Kaimanawa horses up for adoption

Forget cows and sheep, Kaimanawa horses are full of personality and looking for new pastures to roam.

And the horses are up for adoption at this year’s Fieldays.

Kaimanawa Wild Horses Preservation society Inc is a not-for-profit charitable organization formed in April 1994 and promotes the protection of Kaimanawa horses by rehoming them.

Adopting a Kaimanawa is subject to criteria such as land availability, and criminal history background checks which are carried out by the SPCA.

The Department of Conservation runs musters every two years with around 100 horses being re-homed.

Protection orders were granted for Kaimanawas in 1981 under the Wild Life Act but they were found to have an adverse affect on the environment and in 1996 the protection order was dropped.

KWHP Inc Chairperson, Katherine Meredith of Te Awamutu has been involved with the organization for over 10 years and is fighting to bring the protection law back.

“I first joined in 1995 and I had a little bit of a break for about two or three years then I rejoined and since then is when I’ve been really full on with it, I’m quite prepared to go down to Desert Road and protest.”

Kaimanawas are good all-rounders that once re homed take part in eventing, show jumping, trekking and are also used for hacking around the farm on.

Yearly in mid-January, the society holds a national show at the Waipa Equestrian centre in Kihikihi where the horses taking part in equine disciplines.

Fieldays visitors are able to adopt Kaimanawa horses by registering interest at the exhibition site C83.