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August 30th 2010
Extracts of letter from Hon Kate Wilkinson, Conservation Minister
"A minimum herd size of 300 allows for musters every second year, while ensuring a viable and healthy herd remains. The department plans to have the next muster in 2012, and expects approximately 117-153 horses to be removed from the herd(this is based on the historical rates of annual increase of 18-23%). Every effort will be made to support the rehoming of as many of these horses as possible."
"There is currently no immuno-contraception programme in place for the Kaimanawa horses. Immuno-contraception was considered when the Kaimanawa Horses Management Plan was developed in 1995, and again in 2004, when the subsequent Kaimanawa Horses Operational Plan was reviewed. At both times, the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) advised that the technology at the time was not suitable for the Kaimanawa horses.
A trial of the PZP immuno-contraception vaccine occured between 1995 and 1998. The vaccine, delivered from the United States, did not work. The same vaccine, produced by Massey University did work, but in both cases, there is still a serious concern that PZP vaccine could cause permanent infertility if used more than once.
Recent developments in immuno-contraception, including another vaccine, mean this method of population control is being re-examined. Representatives from the Department of Conservation, NZVA, and the Kaimanawa Wild Horse Welfare Trust attended a conference in Brisbane last year, which explored developments in this field. The NZVA representative reported that there were many questions still to answer before he would consider its use on the Kaimanawa horse herd appropriate, and that it could take two to eight years before current trials in the United States could provide those answers. He stressed that trials must be relevant to the New Zealand context, and certain issues, including maintaining genetic diversity, and the impact on population and social dynamics were critical. In long term, it is likely that an immuno-contraception vaccine will be one of many tools used for the future management of the Kaimanawa horse population."
Kaimanawa Wild Horses are the losers.
With approximately 150 horses culled from the Kaimanawa ranges in June 2010 could this have brought the herd to well under 300?
Remember DoC promised 500 horses. And now it looks like the Kaimanawa wild horses are the losers
A horse spokesperson who was on the scene at the muster said
"Friday morning, most gut wrenching time of the whole thing. Beautiful stallions going to meet their maker. Just wish with all my heart that we can just leave them be for a long time. I have serious doubts about DoC's honesty on numbers and have huge concerns that there is far fewer than 300 horses in there. It could quite easily be the death of our herd.....then what?"
Have we been too complacent over the years? I think it is imperative that the Protection order go back on the horses. A study needs to be done on the horses in the wild. Or is it too late? Latest muster news Latest on the 2010 muster The muster has now been completed. Homes were found for 105 Kaimanawa horses and 50 were sent to slaughter. Our Society was able to give the wild horse trust around 15 names, while they found the rest of the horses homes. We would like to thank the trust for doing a great job in placing the horses and making sure they arrived safely in their new homes. We would also like to thank those who were lucky enough to get a Kaimanawa and save it from certain slaughter. Remember it is necessary to fill out the application form in order to get a Kaimanawa. There have been so many horror stories of Kaimanawa's going to neglectful or just having the right facilities homes, that it is necessary and important for these forms to be filled in. April 26 2010 The Kaimanawa has proven to be very versatile, competing in all disciplines. They are also very hardy and reliable, so make great trekking horses. Don't be put off getting a older mare, they may take a little longer to train, but you have something to ride a lot sooner. Also if there are any horse studs out there who would like to take on a colt for the purpose of eventual breeding. Applicationas are now closed off. please contact khbsi@paradise.net.nz. This could be your last chance to get a Kaimanawa from any further musters. DoC did a large cull in 2009 and intend on doing another large one this year to bring the numbers to 300 or less. This is very concerning as we do not believe it is enough for a viable herd. They intend on using a contraception programme, which let's hope is a lot more reliable than the first DoC tried. Please email the Society your interest, but please get in early and not leave it to the last moment, as you could miss out. Yards were left brimming as 209 Kaimanawa wild horses were pushed out of the ranges of New Zealand's Central Plateau yesterday in a successful muster. The big muster of Kaimanawa horses planned for late May is crucial to the herd's future, it has been revealed, with the managed wild population likely to be reduced to 300. Homes for at least 150 wild horses need to be found for wild horses soon to be mustered out of the Kaimanawa Ranges. In late May, up to 150 horses will be removed from the ranges of the central North Island of New Zealand as part of the area's ecological management strategy. We are pleased to annouce that no horses were slaughtered in this roundup. Homes were found for all horses. Cambridge A&P Association will be holding their AGM on Thursday May 5, at 8pm in the upstairs function rooms of the Prince Albert, Victoria Street, Cambridge. An invitation is extended to all members of KHBS and owners of Kaimanawa horses to attend. If KHBS would like classes for NZ native horses at this years show then this is the time to have a representative/s in attendance to ask for classes. The more people who attend the more chance of classes being included. They are great horses and I would personally like to see them represented everywhere in New Zealand. 225 horses rounded up, 95 found homes, 135 off to farmers to be fattened up for the meatworks. Our Society had nothing to do with any rehoming of horses in this years round up, nor where we asked. The advertising was non-existent, so how are people to prepare for a wild horse? Stipulations are tough to get one, yet these farmers can get what horses they want for free - no questions asked. Do you think they have any feelings for them if all they want to do is send them to the works. I don't think so. After various consultations with horse experts, our Society will be putting through our proposal to DoC to rehome horses next year. Emphasis will be placed on horses to the South Island. We are in the throws of putting together a very experienced team to overlook the horses and prepare for shipping. We would also like to add that DoC have gone way above the number of horses taken out to leave a viable heard of 500 horses. This is stipulated in their management plan and should be adhered to. Anyone wanting horses from next years round up, please contact us (khbsi@paradise.net.nz). It is never to early. DoC is working from the recommendation of the Kaimanawa Wild Horse