The 1979 study was promote4d by the Kaimanawa Wild Horse Committee which had been formed out of concern for the declining horse numbers. It was this same committee that originally south legal protection for the herd.

Protection of horses.

(a) The conditions under which the animals live are unique, not only in New Zealand but throughout the world

(b) Scientifically valuable comparisons can be made between this population and other groups of wild or feral equids such as free living zebra, New Forest ponies, Assateague ponies and wild mustangs. The Kaimanawa population is of special value since there has been comparatively little interference by man.

(c) There may be physiological and anatomical differences between these horses and domestic animals as a result of adaption to survival in this unique environment. The differences may be of special note with regard to parasitology and nutrition.

(d) Behavioural traits which have evolved to facilitate survival may be of importance, both for their value in comparison with domestic animals and for the determination of “natural” behaviour patterns for the formulation of an ethogram. By comparison with this, presence of abnormal or pathological behaviour in domestic animals could be assessed.

(e) A genetic resource of animals selected by natural rather than artificial means may be of future value as a source of traits associated with “hardiness” as well as “agility”.

(f) These animals have historical value as the remnant of once larger groups of horses in the central North Island.

(g) They have an intrinsic aesthetic value.

Tony Batley who had documented the known history of the herd history, (Batley 1977) drew attention to the possible presence of ancient bloodlines from the Welsh and Exmoor stock.

Protection Order

Evidence of genetic uniqueness.

Undoubtedly more knowledge of these horses and their behaviour must be obtained. This was obviously the intent of Aitken when as a result of the 1979 study, he recommended that the horses be given protection.

Although proposals for research projects, including the nutritional status of the herd in comparison with domestic stock and health status etc, have been discussed with MAF and Massey University staff, nothing has been undertaken.

Generally when people think of wild horses they think of the wild mustangs, the brumbies of Australia or, “The man from Snowy River”. During the relatively few encounters I have had with these horses over some 45 years, I have observed them to be a relatively quiet and inquisitive breed with strong social bonds. (The fact that the 1993 round-up and subsequent confinement of the horses went as well as it did was probably contributed to greatly by the nature of their Exmoor and Welsh progenitors.)

Increase in numbers following protection:

.The protection of the horses only exists while hose horses are within a particular geographical area. If they stray outside that area, they are legal game to the hunters and poachers. Horses that are captured by poachers can either be integrated into the equine system of New Zealand or sold for slaughter as pet meat or for human consumption.

For many years, horses which have probably evolved from the same gene pool as those4 of the Kaimanawa Strain, have been legally rounded-up from areas outside the protected zone.

If allocated on the basis of 1300 horses, the protected area provides some 64 hectares, or a little over 250 acres of land per horse. On the face of it, that area of land would appear to be more than adequate to permanently sustain a herd of horses many times the size of the Kaimanawa herd. That is until the altitude and the inhospitable climate of this rugged terrain is considered. In reality the native grasses in the area grow at an extremely slow rate and the exotic grasses which are gradually impinging on those native species, probably grow for less than 2 months of the year. In short, the country is rugged, the climate is harsh and the feed is sparse.

Botanists (Rogers et al) report that a number of unique plants in some parts of the range, as well as the fragile ecosystem, are under threat from the increased number of horses.

Again, there appear to be great differences in the views of just how many types of plant are “endangered or threatened” and to what degree. The Department of Conservation has reported that up to 31 different unique plant types are threatened with extinction. However, in a Department publication listing endangered or threatened flora in New Zealand, only one of the suggested “threatened” plants is listed.

The Department of Conservation proposed that a number of the horses be culled by either capture or slaughter. (DoC Draft Management Strategy) A variety of methods of capture were contemplated, from round-up on horseback to capture by nets fired from a helicopter.

Animal and equine welfare groups as well as the public, objected strenuously to the proposals. The need for horse numbers to be drastically reduced was challenged as was the validity of the stated number of horses the suggested methods of reducing those numbers.

While almost everyone other than the conservationist lobby, opposed any interference with the herd, animal and equine welfare groups sought a census and an in-depth study of the horses to establish if there was a genuine need for numbers to be reduced. One equine group even offered a substantial sum of money toward the proposed census, but this offer was declined.

Provided that the need for reducing numbers was satisfactorily established, the public largely considered that the live capture by round-up, with subsequent integration of the captured horses into the community, was the most favourable proposition. They (the public) did not generally favour fatal culling.

On the other hand animal and equine welfare groups, who were more in tune with the realities of animal welfare, were concerned that some of the horses would be purchased as mere curiosity pieces and that they could easily end up amongst the statistics of neglected and mis-treated horses.

