It’s like a scene from Black Beauty – three beautiful sisters with glossy hair, cantering through rugged countryside on wild horses. But there’s far more to this family than just good looks. These hard-working young women– Vicki (27), Kelly (25) and Amanda Wilson (21) – are on a missionto improve horse welfare.
When the Weekly arrives at the Wilson family farm in Northland, the sisters are filming their yet-to-be screened TV series, which follows them as they rescue and train wild horses from the Kaimanawa Ranges.
The Wilsons, who currently have 47 horses (15 of them wild), are passionate about saving these animals from slaughter. “It’s incredibly rewarding,” says competitive show-jumper Vicki. “Our show-jumping horses are mostly ‘difficult’ horses other people had written off and, of course, our wild ones would have ended up at the abattoir.”
The Wilson sisters, from left, Amanda, Vicki, and Kelly, have devoted their lives to horses.
The Wilson sisters live at their parents’ Hukurenui farm, where they also have three calves, three dogs, a disabled goat, two cats and four kittens. They’re well-known by locals, who’ve grown used to seeing them ride through the local McDonald’s drive-thru and sleep among the wild horses in Aupouri Forest.
Over the years, the family has had to overcome financial hardship – when the girls were young, they lived in tents until their parents saved enough money to build their house. They also travelled the South Island in a horse truck while being home-schooled.
They have shared their journey in For the Love of Horses: The Wilson Sisters’ Inspiring Journey to Save New Zealand’s Wild Horses, hitting book stores this week. “I initially wrote a book about our wild stallion Major, but Random House was more interested in our family story. So I wrote For the Love of Horses, but I still think it’s weird people want to read about us,” says Kelly.
The sisters run Showtym Horses, running clinics, holiday programmes and coaching young riders. They’ve also added training Kaimanawa horses and reality TV to their schedule. “I started filming a documentary about the Kaimanawa musters in 2012 but our producer suggested we put forward a proposal for a TV show instead,” explains Amanda. NZ on Air and TVNZ backed the eight-week series, showing the plight of the wild horses and their journey to domestication.”
The sisters run Showtym Horses, running clinics, holiday programmes and coaching young riders.
“In the past, the Kaimanawas were unpopular and many were going to slaughter during the biennial musters,” explains Kelly.“We thought it was heartbreaking and knew they deserved a second chance at life. Every year, the quality of the horses gets higher and with only 300 left in the wild, they’re in better condition than ever.
“We’ve had so much success with our horses from the 2012 and 2014 musters. The public has been amazing and are starting to recognise the
horses’ talent and trainability!”
Following the first muster, 119 out of 191 wild Kaimanawas were re-homed and the Wilson sisters took 11. “We didn’t ask our parents’ permission – they would have tried to talk us out of it,” confesses Kelly. In 2014, they returned for another muster and took 10 horses back to Northland with them.
Vicki competing in 2011.
Vicki and Amanda, who’ve won many national show-jumping titles over the past decade, compete at national level on performance horses, but spend their free time training the wild Kaimanawas.
“I get so much satisfaction seeing our horses do well. I’ve never spent more than $7500 on a horse and many of the horses I compete against cost six figures!” says Vicki.
“It costs about $2500 a week to feed all our horses. We’re completely self-funded. I usually start the show-jumping season on zero and finish on zero, but I love this life.”
As the trio sits around the wooden table outside their family’s modest farmhouse, they reminisce about winning equestrian events without saddles – their parents couldn’t afford to buy them. Amanda, who grew up watching her big sisters compete before following in their footsteps, has set her sights on winning a World Cup class event. She has her own book project and film on the horizon too.
Life with the wild horses has had it challenges and she’s been tempted to hang up the reins. “I was bucked off my wild horse three times in five minutes. I wanted to quit working with the wild horses,” Amanda tells.
“Their reaction rates are huge compared to normal horses. I have one that’s very dangerous and aggressive,” she adds, pointing to a 1.8m fence with a “Dangerous, keep out!” sign.
Kelly, who reveals a scar on her forearm, accepts injuries come with the territory. “I had 13 stitches from Amanda’s wild stallion biting me. I’ve put 150 hours into one of my horses in the last three months, but only now can I safely touch him!
“Vicki broke both legs from walking a horse when she was a teenager and has dislocated a shoulder a number of times. Then, a few weeks ago, she fractured her collarbone and broke her wrist again when a horse fell on her,” she says.
Kelly heads out for a ride.
“The wild stallions are from a herd dynamic and their instinct is flight or fight. We have learned to read warning signs to avoid conflict. Our approach is to befriend them. We want them to like their new lives.”
Hands-on Vicki believes wild horses initially require 10 times as much work as the others. “We have a better bond with the wild horses after three months than we do with our regular show-jumpers we’ve owned for five years.” She’s at the stables at 6.30am each day and works past sunset.
Kelly, who also mucks in, now only rides for fun. She specialises in photography and freelance graphic design.
But they know the time will come when they will spread their wings. Vicki has bought a 10-hectare farm with stables, backing on to her parents’ land. And with a shared dream to work with show-jumpers and wild horses internationally, they hope to travel together.
The gorgeous single girls joke they have their hopes pinned on finding eligible high country farmers who enjoy an adventurous lifestyle. “But I haven’t given meeting men any time as I’ve been too busy with the horses,” says Vicki.
“I have trouble having conversations with guys without mentioning horses!” adds Amanda.
For the Love of Horses: The Wilson Sisters’ Inspiring Journey to Save New Zealand’s Wild Horses by Kelly Wilson
It’s clear where the Wilson sisters’ passions lie. “This past winter, we took the wild horses to the snow and they loved it,” says Kelly. “Whenever we can find the time, we go on massive adventures with them. We can’t handle a mundane life, so why should the horses?”
For the Love of Horses: The Wilson Sisters’ Inspiring Journey to Save New Zealand’s Wild Horses by Kelly Wilson (Random House, $45) is in bookstores now.
