Wild Thyme Horsemanship

08/04/2026

Seeking Volunteers: Wild Kaimanawa Journey

In less than two weeks, six wild Kaimanawa horses will arrive to begin their new lives in domestication at Wild Thyme Horsemanship. Whilst we don't know yet who will arrive, we know one thing for sure: there is a mountain of work ahead!

We are looking for dedicated volunteers to help with the essential "behind-the-scenes" chores that keep everything running. In exchange for your hard work, you’ll get a unique, up-close view of the gentling and training process.

The Role:
Tasks: Scooping p**p, picking grass, filling hay nets and ensuring horses all have water.
The Perk: A front-row seat to watch the Kaimanawas transition from wild to domestic.
Note: This is primarily a spectator opportunity. While hands on handling may be possible in later weeks for the right candidates this is not necessarily guaranteed.

Prerequisites:
Availability: Between 8am–3pm, Monday–Friday. (must be able to be onsite by 8am and available till at least 10am but able to stay till 3pm to watch training)
Commitment: At least one day per week for a minimum of 6–8 weeks.
Age: 16+ only (must be able to work unsupervised).

If you’re passionate about these horses and don’t mind getting your hands dirty to see the magic happen, we’d love to hear from you! In anticipation of there being lots of interest please let us know what day per week you would be available and a bit about yourself when getting in touch. We will be limiting volunteer numbers so spaces will be very limited.

Location: 224 Tutukau Road, Mihi. Halfway between Rotorua and Taupo and just off SH5.

04/04/2026

Horses by day mayhem by night Taskmaster style.

That's the Adults bit of Everything Easter Camp so far. 😂❤️

31/03/2026

Another reason to adopt a kaimanawa as a Juvenile or older. These guys know when the right time to wean their foals is and I feel this has a lot to do with how level headed the majority of them are.

ARE WE WEANING FOALS TOO EARLY?

From the horses and problems I see, I know the answer is yes. Now an interesting new study suggests that how we manage the mare–foal relationship doesn’t just affect the foal in the short term, but can shape how they think, cope, and behave as adults.

Researchers compared foals weaned at around 6 months with those who remained with their mothers for longer, looking at brain development, behaviour, learning ability, and physiological stress markers.

Foals who stayed with their mothers:

• Showed differences in brain regions involved in emotional regulation and decision-making

• Had stronger connectivity in brain networks linked to processing information and responding appropriately to the environment

• Were more exploratory, more social, and quicker to approach novelty

• Learned handling tasks in fewer sessions and showed less resistance

• Despite spending less time feeding, foals with their mothers gained more weight

Whereas early-weaned foals:

• Showed higher cortisol levels, indicating greater stress

The concept at the centre of this research is allostasis – the brain’s ability to predict what is likely to happen and adjust behaviour and physiology in advance, based on past experience and current information.

Allostasis isn’t something a horse is born with. It develops through experience and from social learning. The mare appears to play a key role in this process, providing the foal with the information needed to interpret situations accurately. Without that early guidance, the developing horse may be more prone to overreact, misinterpret stimuli, or struggle to regulate stress.

We should be rethinking whether foals are being left with their dams for long enough. I very often see horses with behaviour problems who were weaned at 6 months or earlier (sometimes as young as 3 months), rather than the 8–12 months or longer they would remain with their dam naturally. The difference between foals who have had a more secure early upbringing and those weaned early is often striking in their behaviour, confidence, and ability to cope with the world around them.

The weaning process should not be treated as a management event driven by commercial timelines or the urgency to sell the foal. It is about how early life experience shapes the adult horse.

If behaviour, learning, and stress resilience are being influenced this early, what are the long-term consequences of how we currently raise and manage foals?

Study: Valenchon et al, Affiliative behaviours regulate allostasis development and shape biobehavioural trajectories in horses, 2026, Nature Communications

31/03/2026

29/03/2026

Calling South Island Homes!!!!!!

The closing date for Kaimanawa Horse applications closes on April 1st. Unfortunately, unhandled Kais are unable to travel straight there so either having access to yards in the North Island or enlisting the help of a trainer are the only options.

We currently still have three spaces left for training. In previous years the South Island horses we have trained have gone South via transporter. This year if we have South Island horses, I am proposing to bring them down myself, do handover sessions with the owners and then stay on for a Liberty Clinic. Owners would be able to attend the clinic for a heavy discount.

Dates would probably be end of July (TBC)

We encourage you to be as involved in the process as you would like to be, we have an onsite BnB and happy to do airport pickups if you would like to join in. Or if you can't make it then stay up to date with your horses progress through our chat group with regular photos videos and updates.

There are a number of rebates accessible via Kaimanawa Legacy Foundation and Kaimanawa Heritage Horses for training, gelding and travel.

With $1000 travel rebate the cost of getting your horse South is pretty much covered, we will take the journey over three days so that the horses have plenty of rest along the way and have space for three.

Get in touch to discuss further or ask any questions.

26/03/2026

They have trees and a shelter but apparently the best place to stand when a storm is brewing is in the ditch obstacle.

🤦

23/03/2026

What's not often documented on the wild horse journey are the times when it's not quite on the track you thought it would be.

​The beautiful pictures, the accounts showing horses soaring through all the milestones, the well-written words that make the journey seem magical; these are the highlight reels. These "best bits" are easy to document—we get a burst of endorphins and dopamine that gives us the extra energy to share the journey. We want to remember those moments, so we write them down, and the world sees the good bits.

​The reality, however—whether you are a trainer taking on client horses, a client who has received a horse from a trainer, or someone who has given it a go by yourself—is that there are mega highs but also mega lows. Sometimes the journey doesn't quite unfold as you had imagined. Sometimes the horse you dreamed of wasn't the horse that showed up. Sometimes you hit a roadblock (or twenty) and aren't sure how to proceed. No matter what it is, the reality is it’s not an "if" it will happen, but a "when," and what we can do about it when it does.

​Knowing it's coming doesn't really make it any easier; there is still self-doubt, feelings of inadequacy, and maybe even shame. What's important in these times is reaching out for support—surrounding yourself with a support system so you have someone to help pick you up when things don't feel good.

​Growth doesn't happen in the easy times, but when you have gone through something challenging and made it out the other side.

22/03/2026

A working bee weekend and a revamp of our cones.

What's your favourite colour?

17/03/2026

The scary reality of it 😱

But would rather be without gas than without family members or friends so feeling blessed. 💜

15/03/2026

Equestrian life hack unlocked ✅

14/03/2026

Choosing the right trainer for your Kaimanawa is a big decision- so why choose Wild Thyme Horsemanship?

Float Loading for us is a big deal, we want to set these horses up so they are confident loaders and travel well. We spend lots of time ensuring they are comfortable to load onto the float.

Want to learn more? Get in touch.

13/03/2026

Choosing a trainer to partner with to train your Kaimanawa is a big decision, so why choose Wild Thyme Horsemanship?

Float loading is a priority

As the horses need to travel home on either a truck or float it is important for us to help them feel confident as their last experience of traveling wouldn't have been that pleasant on the stock truck straight from the muster.

We use simulations such as this set up to help horses get the idea one step at a time.

Want to learn more? Get in touch.