Concerns were expressed over the stress and potential injury that could occur during a round-up. Further concerns were voiced about the distress that would be caused by the breaking of social bands when the smaller bands of horses were separated and the mares, foals, colts and stallions were re-established into groups with which they have no social contact. Transportation, breaking, confining in paddocks, were all considered stressful to horses that had for generations been wild and free.

In preference to the uncertainties associated with capture, fatal culling of entire bands or family groups was generally favoured by the welfare groups.

ROUND-UP:

The initial round-up was intended to capture around 220 horses from a selected area some distance from the ecologically fragile zones.

In essence the round-up was an experiment or manipulation, in that it was hoped that the removal of horses from one central area would cause a figurative vacuum which would cause bands from the outer and ecologically fragile areas to gradually migrate into the vacated area. To put it another way, it was hoped that the vacated area would act as a sink.

The law requires that prior to any experiment or manipulation taking place, a protocol outlining the intended procedures be presented to and approved by an ethics committee. The protocol must also adequately cater for all issues pertaining to the welfare of the animals involved and must address a number of other matters including the positive values or need for the experiment. (Animals Protection Act 1960).

In this instance the Animal Ethics Committee of the Department of Conservation, declined to approve the protocol for the round-up, but despite this, the department still decided to proceed with the round-up. This decision of the Department resulted in the resignation of the Ethics Committee Chairman.

One Equine Welfare organisation, the International League for the Protection of Horses, (ILPH) conducted a legal challenge as to the right of the Department of Conservation to capture these protected horses. The Court found in favour of the Department.

On 7 & 8 June 1993, the round-up of some 233 of the Kaimanawa Wild Horses was conducted. This took place in the territory where the horses have the protection of the Wildlife Act.

The round-up was conducted by one John Tulloch, an experienced stockman who has legally rounded up wild horses over the past 20 years. Most of the past round-ups conducted by Tulloch were in or around the Kaiangaroa area where the horses have no protection under the Wildlife Act.

Tulloch has studied the horses and their behaviour for many years and had assured the Department of Conservation and the many critics of the round-up, that it could be conducted without any major problem and with the minimum of stress and danger to the horses.

A corral and yards were constructed in the protected area and the round-up was initially planned to take place near the end of April 1993, with the capture of about 220 horses intended. The timing of the round-up was to take place during the second trimester of gestation of mares in foal. (Although mares come into season approximately every 30 days, they generally do not do so in harsh climatic conditions. This means that a large number of mares will come into season in mid-spring, with foaling due 11 months later.)

The April 1993 round-up was delayed as a result of the legal action taken by the International League for the Protection of Horses and did not take place until a subsequent appeal was heard.

Animal and equine welfare groups were not invited to have observers present during the round-up and were not notified of the intended place or time.

Dr Nigel Coddington, from the Equine Branch of the NZVA was present as an observer, as were a number of other veterinarians (Coddington/NZVA report).

Prior to the round-up, Dr Coddington shared the common opinion of the welfare groups, that the likelihood of injury and stress to the horses was high to justify it taking place and that man should not interfere.

The RSPCA, as well as other hors and animal welfare groups, had opposed any round-up for both the afore-mentioned reasons, as well as on the grounds that they were not satisfied that there were sufficient evidence that it was necessary.

Dr Coddington reported that despite his fears, the round-up went well. He stated that the horses came in at a trot and there was no sign of anything but minimal stress. He examined each of the 233 horses and found virtually no injury at all. Dr Coddington places much of the credit for the success of the round-up of stockmanship exhibited by Tulloch and the others conducting the round-up.

Of the 233 horses captured, 67 aged mares and stallions that were considered too old or too sick to be broken, were despatched for slaughter at Taumarunui. Another 44 were trucked directly from the capture site to three pre-arranged buyers.

The remainder of the captured horses were transported to Poronui Station on the Napier Taupo Highway, where John Tulloch is based. This group was made up of, 16 colts, 48 mares and a mixture of 58 young stock which included foals and yearlings.

Following a complaint, the captured horses at Poronui Station were inspected by RSPCA Inspectors.

Concerns were held, based on the stress that could be caused by the upsetting of the hierarchical balance of the various groups of horses following separation and being regrouped into larger groups. With the breaking of the hierarchical and matriarchal bonds, considerable distress could easily be caused. This could easily result in fighting, particularly amongst senior mares seeking to re-establish matriarchal dominance. If young stallions or mature colts were not kept separate, this would add another dimension for serious concern. If the horses were allowed sufficient space and had sufficient feed so that they did not have to compete, it would be likely that they would reform into their family bands and remain segregated by choice.

