Kaimanawa Heritage Horses is a charitable society run by a volunteer group of passionate horse people and dedicated to the care and welfare of Kaimanawa horses both domestically and in the wild.
We are advocates for the horses and work closely with the Department of Conservation and other interested groups on the welfare and future of the Kaimanawa horses in the wild. Prior to each muster we search for suitable homes and complete home-checks to place as many horses as possible. We actively support our members and their domestic Kaimanawa horses through our Welfare team, Area Reps, magazine, education and training, Annual Shows and Ribbon Days.
Kaimanawa Heritage Horses is privileged to benefit from the passion and dedication of a wonderful group of people, both as committee members and people who just like to help with a great cause.
Our AGM is held in June of each year so if you would like to join the team as a committee member, then please consider coming along to the meeting. Offers of help are always appreciated so if you feel you have the time and skills that we need to help promote Kaimanawa Horses then please get in touch.
A special thanks to Elder Jenks, Ben Moores, Dani Taylor, Grace Robertson, Michele Haultain, and the many other helpers for their ongoing help assisting the committee.
Committee member profiles, including contact links are below:
We are currently looking for someone willing to become the society secretary. If you are interested in learning more about the position then please get in touch.
My kaimanawa journey started in 1997 after meeting some kaimanawa’s at the Fieldays. Later that year my first load of five horses arrived and from there, I was well and truly hooked on these remarkable little horses.
Over the years I have taken kaimanawa’s from past auctions, musters and rescue situations and given them the skills they need to be well adjusted domestic horses. Some are still with me after 20 years while others have gone off on new adventures.
My passion has always been connecting horses and children and a lot of my work has been with underprivileged children and troubled youth. I find kids respond well to “wild” horses equally as much as kaimanawas’ respond to children.
After being involved with kaimanawas’ for so many years I am now thankfully in a better position to help contribute to the Kaimanawa Heritage Horses committee and kaimanawa horses in general.
My involvement with the Kaimanawa horses goes back 25 years when we got our first Kaimanawa who was born to a mustered mare from one of the very early trial musters. I was one of the foundation members of the then Kaimanawa Wild Horse Welfare Trust which has become Kaimanawa Heritage Horses (KHH).
It has been remarkable to see how KHH started with humble beginnings and has grown in strength, that’s due mainly to its passionate hard-working committee and its wonderful members. I feel extremely privileged to have been part of that journey and feel very humbled with the wonderful support the Kaimanawa horses are now receiving.
The Kaimanawa horses have had their share of unfair treatment over the years and it is really satisfying to see the change of attitude by the Department of Conservation the Army and the public in general.The Equestrians world has now started to appreciate what we have known all along that the Kaimanawa horses are very special and a National treasure.
We still have a way to go and it will be a wonderful day when the musters can be replaced with contraception, and there will be no more Kaimanawa horses sent to slaughter purely because they are where they are.
My name is Magy Greathead and my love for horses goes way back to dreaming of owning one as a child. I achieved my dream later in life and although he is not a Kaimanawa, he allows me to fulfill that dream. His name is Couper and he lives on a property with a beautiful little black Kaimanawa called Biscuit.
I joined Kaimanawa Heritage Horses to help those who can’t help themselves. I assist with the membership and enjoy the role because I know that in some small way, I am helping to preserve these beautiful horses in the wild. Please help us to help them by becoming a member, so they can have the lives they deserve, or better still if you have the patience and time, adopt one into your life and reap the fulfillment and rewards these beautiful horses can offer.
I was born and raised on a farm near Raetihi, deep in the King Country and close to the Kaimanawa Ranges. I grew up knowing about the wild horse herd which roamed the Kaimanawas from my father and uncles, who spent time each year camping in the ranges. Now I live on a lifestyle block near Pukekohe.
I spent twenty five years working in the Information Technology Industry before becoming interested in Digital Animation and then Photography. Now I make my living as a Photographer.
I was reacquainted with the Kaimanawa Horses in 2012, by going on one of the Bus Trips organised by the KHH. Through my involvement with Kaimanawa Heritage Horse Society I have been able to spend many days visiting the Kaimanawa Ranges and seeing and capturing these horses interactions within their family units – in the wild.
