Clara Olivia

05/05/2024

Now here, it's hard to imagine them not.
Yet the reality is, it's been little more than a week.

Their lives changed forever when they first heard the choppers roar.
Herded into yards, split from their families.
Loaded onto rattly trucks, heads bowed as the world rushed past. Balancing on unsteady ground.

Then come the cars and people, dogs and cats. Water in buckets and strange food.
Unable to flee for the first time, limited by fences on all sides.

It's a miracle they learn to trust us at all, but they do, time and time again.

Some you already forget are wild, soft eyes, gentle muzzles, confident as they let themselves into our world.
Others are still clearly wild, high heads and dragon snorts. A lot of these guys will always have a piece of wildness and it's up to us to help them preserve it. To learn that they can still be free, that we can work alongside them, with them, so that they can have the best of both worlds.
Then there are the ones who still grieve. Quiet at a quick glance, but if we look closer we realise their minds are elsewhere. Ears back and eyes closed, unresponsive and uncaring.

Whereever they are, it is okay. This is not a race.
Watching everyone else with their Kais is a very special thing.
But for those whose horses need more time, who are terrified of this strange new world. Time and space are okay to give them. They struggle to learn if their needs aren't being met, and those include safety, relaxation and rest.
A week is merely a blink. Go at their pace, however slow that needs to be.
It's an individual journey, and we all must follow different paths. Just because yours looks different to someone else's, doesn't mean it's wrong.

02/05/2024

Jampa (foal nursing) didn't come here with her mum, but was clearly hungry for milk and deeply missing her.
She would try and latch on both Hope and Faith, but they would push her off unless distracted.
Jampa is a determined wee girl, and kept sneaking in whenever the mares were distracted or she was protected by their foals.
As she's got better at latching, they've become happier with her drinking.
Each day letting Jampa drink more for longer.
They are all getting used to each other. Jampa is bigger than their foals, I'm sure latches and nurses different. And these mares are different to her dam. But they are working it out.

09/04/2024

I still have space for handling. Message me if you are interested.

Applications are due to close in 2 days!

We have had many applications for Foals and Juveniles, what we need now is homes for Mature mares and Stallions (these could be any age and you would need be prepared for that).

Horses are mustered in by helicopter. As they come into the yards, the Muster Team separate the horses into separate yards based on the categories of Mares, Stallions, Yearlings, Foals and Mare/Foal combos for the youngest foals. The foals and yearling females have a pink dot painted on their rumps, and the males a blue dot. Whilst this is not exact in terms of ageing, the Muster Team does it this way to minimise the stress on the horses.

Please remember - whilst we get the occasional hack sized Kaimanawa they are predominantly ponies! Requests for 15hh horses will not be able to be filled.

As part of taking a horse, KHH offers:

* $500 Transport Cap to most areas of the North Island
*$200 towards transporting of horses to the South Island once they have been handled.
* $100 Gelding Rebate
* 12 Month KHH Membership
* A large bottle of Equibrew for each horse mustered, kindly donated by Equibrew

If you would like to apply for a horse please email us at https://kaimanawaheritagehorses.org/applymusterhorse/, [email protected], pm our page or apply online at

Please PM our page with any questions.

28/03/2024

If you aren't in a position to take on a kai yourself, sharing info, donating to KHH, all make a difference. For those getting Kais, get those applications in.
I still have space for handling. Message me for more info.

14 Days until Applications Close.

Can you offer a Kaimanawa a home this year?

Any questions, please personal message our page or visit or our website at https://kaimanawaheritagehorses.org/

19/03/2024

DOC have announced the 2024 Muster date.

To apply for a horse from the upcoming muster, please message us or go to our online application form on the link below. Please note, cut off date for applications is the 11th April 2024.

https://kaimanawaheritagehorses.org/muster-information/

18/03/2024

29/02/2024

The Department of Conservation has completed its annual aerial survey and the official Kaimanawa herd count is 530. In keeping with the Kaimanawa Wild Horse Advisory Group (KWHAG) management plan, that puts the target removal number at 230.

With just four -six weeks to go before applications close, the pressure is on to find a lot of new homes and to begin the task of doing home checks. If you're planning on applying for a horse this year, now is the time to get your application in.

If you would like more information please visit our webpage at www.kaimanawaheritagehorses.org
If you would like to talk to one of our team about how we can help you achieve your dream of taming a wild horse, email your contact details to [email protected]

If you would like to download an application form or receive a copy of our registered handlers list, please visit www.kaimanawaheritagehorses.org/muster and fill in the form.

We will post the closing date for applications once the muster date has been confirmed as either April or June 2024 by KWHAG, in early March. Get you application in as soon as possible so your property check can be done by our area reps.

Photo credit: Karen Miller