Between 1858 and 1875 Major George Carlyon imported Exmoor ponies from England which he then crossed with local horses to produce a strong and hardy breed called the Carlyon. During the 1870’s some of these were either released or escaped from the South East into the Kaimanawa Ranges and are now generally known as the Kaimanawa Wild Horses.
The distinctive characteristics of the Exmoor ponies (mealy muzzles and lighter under bellies) is evident in many of the Kaimanawa Wild Horses today, although this was more evident in the horses from the so called Northern Areas of the horses’ range.
Wild horses originally roamed free from Paeroa, across the Hauraki plains down through Putaruru, Tokoroa and Taupo and into the Kaimanawa Ranges. In the earlier half of the 1900’s these horses were fair game for all and sundry. There are documented stories of young chaps from the Putaruru district traveling to Te Waotu and Tokoroa to capture horses on a regular basis. They were then on sold into the domestic scene, where they were used as school ponies for the local children or general riding or work horses on the farms.
Over the years large numbers were also rounded up from various areas and driven to horse fairs around the country or sold to pet food companies. Some of the adjoining station owners to the Kaimanawa Ranges also released good breeding stallions of Clydesdale, thorough bred or Arabian parentage etc. to cross with the hardy Kaimanawa mares. This produced strong hardy horses of a good size for their station hacks. As this practice was mainly carried out in what is now known as the Southern Zone, many of these horses today sport large white blazes and feathery feet although some show signs of thorough bred in their breeding.
Due to the local musterers, pet food suppliers, etc., and the march of farmers developing more and more of the land originally occupied by the horses into productive farmland, the horses range and their numbers had dwindled drastically by the 1970’s.A protection order under the Wild Life Act was finally granted to the Kaimanawa Wild Horses in 1981.
Around 1975 two Arabian Colts were released. They were descendants of Golden Boy and Puketaha Kentucky both of whom were bred by Mr Alec Edward of Hoe O Tainui. One was a chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail. This colouring is still evident today. Due to their natural resilience and hardy nature, the horses’ numbers had risen dramatically under the protection order by 1996. The general condition of the wild horses had become a significant welfare problem and they were having an adverse impact on their environment. The Department of Conservation drew up a management plan for the wild horses and this was adopted by Parliament in May 1996. The horses’ ‘protected’ status was lifted and it was proposed to cull the horses by shooting.
Due to overwhelming public opposition the then Prime Minister, (Mr. Jim Bolger) reversed the Government's decision and instead there was a muster of approximately 1,000 horses in May/June 1997. These were auctioned off to the public with over half ending up in the abattoirs. This muster effectively removed all horses from the Northern Ranges which is also where the fragile sites of the Moawhango buttercup and Kaimanawa for-get-me-not are found. These northern horses were generally smaller, 10 - 13 HH with distinctive exmoor/carlyon characteristics.
The horse was mans’ pioneering partner in the shaping and building of our country, and as such have earned a sanctuary for their preservation in our society today. To this end the Kaimanawa Wild Horse Preservation Society Inc was formed in April 1994 to promote the preservation and protection of the Kaimanawa Wild Horses both wild in the Kaimanawa Ranges and in domesticity.
The Kaimanawa Wild Horse Preservation Society (KWHPS)
The Kaimanawa Wild Horse Preservation Society (KWHPS) was formed in April 1994 to promote the preservation and protection of the Kaimanawa Wild Horses both wild in the Kaimanawa Ranges and in domesticity. The KWHPS Inc. are part of the official Wild Horse Management and Advisory Group (KWAG) for the preservation of the Kaimanawa Wild Horse and their environment, which also includes representatives from N.Z. Army, Dept. of Conservation, Forest and Bird Society, Local Iwi and adjoining Land Owners.
The KWHPS Inc is responsible for all public placements of horses captured in the D.O.C annual musters. They work closely with welfare agencies and veterinarians to screen applicant’s abilities and their facilities to accommodate a wild Kaimanawa horse off the ranges, in order to organize as many new homes for the horses as possible before they are mustered.
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