WORDS AND IMAGERY: AMANDA TRAYES Wild, wild horses

The Kaimanawa Range, 77,348 hectares of mountains, rivers and valleys, is home to New Zealand’s most famous wild horse herd. The first horses were introduced to New Zealand by the Revd Samuel Marsden in December 1814, but it wasn’t until 1876 that the first wild horses were recorded in the Kaimanawa Range.

The original bloodlines came from a mixed breed known as the Comet – small in stature, robust and sure-footed. Over the years, other breeds have contributed to the lineage: escapees from the Land Wars, horses released from local farms and, in 1941, horses that were released from the mounted rifle cavalry units at Waiouru when a strangles epidemic threatened.

This unique landscape is also home to almost 750 species of native plants, including many uncommon and endangered varieties.

Since 2009 an annual horse muster has maintained the herd at approximately 300, ensuring that the habitat and plant life are protected and greatly improving the condition of the horses.

Representatives from the Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai, the New Zealand Defence Force and Kaimanawa Heritage Horses get together every autumn to carry out a head count in the lead-up to the muster in order to ascertain how many homes will be required for the captured horses. I was lucky enough to be invited to join the most recent trip, which, for me (a huge horse lover), was like having a backstage pass to my favourite band. The range itself is incredible, like another world, and being able to get up close and see the horses in their own environment was truly a privilege.

Technical data

Camera: Canon EOS 5D MK III

Lens: EF100-400 f4.5-5.6L IS USM

Aperture: f/5.6 ISO: 100 Exposure: 1/250