Inspection:

The horses had been separated into three groups. The 16 colts were on their own in an area of about 80 acres. They formed into a single bachelor band as they often would in the wild. Although there was some dominance play between a couple of the older colts, there was no evidence of any real fighting and there were no injuries observed. This group had sufficient room to separate if they chose to do so and they had sufficient feed to last them around 6 weeks. All of this group appeared to be in quite good condition (Report RSPCA/Boyd July 1993).

The group classified as foals and yearlings, were in an area of about 100 acres which contained sufficient feed for around 4 weeks. They appeared to have loosely divided into two groups of about equal size. There was no sign of fighting or of any injury. The foals were in reasonable condition and appeared to have adapted well.

The mares were all contained in one paddock with an area of 250 acres. Because most of the older mares had been sent for slaughter, there was no apparent matriarchal dominance behaviour exhibited in this group. All the mares appeared in reasonable condition and other than one mare which exhibited lameness in the right hind leg, there was no sign of any injury.

Tulloch advised that the horses sent for slaughter revealed a very high worm count when autopsied. He had accordingly drenched all the horses in his possession. He further advised that he had taken faecal samples and sent them to Massey University for analysis. The analysis revealed that these horses still had a high worm count and would require further drenching. On an overall assessment, all the horses were in reasonable condition for the time of year.

Welfare of the horses:

It is nature’s way that only the strong survive so that natural selection can take place. It is this natural selection that has allowed this herd to endure and become the unique breed that exists today.

Ironically, it is man’s interference with the herd that will allow some of the horses that would have died, to survive. Conversely, it was also man’s interference that caused a number of the captured horses to be sent for slaughter.

Animal Welfare relating to animals that are under the control of man, takes into account five basis requirements: (AWAC Animal Welfare Codes).

Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition.

the provision of appropriate comfort and shelter.

the prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment of injury, disease or infestation with parasites.

Freedom from distress.

The ability to display normal patterns of behaviour.

While these principles of welfare must obviously apply to the horses captured by man and under his control, for those in the wild state, they obviously cannot.

In New Zealand many thousands of animals are destroyed every year. While a large proportion of these animals are cats and dogs which are the result of indiscriminate over breeding, many thousands are also horses which are a disposable by-product of over breeding for the racing industry and other equine sports.

While the majority of these unwanted horses are slaughtered to supply the thriving horse meat industry, they are nevertheless the by-product of over breeding. They are horses that have been bred for either thoroughbred or harness racing, with the hope that they ultimately race and win. Sadly, of all the horses bred for the racing industry, only one in ten will ever race and of those, less than one in ten will ever win a race.

Animal and equine welfare organizations bear testimony to the large number of horses that are also destroyed as a result of neglect, starvation and malnutrition, in one form or another.

Race horse breeders, owners and trainers, with the best of intentions, used to sell their unwanted horses to almost anyone that they thought would ride them and provide them with the proverbial “good home”. Many of the horses boasted outstanding breed-lines, but changed hands for $50 to $150. While some went on to become eventers and pony club mounts, many ended up in the proverbial pet food tin, or became neglected. These days, many breeders, owners and trainers who have seen their excess horses go to “not so good” homes in the past, are opting for sending these horses for slaughter. They believe this is in the best interest of the horses.

While the main objections put forward by animal and equine welfare groups, against he capture of the wild horses were based on the lack of evidence of a “real” need for their numbers to be reduced, a second major concern was that many of those captured would not be successfully integrated into the domestic equine structure of New Zealand and would ultimately end up as animal welfare “problems”. It was believed that many of the horses would be purchased by people as objects of curiosity, or for emotional reasons by those who merely wanted to “save a horse”. (RSPCA submission 1991).

Welfare groups are all too familiar with the unfortunate failure of the “save a wild horse” scheme that was promoted in the United States, when large numbers of mustangs were to be culled. The welfare groups believe that where any horse was purchased for the wrong reasons, there was potential for future problems.

It is largely believed in animal welfare circles, that “value” has a great influence on the welfare of animals. Farm animals have financial value to the farmer and it is therefore in the farmers’ interest to ensure the welfare of those animals under his control. (Montefiore Bioethics).

Animals that come “free to good home” or cost the owner very little, tend to be treated as being as of little value. Very often, when expensive veterinary treatment or supplementary feeding is required, the owners of these “cheap” animals are reluctant to meet the expenses and the animal is left to suffer.

On the other hand, where an owner has made a considerable financial outlay in purchasing an animal he is generally more prepared to meet extraordinary veterinary and other costs.

An unregistered thoroughbred or standardbred horse has no value to the racing industry, yet the same horse with papers could be worth many thousands of dollars.