This led me into an involvement with the KHH, photographing the Kaimanawas in the wild, in shows, the last muster, the Stallion Challenge at Equidays and HOY and unfortunately the plight of some rescue horses.
I look forward to working on the Committee to further the protection of these wonderful creatures.
I was born at Huntly and grew up in the Railway settlements of Whangamarino, Te Awamutu and Frankton as my dad was a shunter on the NZ Railways.I have always loved horses and as a child, my horses were my dad’s tomato stakes that I used to gallop around on.
I taught myself to ride at age 12 by reading a book on “How to ride a Horse” and I used to go once a week up to a local farm to ride their farm horses.I purchased my first horse at age 18. I used to ride him out at my school friend’s place at Whatawhata Research Station as he was used by the shepherds to ride out into the hill country to muster the sheep. He was named Bill and I called him Billy Boy, a lovely chestnut gelding with flaxen mane and tail.
I have three children, five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter aged 6 who is crazy about horses. My daughter Paula Stuart competes very successfully on her Grand Prix Dressage horse Aztec Lad and I usually go with her when competing. I own a grey Registered Dutch Warm Blood mare named Heidee and bred two lovely foals from her.
I sponsored two Kaimanawas from the 2014 muster and they were named Trooper and Sarj after I ran a competition on Facebook for their names. Jo Baird did an amazing job in training them and I used to visit them on the odd occasion. They are both sold now and Trooper is now playing polo.
For the past four years, I have been involved in the War Horse Memorial Project as President of the Waikato Combined Equestrian Group Inc. Now that the Unveiling has been completed and the war horse statue gifted to the Hamilton City Council for the people of Hamilton and the nation, I have turned my attention on assisting with the Kaimanawa Horses.
This is my second year on the committee and I hope I can be of assistance to help out in whatever capacity I can.
I was born in Warkworth and lived on a 800 acre farm at Windy Ridge before shifting to Matakana. Having grown up on a farm I have always had a love for all animals but especially horses. As teenager I went to Auckland for work. In 2007 my partner and I bought a lifestyle block up north. I had always known that i would get back to the land but only ever dreamed of owning a horse now we have 6 and 3 of those at Kaimanawa’s. Our first introduction to Kaimanawa’s was on the ranges trip in 2018 and the following year 2019 when we did the photography trip. We both have an absolute passion for these horse and their welfare.
I came to horses later in life and after a few unsuccessful riding lessons decided my efforts would be better spent helping and understanding these magnificent creatures. My partner and I live in Northland with our family of six horses including 3 Kaimanawa’s. I believe horses have a huge amount to teach us, if only we listen. I am active as a volunteer for the Whangarei RDA and have been for a number of years.
I have been involved with the Kaimanawa horses for over 20 years and was a foundation member of KHH (formally Kaimanawa Wild Horse Welfare Trust)
After a break off the committee where I had held various positions I have rejoined the committee.
My interest in helping the horses is looking at contraception as an option to mustering.
I have spent many years keeping in contact with the people in the States doing the trials of GonaCon Equine and it is all looking very promising.
Having been involved with the Jenks family for more than 30 years one way or another I suppose there was no way out when it came to the Kaimanawa horses.
I did have a horse as a teenager and helped a mate out at a racing stable on the odd occasion. When our daughter was old enough we got a pony, and have had horses ever since.
Elder knew, well before I did, that I was due to volunteer to become a committee member. I mostly help out when asked (working the BBQ) or get told by Sue that the mucking out needs doing for the two Kaimanawa horses we now have, to pick up yet more feed and get along to the committee meetings.
However, having joined it has been an enjoyable experience and I hope it will continue for many years to come.
Dani works as a secondary school teacher and part-time automotive journalist. Her passion for unhandled horses started in 2013 after meeting a trainer who specialised in this. She has a team of a Gisborne Stationbred and two Kaimanawas.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments.
If you require immediate assistance for a kaimanawa horse please contact a member of our welfare team.