but at the same time supporting the horses still in the wild.

... and the auction begins

Once we had vigorously done our groundwork we decided on a brand to identify the horses. We complied with and registered our KW brand with the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

Our Society is working on the same principals of other “Breed Societies” but we are still learning and compiling what a breed society would classify as a “Breed”. People are now more accepting of the Kaimanawa and we believe it is due to the continuous and hard work we have put in over the last 5 years. It has been a struggle and we were originally told “it would not happen”.

But NZ’s treasure is slowly being recognised and our dedicated committee will keep working away to promote and encourage people to register their Kaimanawa with our Society.

• To preserve, promote and protect the strain of the Kaimanawa wild horses in the wild and Kaimanawa horses in captivity.
• Helping where possible to maintain the existence of the Kaimanawa wild horses which are known to roam the Central Plateau in the North island of New Zealand.
• To collect records and historical data about the origin, importation and development of the strain of the Kaimanawa wild horse.
• To compile, print and publish a listing of Kaimanawa wild horses in captivity for the purposes of breeding.
• To have a branding iron with the letters KW, so as to freeze brand the Kaimanawa horses in captivity for identification purposes.
• To set up a registration process for owners to register their Kaimanawa wild horse/s in captivity and to establish a database containing information about Kaimanawa horses and their owners.
• To help prospective owners to buy or existing owners to sell Kaimanawa horses.

• Marketing and promoting the horses by holding Kaimanawa horse breed shows.
• DNA testing of Kaimanawa horses.
• Providing quarterly newsletters to registered owners/members with all the latest information.
• Helping relocate horses which have been rounded up into new homes.
• Letting the Conservation Minister/DOC know that our Society exists and voicing our concern about the annual musters.