The 2019 Muster process happened very smoothly.

DOC’s aerial count on the 11th and 12th of February, determined that 74 horses were to be removed from the Kaimanawa Ranges in the 2019 muster.

On ANZAC Day 25th April 2019 70 horses were mustered. These comprised of 43 mature horses and 27 younger horses. For the first time ever, no horses were vetted out or euthanized.
We were very lucky to complete the muster on one day as the helicopters could not have flown the following morning.

This 2019 April muster was on the back of the 300 horses placed in 2018 from the double musters in April and June. Our Welfare Team found a flooded market, with some 2018 Muster horses still being handled by trainers. They did exceptionally well to place 64 horses with KWHPS placing the other 6 horses.

We mounted a very strong media push on FaceBook, Radio and Local Papers. The decision was made to again Host the Freedom to Friendship Equidays event – including a Stallion Class suggested and organised by Kelly Wilson. The latter meant that all mustered Stallions were able to be placed.

KHH received 56 Applications – 5 of which were declined and 1 withdrawn.

A high level of transparency within the KHH team and those on the ground at Waiouru was most effective and proved essential for a smoothly run operation.

Applications were extended until the 7th April – which meant the time frame for Marilyn’s Jenks hardworking team of Area Reps to cover all their home visits was extremely tight to get them completed prior to the muster day on the 25th of April.

Satellite yards for this muster were at Huntly, Levin, Taranaki, Wanganui and Hawkes Bay, with one truck doing a couple of direct drop offs. Thank you to all involved in the set-up of the satellite yards, another part of the process that is extremely important.

The hard work continues post muster for KHH, with the actual delivery of horses to their new homes and the accounting process which follows.

It was decided this muster to courier the sponsors product from Equibrew and Bayer out post Muster instead of having the trucking companies deliver to the satellite yards. This worked well. Thank you Marilyn and Elder for taking on yet another role.

A huge thank you to Equibrew and Bayer (wormer) for sponsoring all the muster horses, this is so generous and a huge help to the horses. Equibrew are continuing their sponsorship of the Equidays Stallion Class Horses up until competition time.

Another huge thank you to the trucking companies, DOC staff, NZDF members, the Vets and the muster’s working the yards. With the cooperation all parties involved, we were able to make the 2019 Muster a successful one.