The Kaimanawa horses are a living piece of New Zealand history, roaming the 63,000-hectare high-country desert of the Waiouru Military Training Base. Their lineage is a unique blend of Exmoor and Welsh Mountain ponies introduced in the 1870s, later joined by escaped cavalry mounts and farm horses. This diverse heritage created a resilient breed whose name, in Māori, aptly means ‘to eat the wind.’
While thousands once thrived across the central plateau, by 1979 the population had plummeted to just 174 due to hunting and habitat loss. Legal protection in 1981 allowed the herd to recover, but their rapid growth eventually threatened 31 species of rare native flora unique to the region.
Today, the herd is carefully managed by the Kaimanawa Wild Horse Advisory Group to maintain a sustainable population of 300 to 400 horses. Through a combination of immunocontraception and regular musters, the horses are kept in good health while protecting the delicate ecosystem. Since a major milestone in 2016, a dedicated network of groups and trainers has ensured that every mustered horse is saved from slaughter and offered to the public for re-homing.
I am proud to be a registered trainer with both Kaimanawa Heritage Horses (KHH) and the Kaimanawa Legacy Foundation (KLF). Through these partnerships, I work to give these wild-born horses the best possible start in their domestic lives, helping them transition into loyal, versatile companions for their new owners. If you are keen to offer a Kaimanawa Horse a new home but dont have the expertise, time or facillities then I can help.
I had the most amazing experience having my Kaimanawa trained with Ellie. Right from the moment they came off the truck Elie kept us up to date through the entire process. Having no previous experience with young or untamed horses, Ellie was incredibly supportive and I felt confident I wouldn't undo the fantastic training she did. We absolutely love our little Kaimanawa Atlas, she has become a farm favourite for being so friendly and curious.
We had the most incredible experience with Ellie handling our colt. She has the most amazing connection, calmness and patience with these horses brought in from the wild. Mohaka trusted Ellie to train him on the ground and the development we saw over the few weeks he was with Ellie was incredible. Would absolutely recommend Ellie to anyone getting a Kaimanawa from the musters.
I'm over the moon we had the opportunity to have Ellie make our dreams come true with having our very own Kaimanawa straight from the wild. With her knowledge and tailored experience we got to be there for all those amazing milestones and the thrill of that first touch. Ellie was patient and made sure our little marmite had as much time he needed to feel safe and secure in his new environment. That translated to when we got to bring him home the support never ended. It's an amazing experience we will never forget. Thank you, you have given us the start to the most amazing future with our little man!
I would highly recommend working with Ellie for providing a home for a Kaimanawa. Such excellent support during the training and on rehoming. The experience is both personally supportive and offers an extension/growth to your own horsemanship skills.
Hi Ellie I keep meaning to message you to let you know how great he’s doing! We took a break from any training for a few weeks as i had a really nasty bug, but we have picked up again this week. He can still be a bit a flighty when he sees something new but he tries so hard and learns very quickly. He learned how to stand on a tarp with water running this week so we can soak his feet for the hoof trimmer. He’s such a good boy and I’m so greatful for the work you did to start him off.
If you are keen to help save the life of a Kaimanawa Horse then please get in touch with Ellie to talk through the process.