Feral horse control

Feral horses live on both public and private land. Australia has the largest population of feral horses in the world. There is a clear potential for them to increase their density and distribution across the state unless controlled.

Impact of feral horses

Feral horses cause environmental damage and threaten conservation areas. They can damage vegetation, wetlands, streams, native animals, and landscapes, especially in sensitive environments.

They pose a threat to domestic horses, and can damage fencing, agricultural land, crops and horticulture.

Feral horses also pose a risk to humans and road safety. They can cause collisions if they stray onto roads. This can result in serious injuries to drivers and riders.

Control of feral horses

Community views on feral horses vary. Humane management is important.

All land managers can reduce risks from feral horse populations on land under their care and control by undertaking activities that:

• reduce the risk of feral horses breeding on or being introduced to their land
• reduce the risk of feral horses being released into the environment
• reduce overall feral horse population.

Horse owners should ensure their horses are identifiable (branded) and remain on their land, and euthanise unwanted animals. 

Local Land Services is working to reduce the impact of feral horses by:

• raising awareness with land managers
• supporting development, trial, and implementation of humane control practices
• helping to protect sensitive environments.
• increasing public safety to reduce traffic impacts.

For more information on pest species and biosecurity, visit PestSmart.

You should report any feral horse sightings or activity to your local Biosecurity Officer. You can also contact them for feral horse management advice.

Wild horses on the North Coast

North Coast Wild Horse Management Program

Our North Coast Invasive Pests team have been working with local land managers to trap wild horses and then rehome them through rescue organisations and private landholders. To date this program has resulted in 152 wild horses rehomed.

General Biosecurity Direction in Clarence and Coffs Harbour

A general biosecurity direction for controlling wild horses is in effect in Clarence and Coffs Harbour. It 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) 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

Application for ownership of wild horses in Clarence and Coffs Harbour region

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.

Applicants 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.

Pest management in your region

We've worked with regional pest animal committees and the community to develop regional strategic pest animal management plans in each of our 11 Local Land Services regions.

Your Regional Strategic Pest Animal Management Plan will tell you what priority pest animals you need to manage and how.

Regional strategic pest animal management plans