Kaimanawa horses.

A group of the wild Kaimanawa horses gallop through the tussock of the vast area they roam in on the Central Plateau. Most of this area  of some 200,000 acres is controlled by the N.Z. Army and only occasionally can the public enter.The  wild horses have lived here since 1876. Some Welsh and Exmoor ponies cross bred with farm hacks as well as horses released from the mounted rifle unit of the army. Numbers built up to 1500  but the vegetation could not sustain this number.Now there are regular musters so as to maintain a herd of 300. Rather than culling the excess horses most are placed with suitable owners by the Kaimanawa Heritage Horse welfare society.A number of these horses have gone on to success in the show ring and elsewhere. It is great that the environment is being protected and that the genetic pool of this special breed is being preserved.