As part of what we do, we work with DOC, SPCA, owners and the community to support the welfare of domestic Kaimanawa horses. We guarantee to look after every horse that comes out of the ranges into domestic life so this often means we have horses in our care.
When a horse comes into our care, they are assessed by our welfare team and sent to the most appropriate foster carer depending on their needs. Our high needs cases are given immediate vet attention and their every need taken care of it until they are in a fit state for further assessment.
Their second assessment by the welfare team is to assess if they are likely to be suitable for re-homing, or if they are likely to become full-time residents at KHH facilities. Some older horses, and those with specialist ongoing care requirements, remain with us for the rest of their lives. For those that are deemed suitable to rehome, they will receive the training they require, have their feet and teeth done, and the colts or stallions will be gelded before they are ready to go off to their new homes.
To support the horses that are in our care, we run a sponsorship program that enables people to help a great cause and be included in their chosen horses’ journey through updates and photos.
Through donations from our members and the community, we can often save more horses from the muster than we have homes for at the time. These horses, once handled, are also then available for sale. All proceeds go to supporting our work and enabling us to continue to assist other kaimanawa horses.
If you are interested in applying for a horse please contact the WELFARE TEAM for assistance.
Current KHH Horses available for Sponsorship
Please if you are wishing to rehome your Kaimanawa, contact us and we are more than happy to do home and reference checks anywhere in NZ.
We have now set up a Facebook group for our sponsors who receive regular updates on how all the horses in KHH Welfare Care are tracking in their journey towards finding their forever home or becoming a healthy happy horse to remain in care (as some of our horses need to do).
KHH Pearl – Pearl is a huge young Kaimanawa who came out of a previous muster. Sadly she was onsold to an unsuitable home who starved her. Pearl also has an old injury (possibly born like it or injured as a baby) which makes her unsuitable to be ridden. Pearl is unlikely to be rehomed, she is slow to trust and has built a beautiful bond with her foster family.
KHH Max came out of the 2018 muster and sadly his first home did not work out as his owners struggled to handle him. He is a very old battle-scarred stallion and hasn’t coped too well coming into domestic life. Max will remain under KHH care where he can receive gentle handling in his own time and where we know he will remain safe, well and happy.
KHH Tenna is another one of our old boys, in his mid twenties now and only around 12hh, Tenna came out of one of the first musters and has been used as a teaser on a stud farm for many years. Once his old owner sold up his land we were asked to take him on. Tenna is a rig and therefore will need to remain in KHH care where he can live out his days with the other old boys.
KHH Sundance came into KHH care after running wild for many years and then his owner no longer able to care for him. Sundance is from the 2010 muster and KHH paid for him to go straight to a professional trainer where he was handled, gelded, feet and teeth done.
Although he tolerated all this process, being an old boy, he has found it hard to adjust to being handled and we don’t feel we can rehome him, therefore he will remain under KHH care where he gets all he needs and is well cared for. Sundance is a beautiful black boy, approx. 14.1hh and around 20yrs old. He adores his carrots!
KHH Ngahuia is a beautiful black mare that has been signed over to KHH after beingpurchased as a riding horse but has found
to have many health issues with high stress levels. She has had ongoing vet care and a paddock mate that doesn’t leave which means she has now become a very settled and happy horse.
KHH Crunchie
Crunchie was bought to our attentionby HUHA as his owner had passed away and he was being looked after by non horsey people doing their best.
Crunchie is an older boy that can no longer be ridden, he is in a fantasticfoster home that says he is a very sweet, easy boy to have around.
Crunchie will stay with KHH.
KHH Lucky Man
KHH Kaia
This beautiful girl has come from the July 2025 muster. Unfortunately she was sent to her future home as a juvenile (she was mustered quite underweight which made her look young). We can now confirm she is a zone 20 mare that is 5 years old.
Kaia is finding the move to domesticity hard and along with her being a mature horse is not suitable for the initial home.
Kaia is currently continuing her training getting ready to find her forever person.
KHH Tresses & Biscoff
Thea (Tresses) came into KHH shortly after the 2025 muster as her owner did not want her.
Thea foaled a beautiful little filly not long after coming into our care. Both mum and baby will need to be handled once Biscoff is old enough, they will then be looking for their forever homes.
KHH Larky
Larky came into KHH care as she was extremely reactive, had suffered from laminitis and at times was aggressive. This meant that she was not suitable to continue as a riding horse but was also unable to be rehomed as a paddock mate.
Larky has been under vet care, over time she has been treated for ulcers and hormonal changes. Unfortunately Larky needs regular ulcer treatment with seasonal changes to keep her comfortable and happy.
Because of the ongoing care requirements, Larky will stay in KHH care for the rest of her life.
Current KHH Horses available for Sale
KHH Max came out of the 2018 muster and sadly his first home did not work out as his owners struggled to handle him. He is a very old battle-scarred stallion and hasn’t coped too well coming into domestic life. Max will remain under KHH care where he can receive gentle handling in his own time and where we know he will remain safe, well and happy.
KHH Max came out of the 2018 muster and sadly his first home did not work out as his owners struggled to handle him. He is a very old battle-scarred stallion and hasn’t coped too well coming into domestic life. Max will remain under KHH care where he can receive gentle handling in his own time and where we know he will remain safe, well and happy.
KHH Milliefluer – 2 years old
Millie is a 2 year old filly standing currently approx 13.1hh.
Millie is gorgeous, loves people and cuddles.
She’s confident going out for walks on her won, loves exploring and is soft and responsive.
