HE STEPPED in last year to save hundreds of Kaimanawa horses from the abattoirs, and yesterday Prime Minister Jim Bolger followed through on his promise, becoming the owner of a yearling at the first of three auctions of the wild herd.

Almost all of the 204 yearling fillies and colts were sold at yesterday's Department of Conservation sale in the Manawatu, with the 10 unsold animals to be offered at auction this Saturday.

An agent bought a filly on behalf of Mr Bolger. She is destined to be ridden by his grandchildren at his King Country farm.

But just how much the Prime Minister paid for the horse was not being revealed yesterday.

About 250 people came from all over New Zealand with their chequebooks and credit cards, cramming into a small section of Brian and Kay Goodwin's Ohingaiti farm in the central North Island for yesterday's auction.

The 194 horses sold fetched $32,720, with the top price of $620 for a colt. Some animals fetched only the reserve of $100, with some buyers going home with several horses.

Many first-time horse buyers attended the auction, and some were already owners of Kaimanawa horses. All say they were there to save the animals.

Buses transported the buyers to the isolated farm, where they had an hour to view the penned animals. The horses have been at the farm since the June muster.

The auction closed after three hours of intense bidding.

DoC said it was delighted with the auction result.

Marton police sergeant Andrew Stone said some Kaimanawa Maori, who have lodged land claims in the area and also want the horses kept in the wild, were at the auction but caused no trouble.

A MAF vet who attended the auction, Trish Pearce, said there was no evidence of the animals being mistreated, although some buyers were upset at seeing the animals in pens.

The horses became agitated during the auction viewing, but calmed as the crowds left.

One buyer, Dannevirke woman Annette James, was determined to make the auction -- she came in her wheelchair after being out of hospital just three days.

The future of the Kaimanawa horses has been under discussion for some years, when it became apparent the horse population was growing too large and native plants were under threat.

In 1995, DoC decided to shoot the animals, provoking a huge public outcry.

Mr Bolger stepped in to stop the shooting and earlier this year Conservation Minister Nick Smith said the horses would be mustered for sale, with any left over going to abattoirs.

Mares and stallions will be auctioned over the next two weekends and DoC hopes to find homes for all of the 1075 horses mustered.