Advisory Committee from their last meeting which was in October 2003, that these horses need to be removed. The horses in the zones 6-7-8-9 will be removed which is between Army Land and the Pinnacles Block. This is the zero density area. The horses will be shot from a helicopter, and a vet will assess the wellbeing of the foals, and the vet will decide if they will be destroyed. The muster will be at the end of February 2004 but it may change depending on the age of the foals at foot to the beginning of June. There are around 67 horses that will need to be removed. The Department will not be going onto the private land blocks in the area. We know the Army is training between the 5 January to 15 February so DoC can not get access during this time. Also the mainstay will be on leave for 3 weeks as of next week and he is dealing with it. DoC want to go in after the 15 February to see what foals are about, and gauge if a muster should take place then or leave it until late May or early June. The foals will be netted, but if that is impossible to do or too dangerous then they will be shot on site. The department is unable to put a date on it but this gives a better picture. We are also concerned, that us being the Kaimanawa Horse Breed Society, hear that the Kaimanawa Wild Horse Preservation Society has agreed to this as they are part of the advisory group. This information has come to us first hand from DoC and we will not be held accountable for putting our concerns on our website. We do encourage people though to email us, whether it be DoC to dispel what we are saying, or equally so the Kaimanawa Wild Horse Preservation Society. We are also keen to hear from anyone from the public as to what they think about these "illegal" and barbaric practices. Isabel Park The yearly roundup of horses is once again upon us. For those interested in buying a Kaimanawa please email us and we will send out the appropriate forms. We are also offering half-price registration to anyone who buys a Kaimanawa from this year’s roundup. It is rather unfortunate that a lot of places in New Zealand have been struck by a “drought” and people will not be able to take on a Kaimanawa because of this. The lower half of the North Island has been particularly hard hit, but DoC will not take out fewer horses because of our unfortunate season. Most people are already suffering badly with no grass, huge prices for hay (when you can get it), and the fact that nothing seems to have been done to allow horses to go to the South Island. We would love to see as many of these horses saved as possible, but please remember, do it for the right reasons. If they become a burden to you after buying, they can be hard to sell unhandled. Think wisely, but at the same time if you can offer the “Kaimanawa” a good home you will have a friend for life. Mustered from Awapatu catchment (19 June): The horse that escaped from the truck that crashed was later shot. Two farmers received horses directly from the muster (1 received 12 colts + 12 mares, the other 38 colts) I understand that the farmers intended to send the horses to "Total Products Ltd". A further 70 horses (44 mares, 26 colts) were sent, on behalf of 6 farmers, to Taupo where they were immediately processed into pet food for those farmers. Information courtesy Para-Legal Advocates & Support Services Three Committee members took the opportunity to join DoC's Summer Programme into the Kaimanawa ranges. On board the bus we had speakers from Doc, a botanist, and Horizons (Land management). What struck us immediately was how close the horses were to the army base. On previous trips they would not have been this close and probably herded back out of the area. With the cleansing of approx. 1000 horses in 1997 to protect native fauna and flora which is claimed the horses destroy they have been relocated to this area. First observations of a small fenced area where horses could not get in (or rabbits) was that it was full of overgrown weed. Where the horses had grazed certainly looked a lot tidier and we were able to see a lot of native lilies, which in the fenced off area would not have a chance to grow. The horses were spread out over a lot of terrain, but it was noted a lot of bachelors roaming. Heard sizes were inconsistent, and we estimated we saw around 100 horses during the course of the day. Although we are not saying that there are only 100 horses left in the ranges, but as the horses are now in the areas which we traveled into we would have expected to have seen more. It was also noted that no horse dung was seen around the wetlands. Another observation which we had seen on previous trips was junk from the army which had been littered all over the place was gone. This made it much kinder on the eye. I am sure people would rather see the horses than clapped out cars and other structures that the army no longer need. The majority of horses looked good apart from a few, where nature will take it s course. Although the un-natural death of a horse on the side of the road was not very appealing. The scenery combined with the horses made it a wonderful day trip. We cannot see why horses and plants cannot come to a truce, without the horses systematically eradicated. It is a shame that the horses are considered a pest and the speakers on the bus used the term time and time again which became rather tiresome. If they have to categorize them why not just say nuisance . But unfortunately putting them into the latter category would not have the impact on the public that DoC etc want. Some 13,000 people walked through the gates to have a look at the animals, including the Kaimanawa horses on show. Our neighbours, interestingly enough, were the Donkeys, Alpacas and Llamas. This proved no problem for the horses, and they did not bat an eyelid at these "strange creatures". With only two ponies giving rides people had to be turned away. Needless to say the ponies and us were pretty worn out on the first day. Sunday started off slower, but already a queue was forming for the pony rides. We were fortunate to have along two more Kaimanawas, including a stallion. All and all it was a great weekend and it was pleasing that people were still so interested and amazed at the Kaimanawa horses. People were positive and we had no negative feedback. But then how could you, when you have five well-behaved animals whom do not know each other and three are placed into a small enclosure and cause no problems. Special thanks to Kooti, Matilda, Emerald, Cricket and Grasshopper for being superb. And of course to all helpers who made the weekend possible. The Department of Conservation will be progressing with their yearly round-up of the Kaimanawa horses in June. At this stage our Society do not know what Agents the horses will go to, but in the meantime you can contact the Department of Conservation at their Wanganui office and register your interest. Please make sure you have the facilities to keep a wild horse, and are experienced in horsemanship before you decide to purchase one. Our Society is more than happy to help out where it can, but these horses do need to go to the right homes for the right reasons. We will keep you updated on any information that comes to hand. NB: Our Society does not support these yearly roundups. |
