Frequently Asked Questions
Our horses
Why can’t we ride the horses when we visit you?
The horses you will meet in our visitor centres have a permanent home at Redwings precisely because they are unable to be ridden – this may be because they have health problems or behavioural problems or they may simply be too advanced in years.
All the horses that come to us that are able to have a working life are re-homed through our Guardianship Scheme. Those that cannot are given a permanent home at the Sanctuary and the aim of our visitor centres is to show you how we care for these special residents and so you can meet them for yourselves – they just love to be cuddled!
Why do Redwings horses live out?
All our horses live out all year round unless they are under veterinary care, simply because this is the most natural lifestyle for them. Horses are by nature outdoor animals and they thrive from the fresh air and exercise that the outdoors gives them, not to mention the companionship they get from being with their herd.
For our more elderly residents the freedom means they can stretch their legs and exercise as much or as little as they wish, while for the younger horses and ponies, they get to burn off all their excess energy and have fun!
Read more about how we care for our sanctuary residents in sanctuary care.
Why doesn’t Redwings re-home its donkeys?
Donkeys are very special animals with particular needs. They are also very popular and we know that quite a few people would love to welcome one or two of our long eared residents into their own home! We have thought long and hard about the issue of including donkeys on Redwings successful Guardianship scheme, but made the decision to keep our donkeys in the care of the Sanctuary. Many of our donkeys are in their twenties and thirties and have been at Redwings for some time, they live in close knit, well established groups and we would not like to separate them from their community and their routine. We also know that our donkeys’ popularity extends to Redwings visitor centres and we like to ensure that all our supporters and visitors have the chance to get up close and personal with some of these lovely animals by simply paying us a visit!
If you would like to know more about donkeys and the care they need, please read our Donkey Ownership leaflet which you can download.
Our charity
How can I work for Redwings?
We advertise all our vacancies on this site – view our Vacancies section.
Are your staff paid?
The majority of our staff are paid for their work. This is primarily because they work directly with our rescued horses who can be dangerous or difficult to handle because of their traumatic pasts. Working with them needs lots of training and so it is very difficult to bring volunteers into that environment. However, we do have a fantastic volunteer welfare network, which is really valuable to us and we hope to take on more volunteers in other areas of our work in the future – register your interest by emailing info@redwings.co.uk.
Why can we only visit Hapton on special occasions?
Our Hapton HQ is not a visitor centre, it is the base for our administration centre and it is also the site of our Horse Hospital and our re-homing centre. It is home to many of our more elderly or poorly residents and some can be very nervous, so they are not necessarily suited to a life in the public eye and really benefit from the peace and quiet that the centre can offer. However, we love to open the gates twice a year so you can have a sneak peek behind the scenes and find out more about our Hapton HQ and what makes us tick!
Where did the name ‘Redwings’ come from?
Redwings was originally named by our founder, Wendy Valentine and actually has no equine connection at all, being derived from the type of chickens that had been kept on the site where Redwings was established!
Are you linked with Redwings USA?
Redwings USA are an entirely separate organisation based in California. Their official name is Horse Power Sanctuaries but they chose to adopt the public name of ‘Redwings’ as a thank you to us after we worked with them to help them with their fundraising and welfare programmes. Find out more about Redwings USA.
Why are you a national and not an international charity?
Redwings was set up in 1984 as it was felt an organisation was needed to care for horses and ponies in the UK – this is our objective as registered with the Charity Commission and with over 1 million horses and ponies in the UK, we still have our work cut out 25 years on!
Helping horses
I have an equine that I can’t look after anymore, will Redwings give it a home?
Redwings receives around 100 requests every month from people who would like to secure a future for their horse or pony within the Sanctuary. Unfortunately, we simply cannot accommodate this enormous number of equines without seriously compromising the welfare of our residents. Even as the largest horse sanctuary in the UK, Redwings can only care for a certain number of equines and very limited space is available for new arrivals each year. Sadly, there are more than enough welfare cases to keep us very busy and almost constantly full. We believe that this is where Redwings supporters and horse enthusiasts would want our focus to be.
There are no easy solutions for unwanted, retired equines and Redwings always advises owners and potential owners to think about and prepare for retirement from the outset. You can read more advice and information on retirement and the options that are available.
I am worried that an equine I have seen is not being looked after properly, what should I do?
Redwings operates a welfare helpline that will talk through any concerns that someone has about a horse, pony, donkey or mule. We would encourage anyone who is worried about an equine to ring or email us, whatever the situation. Calls are entirely confidential and we will help in anyway we can. However, it can also be useful to read some of the advice and information on our website about equine needs.
Redwings has a network of Field Officers across the UK that can assess a situation of potential concern and take the matter forward if need be. We will also contact you to let you know that we are working to improve the situation or explain why no further action is needed or possible.
For more information on reporting an equine to Redwings welfare team, view our get in touch section.
I have seen an equine loose on the road, who do I contact?
Equines straying on or near a road need to be reported immediately to the police, who are responsible for the safety of road users. The police are not usually able to transport or handle the equine but will do their best to prevent an accident and make enquiries to locate the owner.
In Norfolk, Redwings has a formal agreement with the county’s police force to collect and board straying equines until an owner can be found, which means that if anyone in Norfolk spots a stray equine, they still need to report the horse to the police, but that they will request Redwings’ help while they try to make contact with the owner. This was the first formal agreement of its kind in the country and has helped many equines since it was set up in 2006.
To find the contact number for your local police force, go to www.police.uk/forces.htm and click on the relevant part of the UK map.
I am thinking of setting up a horse sanctuary, what advice would you give me?
There is no short answer to this question because of the huge number of factors and considerations that go into running a successful sanctuary. Although passion and commitment are essential to rescuing and caring for equines, they are not enough on their own and it is the practicality and business sense of people involved that are the mainstay of positive equine welfare.
You can find out more information about what establishing and running a sanctuary involves or get in touch to talk it over with a member of our team.
Helping us
Do you get money from the Government?
No, we don’t receive any Government funding – we are a registered charity and are entirely dependent on donations from the public to keep us running.
Can I leave you my horse in my Will?
We do run a Home in the Event of Death Scheme, which means you can secure your horse’s future should anything unforeseen occur. Find out more by emailing our Legacy Officer, legacies@redwings.co.uk
Do you sell /accept tack and horsey stuff?
Our re-homing team are always grateful for any donations of tack or horsey equipment, and anything they cannot make use of will be sold to raise money for the charity. Please send any donations to Redwings Horse Sanctuary, Hapton, Norwich, NR15 1SP.
I have a collection box in my shop, what do I do with it?
Once it’s full you need to empty it and take the contents along to your local post office. They can change it for a cheque or postal order for you, which you then need to send to us along with your name and address. We will then send you a receipt and a new label for your box, with grateful thanks!
Can I help by rescuing a horse for you?
There are laws and procedures in place in the UK for dealing with cases of animal cruelty or neglect and it is always best to call on a professional welfare organisation to assist in such matters. If you are aware of a horse being neglected or in need of rescue, please contact our helpline on 01508 481008. The best way to help Redwings is offer your support and help us to help more horses! However, if you are very keen to take on a rescued horse, why not consider re-homing one of our rescued residents through our Guardianship Scheme?