Proposal for establishment of breed register:

With the capture and imminent sale of a number of the Kaimanawa Wild horses, there exists a unique opportunity to study these animals. Exploitation of that opportunity is dependent on those horses being able to be monitored in future years.

The uniqueness of these animals and the concerns for their on-going welfare, also point to a need to take steps that will assist in ensuring that welfare. (RSPCA/Boyd report July 1993)

The establishment of a breed register would assist in maintaining the value of the hroses and this in turn would assist in ensuring their welfare. (RSPCA/Boyd 1993).

A Breed register would also have the following advantages:

1 All captured horses would be traceable through initial registration and subsequent changes of ownership.

2 All foals would be traceable through registration an subsequent changes of ownership.

3 All colts (future stallions) would be traceable through registration and subsequent changes of ownership.

4 A supplementary gene pool would be available from the traceable mares, stallions and foals, if such was ever required for future releases into the wild.

5 If required for the purposes of study, the traceable horses could provide valuable information relating to longevity, adaptability to re-domestication, comparison with other domestic animals etc.

6 The status of the horses being registered and having papers would add value to the horses from becoming mere curiosity pieces and languishing in the proverbial back paddock.

7 If registration of the breed was limited to pure-bred and first cross only, this would discourage indiscriminate cross breeding and encourage keeping the breed intact. (It is interesting to note that a number of the enquiries received by Tulloch about the sale of the horses have been from people who want to undertake experimental cross-breeding).

8 As any illegally taken horse4s would not be able to be registered, there would be little demand for a black-market trade. This would assist in preventing further unnecessary disturbance of the wild population for reasons of illegal poaching.

The establishment of a breed register has been discussed with a number of people including horse breeders and trainers, the International league for the Protection of Horses, animal welfare consultants, veterinarians and a number of eminent horse people. NZVA equine representative, Dr Nigel Coddington and John Tulloch who conducted the round-up, were also consulted.

With the exception of one member of the New Zealand Wild Horse Charitable Trust who exhibited some indecision on the issue, all persons and organizations consulted, agreed that the introduction of a breed register would be an important step for the on-going welfare of the horses.

It also follows that further round-ups will probably be undertaken. It is understood that the next is already planned for April 1994 and the Department of Conservation has indicated that it wants to reduce the horse numbers in the protected area, to a pool of around 600.

While animal and equine welfare groups will obviously continue to oppose any further round-ups until there is proper and sufficient evidence of the necessity for such, these groups also believe that they must do whatever they can to assure that future welfare of those horses that have already been captured, as well as those that may be captured in the future.

Welfare of horses remaining in the wild.

Man has, however, constantly interfered with feral animals. Populations throughout the world, have for a variety of reasons hunted some feral animals to a point close to extinction.Prior to the inception of the protection order, the Kaimanawa Wild horses, had decreased in number to the point where they were threatened with extinction.

Following the protection order, there has been little interference. Horses that strayed onto private and outside the protected range, were legally able to be captured and authority was given for the culling of bands or individual horses that ventured into the proximity of the Desert Road.

It does seem, however, that man will continue to interfere with these horses. The army have made a number of conflicting statements about the horses, but it appears they are in general relatively comfortable with their presence provided the numbers do not increase to any marked degree. (Colonel Bret Bestic has been quoted as saying, “the horses are good to have around”). (NZ Geographic).

When the previously mentioned five basic principles of Animal Welfare relating to animals under the control of man are considered, ie;

• Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition

• The provision of appropriate comfort and shelter

• The prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment of injury, disease or infestation with parasites

• Freedom from distress

• The ability to display normal patterns of behaviour;

It can be seen that the only one of these principles that can be applied by man to feral populations, is the first, freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition”.

Balance must be maintained to prevent unnecessary suffering.

Where such hunger or starvation has resulted from over grazing by expanding populations, or from man limiting the natural boundaries of populations and thus placing grazing stress on those populations, man’s usual answer is to cull the animals concerned. Culling is the simple solution. Costs can often be recovered by sale of either the animals involved, or their carcasses. This solution is simple and relatively inexpensive and it can be easily repeated from time to time.

If one accepts the Department of Conservation proposition that the horses had increased to the point where starvation was about to occur, it can be seen that intervention in some form, would be justified. There is, however, an alternative to culling as a solution and in this the experience of the Assateague ponies should be carefully looked at.

Assateague ponies

The Assateague ponies are the decendants of horses left on Assateague Island by the Virginia colonists in 1630. Today they have been designated a cultural resource and as such are protected by the National Park Service (USA) despite the herds’ impact on the fragile ecosystems and despite the claim that they are an exotic species not native to the island. (HSUS News/Kirkpatrick 1991) (Animal Welfare Institute Quarterly Fall 1991).

