Twenty Kaimanawa horses put down

More than 20 healthy Kaimanawa horses have been put down because their owners could not raise enough money to buy land for a horse sanctuary.

Twenty horses were given to Tam and Allan Ennor after last year's muster. It is understood the couple also had a number of horses from previous musters.

They had appealed for donations to set up an Elemental Horse Sanctuary for the Kaimanawa herd.

Veterinarian Nigel Coddington says he understands the horses were being kept on leased land, which has now been sold.

He says without land there was a problem, and rather than abandoning the horses they took the hard decision to have them put down.

Dr Coddington says there is no doubt the Ennors were very fond of the horses and did their best for them.

- NEWSTALK ZB