Organisers of the annual Kaimanawa wild horse muster are worried the animals will be shot if homes aren't found.
At least 150 wild Kaimanawa horses need to be culled as part of the Department of Conservation's (DoC) management plan to protect unique plant species.
Galloping across the Kaimanawa Ranges, these horses are New Zealand's only wild herd. But they share the 65,000-hectare landscape with special plants that need protecting, so every year herd numbers are culled back to about 300.
This year, more than 150 horses need rehoming - but only three people have signed up.
"Obviously we're getting pretty low numbers at this stage, so all panic stations to get those numbers in," says Kaimanawa Heritage Horses Welfare Society chairperson Sue Rivers.
That's because DoC shoots horses after their annual cull - and although none have been killed in the past five years, organisers are worried.
"The worst fear is slaughter starts to happen again," Rivers says.
Horse trainer Kelly Wilson has saved more than 75 horses since 2012 when she began rehoming Kaimanawas.
"Being able to work with a wild horse directly from a muster gives you an amazing opportunity to learn - and wild Kaimanawas have been my biggest teachers," she says.
Wilson has been very successful.
"It's not only the most rewarding journey but you really take this horse with no other options and give it the most wonderful life," she says.
Even a horse muster can't escape the impact of a pandemic, and organisers say people are more hesitant than ever to rehome a Kaimanawa.
"The uncertainty - are they going to be COVID-positive when they have a horse in the yards that require care?" Rivers says.
And an uncertain time for the horses who are at risk of being killed if they're not rehomed.
"They are worthy of saving," Rivers says.
Applications close on April 3.
