Feral horse rehoming program

The North Coast feral horse management program works with local land managers to trap feral horses and rehome them through rescue organisations and private landholders. 

This program supports landholders to report the presence of feral horses, develop a written management program, and maintain records of control actions.

To date, 157 feral horses have been successfully rehomed. 

Project background

A General Biosecurity Direction is in effect in Clarence and Coffs Harbour to control feral horses. This directive relates to activities involving the presence, spread, or increase of wild horses within the North Coast LLS Wild Horse Management Area Zone.  

Landholders in the zone must:

• report the presence of wild horses
• develop a written wild horse management program using the approved template in the information pack
• maintain records of their actions to control wild horses on their land.

For more information, download the North Coast Wild Horse Management General Biosecurity Direction PDF, 1861.22 KB (PDF 1.82MB) (PDF 1.82MB) 
Please note, this information pack contains a map and table that may not be fully accessible to screen-readers or other assistive technologies. If you require additional information, please contact tiffany.felton@lls.nsw.gov.au

Project objectives

The feral horse rehoming project offers practical support to landholders and organisations to help develop a management program and maintain records of control actions in order to:

• reduce the number of feral horses in the North Coast region
• support humane rehoming through approved organisations and private landholders
• ensure compliance with the General Biosecurity Direction in Clarence and Coffs Harbour. 

Project delivery

Local Land Services is:

• working with landholders to trap and remove feral horses
• rehoming captured horses through rescue groups and private landholders
• ensuring compliance with biosecurity obligations. 

Timelines for trapping and rehoming are dependent on seasonal conditions and operational requirements. 

How to get involved  

Members of the public can apply to own rehomed feral horses. 

Applicants must provide suitable facilities, accept responsibility for care, and acknowledge biosecurity risks. 

How to apply for ownership of wild horses

North Coast LLS is seeking EOI’s from members of the public interested in owning wild horses trapped in the Clarence and Coffs Harbour region.

You must meet the following criteria.

• Complete an application form for any wild horses they want to own.
• Provide facilities that meet basic requirements and humane care.
• Understand that the wild horses are not tame and are unaccustomed to human contact.
• Accept all liability associated with the wild horses once they are delivered or collected and loaded onto the applicant's transport.
• Take responsibility for the wild horses’ welfare and biosecurity risks once they are delivered or collected and loaded onto the applicant's transport.
• Acknowledge that unless specifically advised by NCLLS, the wild horses have received no health treatments or vet checks. Their parasitic burden and disease/health status are unknown.
• Understand that the wild horses (and if pregnant, their offspring) become the applicant's possession and responsibility once delivered or loaded onto the applicant's transport.

If you are interested in applying or need more information, contact Senior Biosecurity Officer Tiffany Felton at tiffany.felton@lls.nsw.gov.au or the Invasive Pest Team in Grafton on 1300 795 299.

Work underway

Project updates

September 2025 - A total of 157 horses have been rehomed to date.

February 2023 - Successful wild horse rehoming project saves 75 animals from the Corindi, Pillar Valley, Glenugie and Halfway Creek areas.

Project success stories

Not only does the program support better outcomes for these animals, it also plays a critical role in protecting our native ecosystems by reducing the environmental impact of feral horses. 

This beautiful cremello mare is now safe and thriving on a local property with her stunning new buckskin foal.  These photos are a testament to the power of giving wild horses a second chance. Through our rehoming program, horses like this one are safely trapped and given the opportunity to live a healthier, more secure life with dedicated landholders. 

Taking in these horses has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done. Watching the mare settle in and now seeing her raise a healthy foal on our property -  it’s incredibly special. They’ve brought a real sense of purpose and connection to the land. I’m grateful to be part of a program that gives these animals a second chance.

- David, Upper Lansdowne.