A NSW Government website

Kosciuszko National Park wild horse rehoming – Stakeholder update, April 2022

Read the April 2022 update on the rehoming of wild horses.

 

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service prioritises the rehoming of wild horses removed from Kosciuszko National Park, where it leads to the highest animal welfare outcomes. Since 2002, we have rehomed over 1,600 horses removed from the park. With your help, we can rehome more.

How to rehome a wild horse

Individuals and organisations must meet minimum requirements for rehoming a wild horse from the park. The requirements include criteria relating to transport from the National Parks and Wildlife Service temporary holding location, facilities and experience to ensure the safety and health of the animal.

If you meet the minimum requirements, prospective rehomers should complete an application and submit it online. Applications can be submitted at any time. The National Parks and Wildlife Service will assess your application and you will be advised of the outcome via email. Providing sufficient detail will help to fast-track your application. Your application to the National Parks and Wildlife Service must be for a minimum of 5 horses.

We will contact you directly when the horses you have requested become available. This may take some time if you have specific requests about the horses you seek to rehome. If you are open to receiving most types of horses, you are likely to receive your horses in a much shorter timeframe. Once contacted, you have 48 hours to pick up your horses and transport them to their new home.

There is no fee for rehoming wild horses from the National Parks and Wildlife Service. However, you will be responsible for providing transport and all ongoing costs associated with ownership of a horse.

Approved rehoming applications remain valid for 12 months, so just let us know if you wish to rehome additional horses throughout the year.

While we are always looking for homes for animals of all ages, rehomers seeking stallions, mature mares and older colts are particularly needed.

What if I am seeking less than 5 horses?

If you are seeking less than 5 horses, please make direct contact with the approved rehomers that are listed on our website. Let them know you are interested in rehoming a horse and find out what they have available.

Full details on the rehoming program are available on the department website.

Management of wild horses occurs in accordance with the 2021 Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan, which was prepared to meet the requirements of the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018. The plan identifies the heritage value of sustainable wild horse populations within identified parts of the park. It sets out actions to protect those heritage values and maintain other environmental values of the park.

Contact us

NPWS Wild horse team

Phone: 1300 361 967

Email: [email protected]