A little nervous about having her back feed trimmed, but if you go slowly and gently they can be done. She has some underlying anxiety and does windsuck, so will need someone who doesn’t mind that and can help her work through any anxiety. Millie has had her teeth done and is up to date with worming.
Millie is currently based in Wellington, any potential homes will need to visit her and she must go to a home with other horses for company.
KHH Indi – 13 Years Old
Meet Indi, a beautiful 14.3hh 13 year-old Kaimanawa mare. For the last six months Indi has been in a home and mainly handled by 13-year-old girl who has become very attached to her. Indi has an amazing personality and loves her four-year-old paddock mate Rusty (gelding). Because of an unknown injury, Indi is unsound to ride and will be on a permanent free lease as a paddock mate (she has been treated with bodywork). Indi has been taken out and about including to the Russell Higgins stage 1 clinic, (focusing on groundwork) and is currently barefoot. She travels well in a straight load float. Indi is easy to catch once she knows you. Currently located in South Auckland/North Waikato
Indi must go to a home with at least one other horse for company.
KHH Luna – 7 year old mare
Luna is a big Kaimanawa at approximately 15.1/15.2hh.
Luna’s got a big personality, and lets her opinions be known. When she likes you she’ll follow you around and ask for scratches, and be very keen to come out and do things. She’s easy to cover, usually good to catch and lead.
Can be a bit nervous going out of sight of her friends, but will do it.
Luna is good with young kids and dogs running around, though if the dog gets super close will think about chasing him. Cars/bikes don’t bother her, but big machinery like tractors are scary. Will stay behind tape, but only if it’s electric.
Luna is still very green and inexperienced with a lot of things and needs confident, capable and patient handling to bring out her potential. Luna loves clicker training!
She can be sat on and walked around bareback, was previously ridden a little, but will need retraining there.
Luna needs a bitless home as she has some teeth issues, which with 6 monthly dentals should improve. This does mean she should ideally have a largely hay diet.
Lunas also had laminitis previously, so needs a home who can keep an eye on that. Though since being in foster care has been sound and coping with some grass.
KHH Santos – 7 year old Kaimanawa Mare
SIRE – Espresso
DAM – Mocha
Santos is now ready to find her special home. This lovely 7-year-old Kaimanawa mare, originally mustered from Argo Valley in 2024, has completed her initial handling and has blossomed into a willing, kind-natured pony with a fantastic foundation.
She has been thoughtfully produced and is confidently working through a solid range of horsemanship skills, including:
• Rein-back, Side pass, Walking & trotting at the shoulder, Confident obstacle work, Float and truck loading, Catching easily in the paddock
Santos has her teeth, worming, and hooves all up to date, and is well-prepared for her next chapter in life. She is now ready to continue her education with someone who will quietly and kindly develop her into a ridden pony.
This beautiful mare stands at 138cm on the home stick and would ideally suit a long-term home committed to bringing out her full potential.
All homes are subject to KHH checks and approval to ensure the very best placement for her.
If you’re looking for a stunning, trainable pony to grow with, Santos may be your perfect match.
Email – morganchandlerbruce@gmail.com for more information.
KHH Lucky – Older Mare
Lucky is looking for her forever home. She is approximately 20 years old and around 13.3hh.
Lucky had been with her family for 5 years, she has been thoroughly checked over and is not able to be a ridden horse. We placed her in a home 1 year ago however through no fault of her own we now need to find her another home.
Lucky is a quirky little lady, she is a sweet girl and needs firm but kind handling. Looooves food and clicker training and will talk and do anything for a treat. Good to trim her feet. She has no health issues and teeth, worming etc are done regularly.
KHH Custodian aka Cass – 2 years old
Cass is expected to mature 14.1-14.2hh. He is a super friendly and beautifully put together young gelding. At 2 years old he has a couple of years of adventuring on the lead and in hand showing before he will be ready to start under saddle.
Cass is currently located in Cambridge. Please pm us or email welfare@kaimanawaheritagehorses.org if you would like to meet Cass.
He will not be sold sight unseen and must go to a home wirh at least 1 other horse for company.
Kaimanawa horses advertised on behalf
Please contact us if you have a kaimanawa horse for sale and would like to include it on this page.
KH Flo – 4 year old Kaimanawa Mare
Flo has been professionally started under saddle, is good for the dentist, farrier and vet.
She has been hacked out, been to the beach and is good under saddle. Flo will need a competent, confident home to continue her journey under saddle.
Sadly for sale due to owners health. For enquiries please contact Christine 021 065 8407. Flo will be subject to KHH reference and home checks, she will need to go to a home with at least 1 other horse for company.
horses we have helped
KHH has helped many horses over the years that have needed help either directly from the Muster or further down their journey into domestic life. Whilst we do our best to rehome to the best of homes, we can’t control where horses are on sold to.
If you need help with your Kaimanwa for anything from feeding to handling please touch base, we are more than happy to assist you and your horse.
KHH Rossi
Rossi has now been sold to a wonderful new home and will be moving to be with her new family soon.
Have fun miss Rossi. We are glad we could assist you along in your journey to finding new adventures.
KHH Shanti has been sadly been returned to KHH care several times. She was eventually sent to a brilliant trainer for handling and did very well. Shanti’s foster home adopted her and she now happily lives her days with a warm morning feed and hay with her herd.
KHH Bess came into our care after her owner no longer wanted her, she was sent to a trainer for handling and unfortunately injured her leg. We currently have her under our care to heal and to earn her trust again. Once she is ready, we will be looking for the right home for Bess. Bess is approx. 9yrs old and 14.2hh.
Bess now has a home with her foster carers who came to love her too much to let her go.