Imuno Contraception.

As a result of an earlier study which determined the carrying capacity of the land, the National Parks Service wanted to maintain a static herd size without resorting to a programme to capture and remove horses. Dr Jay Kirkpatrick, Ph.D. was invited to commence research into contraception methods to control the horses. Research using a vaccine known as Porcine Zona Pellucids, or PZP finally resulted in the production of only one foal over a four year period, from a selected group of mares which were known to be fertile. (HSUS News/Kirkpatrick)(Animal Welfare Institute Quarterly).

Through the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) who sponsor Dr Kirkpatrick, the technology to produce and deliver the vaccine is available free to those who wish to use it.

Vaccinating has to be repeated on a bi-annul basis at the moment and as such is relatively labour intensive. However, the technology is advancing quickly.

Dr Kirkpatrick has recently advised that the imuno contraception programme will not result in a drastic reduction in horse numbers, but will only maintain numbers of horses at a level that has been pre-set by culling or removal of excess horses.

Carrying capacity of land must be determined

It is obvious that the carrying capacity of the range of the Kaimanawa Wild horses must be ascertained and that this carrying capacity must take account and be in accord with the fragile ecosystem of the area. To establish this carrying capacity, a full and accurate survey of horse numbers must first be undertaken.

CONCLUSIONS.1 The Kaimanawa Wild horses are a herd of special genetic interest and intrinsic value. All reasonable efforts should be made for the on-going protection and welfare of the horses.

2 In the wild situation the welfare of the horses can best be achieved by ensuring that their numbers do not exceed the carrying capacity of the range.

3 A census of the wild horse population needs to be undertaken to ascertain their exact numbers. This census must either be conducted by an independent organisation accepted both by government organizations involved and the animal welfare groups. Alternatively representatives from the animal and equine welfare groups should be involved in setting the parameters and planning of the census.

4 A survey to establish the carrying capacity of the land must be undertaken. This survey must take into account the fragility of the ecosystem in the area and again it must either by undertaken by an independent organisation acceptable to both the government organizations involved and the animal welfare groups. Alternatively, those groups should be fully involved in the planning and execution of the survey, as well as the analysis of the data collected.

5 The wild population should be maintained at a suitable level by imuno-contraception methods.

6 Prospective buyers of captured horses should be vetted for suitability and cruelty convictions, prior to being allowed to purchase any of the captured horses.

7 A breed register needs to be established for the captured horses being integrated into the equine system of New Zealand and this should be supported in principle by government organizations involved as well as the animal and equine welfare groups.

8 Scientific studies as described in the 1979 recommendations by the Kaimanawa Wild Horse Committee, relating to the physiological and anatomical differences regarding parasitology and nutrition as well as the evolution of behavioural traits, need to be encourage to be undertaken.

Comment.

Finally, I have to comment that much of my previous thinking on the viability of live capture of the horses has been considerably altered by the success of the round-up. I appear to share this change of thinking with NZVA representative, Dr Nigel Coddington. I suggest that the animal and equine welfare groups re-assess their current policy on the issue of fatal culling, as opposed to live capture where the necessity is clearly established.

James Boyd

National Co-Ordinator

RSPCAOctober 1993

References:Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) News fall 1991. Vol 36 No 4.Animal Welfare Institute Quarterly Fall 1991.New Zealand Geographic.Kaimanawa Wild Horse Herd Management Strategy, Public discussion DoC.The Wildlife Order (No 2) 1981.Batley, R.A.L 1977. Wild horses of the south-west Kaimanawa Range. Unpublished draft.Aitken, V.Kroef, P.Pearson, A. Ricketts, W. 1979. Report on observations of feral horses in the southern Kaimanawas (February 1979) to the Kaimanawa Wild Horse Committee. Unpublished report, Massey University, Palmerston North.Rogers, G.M. (1989) Appraisal of the place of the wild horses in the Kaimanawa mountains. Report prepared for the Director, Science and Research, Conservation Sciences Centre, Department of Conservation. Workplan no 1775.Rogers, G.M. (1990) Free-ranging horses of the south-western Kaimanawa mountains, New Zealand: A preliminary investigation of environmental impacts and population biology. Paper submitted to N.Z. Jou.Ecology.Report to New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) by Dr Nigel Coddington. (1993)Bioethics article by Richard Montefiore BSc. Published Animals Advocate 1991.Report to RSPCA by Boyd, I. National Co0ordinator RSPCA, on welfare of horses following capture (1993)RSPCA submissions to Department of Conservation on draft management plan 1991.