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Welfare Policy

The purpose of this policy is to provide information to the owners of horses about the standards they must achieve in order to meet their obligations under the Animal Welfare Act and to meet Kaimanawa Heritage Horses minimum requirements.

Equine Management

1. Horses must be cared for by a sufficient number of personnel, who, collectively, possess the ability, knowledge and competence necessary to maintain the physical and mental health and welfare of the animal/s. 2. Kaimanawa Horses must have equine company at all times. 3. Horses must be handled and trained at all times in such a way as to minimise the risk of pain, injury or distress. 4. Equipment used on horses must be maintained in good condition and be fitted so as not to cause injury. 5. Hooves must be trimmed as required, teeth & worming maintained.

Food and Water

1. Horses must receive adequate daily quantities of food and nutrients to enable each horse to: • Maintain good health • Meet its physiological demands • Minimise metabolic and nutritional disorders 2. If any horse shows signs of being underweight or if the body conditions score falls below 2 (on a 0-5 scale), urgent remedial action must be taken to improve the condition of the horse 3. If the horse shows any signs of being very fat, or if the body conditions score of any horse is greater than 4, urgent remedial action must be taken to improve the condition of the horse. 4. All horses must have access to a reliable daily supply of drinking water that is palatable, sufficient for their needs and not harmful to their health.

Shelter

1. Horses must have access to shelter to reduce the risk to their health and welfare caused by exposure to cold or wet weather conditions. 2. Horses must be provided with the means to minimise the effects of heat stress. 3. Where horses develop health problems associated with exposure to adverse weather condition, priority must be given to remedial action that will minimise the consequences of such exposure. 4. Where horse covers are used, these must be regularly checked to ensure tit is not rubbing the horse, the horse is not wet or over-heating.

Facilities

1. All facilities must be designed, constructed and maintained and operated in a manner that minimises the likelihood of distress or injury to the horse. 2. Faeces and urine must not be permitted to accumulate to such an extent that they pose a threat to the health and welfare of the horse. 3. Horses must be allowed sufficient room and facilities to exercise, lie down, graze and touch other horses.

Restraint and Containment

1. Horses must not be tethered 2. Any method to restrain or contain horses must be used in a way that minimises the possibility of injury, harm or distress to the horse. 3. Horses must receive daily exercise sufficient to maintain their health and welfare. 4. Halters must not have ropes attached that can be caught on objects or around legs

Horses under Saddle

1. Horses are not to be started under saddle until the horse has reached a minimum age of 3 years old, with no jumping until the horse has reached a minimum of 4 years of age. 2. Pregnant mares must not be started under saddle. 3. Riders must not weigh more than 15% of the horses overall weight including saddle.

Appendix: Body Scoring Condition of Horses