The big muster of Kaimanawa horses
planned for late May is crucial to the herd's future, it has been revealed, with the managed wild population likely to be reduced to 300.
The trust reveals that contraception controls are being explored in the hope that musters will one day be a thing of the past.
Kaimanawa Wild Horse Welfare Trust chairman Elder Jenks says a census has been done by the Department of Conservation (DOC), with a count of 594 horses, which would normally have meant 94 to be mustered out.
"However, a number of factors - like encroachment of hiracium, heather and manuka - means the army is losing over 1000 hectares of land a year to use for training," Jenks said in the trust's lastest newletter.
"This, plus the present economic situation where government departments have to drastically reduce their spending, means the musters will not be able to continue in their present form.
"Therefore, DOC and those on the advisory group have had to look at what the future will be for the horses in the wild.
"Many considerations are being looked at but the one certainty is that the wild herd will be reduced from 500 to 300.
"Rather than restrict the number this year to 94 we would hope to home many more and reduce the large numbers expected to come out in the 2010 muster."
Jenks said if the reduction cannot be achieved, it is certain that many foals and yearlings will go to slaughter next year.
"Time is against us doing as much as we would like for this muster. However, we will be much better placed to go to the public next year in a joint effort with DOC, which has already indicated it will help with advertising.
"A great deal of work is going on in the background between DOC and ourselves to get the best results we can."
Jenks said serious efforts are under way to find a contraception solution to herd management.
"It is early days yet but data is now becoming available and we are working close with DOC, American universities and, going forward, Land Management and Lincoln University."
"Hopefully, with a well-managed herd using contraception, muster may become a thing of the past."
Jenks said the immediate goal was fundraising and finding homes for the horses about to be mustered from the central North Island.
"The more we can place this year the better it will be for the next two years," he says.
"Now is the time when we must do all in our power and within our financial ability to save as many of these horses as we can."
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