Artist Matt Gauldie with the finished war horse statute. Photo / Tom Rowland
Artist Matt Gauldie with the finished war horse statute. Photo / Tom Rowland
The larger than life bronze statue of a war horse which is set to become a Waikato and national monument was welcomed to Hamilton this week before its official unveiling on Armistice Day.
The $220,000 artwork created by Otaki artist Matt Gauldie was shown to a small group of supporterswho have contributed to the project, a tribute to the thousands of horses - and the troopers - of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, including many from the Waikato, who served in campaigns of World War I and before.
The statue will be installed at Memorial Park on November 11 as part of Armistice Day commemorations. The artwork is a joint project of the the Waikato Combined Equestrian Group and local arts trust TOTI who formed a War Horse Board to manage the project.
Noeline Jeffries, president of the board told guests at the special preview that the horse has been given the name Gunner. Once installed the statue will be given to the people of Hamilton.
The new War Horse statue has been welcomed to Hamilton.
