Redwings Horse Sanctuary and Equine Veterinary Centre

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Redwings is the UK's largest horse sanctuary, caring for over 1,100 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules every day. Our work is funded solely by donations and with your help we can give these animals the best possible care so they can eventually be re-homed or enjoy a home for life at the Sanctuary.

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Redwings Top Story

25 Jan 2012 by Redwings Press Office

Redwings reveals war horse history

Old records

With Michael Morpurgo’s book War Horse now a highly successful theatre production and Hollywood blockbuster, Redwings has released records of 43 horses who served in the Great War and found sanctuary at the charity’s Ada Cole Memorial Stables.

The stables were formed in memory of the late Ada Cole in 1932 to provide sanctuary and care to horses in need. The organisation, which was originally based in South Mimms, would travel to Belgian horse markets to rescue suffering horses – some of who were used in the front line of World War One.

Redwings merged with Ada Cole Memorial Stables, who are now based in Harlow, in 2005 and early ledgers kept safe by Visitor Centre Manager Debbie Johnston have revealed some fascinating details of these noble steeds’ history.

Among the roll of honour is Golden Boy who is listed in the ledger as ‘an old charger who went through the last war – he has number 7360 on his neck and a mark on his near shoulder. Aged. Blaze. 15.3hh. Went all thro’ war’.

The list includes also includes Turpin, a grey whose duty was ‘heavy artillery in war’, Robin ‘an old war horse, being blind in left eye’, ‘stone deaf’ Warrior, along with other thought-provoking names such as Standfast, Brigadier, ‘Blind’ Bess, Soldier and Captain – listed as an ‘Ex Army Charger’.

Read more here...

Redwings in Action

19 Jan 2012 by Redwings Press Office

New year cheer for Dudley Four

Four ponies taken in before Christmas by Redwings are facing a brighter 2012 thanks to the efforts of staff at the charity and a number of partner organisations, including Dudley Council and the RSPCA. Tinsel, Robin, Mistletoe and Holly, as they have been named, were rescued from Fens Pool Nature Reserve just outside Dudley in December, and are now recovering here at Redwings. All four were extremely underweight but three in particular, Robin a Welsh pony, Mistletoe, a tiny Shetland, and Tinsel, a 13hh cob, were in the weakest state and were barely able to stand by themselves.

09 Jan 2012 by Redwings Press Office

New Year, New Friend!

Happy New Year to you all! Why not adopt a brand new horse, pony or donkey from Redwings to celebrate the New Year in style? Redwings has launched four brand new additions to its popular Adoption Club. Victoria, Rumpel, Del Boy and Gulliver will all join the gang at one of our four visitor centres across the country, and you can adopt one of them for just £12.50 a year. An adoption makes a wonderful gift for a loved one, or why not treat yourself? It’s a great way to support Redwings and make a new friend in the process!

Read about the other three new additions here...

14 Jan 2012 by Redwings Press Office (Update)

Abandonment figures triple

Redwings has released figures and information which show that since 2009 the abandonment of horses has nearly tripled. In 2009, 160 horses were reported to our Welfare team as being abandoned, and in 2010 that figure was 241. The figure for 2011 was an astonishing 450, almost three times as many as two years ago. So far in 2012, 100 abandoned horses have already been reported to the Redwings Welfare team. The charity reports seeing a rise in not only the number of calls from members of the public reporting an abandoned horse or pony but also from councils and the police who are finding horses straying on the roads, or dumped on council or private land.