26 April 2024

Ponies and People: "That's what Redwings is all about!"

A pony named Aero is cuddled by Redwings Equine Behaviour Manager Sarah Hallsworth.

This year at Redwings we are celebrating our Ruby Anniversary! We have been providing sanctuary care and promoting horse welfare - inside and outside our paddock fences - for 40 years. 

Every month we’ve been celebrating some of the ponies and people that help to make Redwings so special. This month we sat down with Sarah Hallsworth, Claire Davenport and Felicity Borrell to learn about life at our Behaviour Centre.

 

Behaviour

 

At Redwings we have five main areas of work – Sanctuary, Rescue, Behaviour, Rehoming and Education. It’s through these areas that we strive to improve the welfare of horses, donkeys, ponies and mules across the UK. 

Did you know we have our own specialist Behaviour Centre where our team use techniques such as positive reinforcement to train our horses? 

As many of our residents have been rescued, they may need behavioural training because they are semi-feral or unhandled, have lived through negative experiences, are fearful of people, or are young. Those born within the Sanctuary may also need additional support. 

No matter the case, our dedicated team work patiently to help all residents adjust to sanctuary life and to ensure they are safe to handle.

A grey pony called Nancy receives behaviour training supported by a member of Redwings' Behaviour team
Nancy receives handling training guided by a member of our Behaviour team.

Let’s meet some of the team!

 

Sarah, our Equine Behaviour Manager, joined Redwings in 1999 when we opened Redwings Caldecott, near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. 

Sarah recalled: “It was all very different back then. All the job roles on the farms were very separate; there were people that checked the horses, handlers that did all the hands-on work with the horses, and farm staff who did the husbandry and care. 

“I suggested instead making the roles multi-skilled to make the job more varied, which is how they are today with our staff participating in all elements of our residents’ care.” 

Sarah moved to our headquarters, south of Norwich, when it opened to set-up the farm there, and then focussed on behaviour work.

Claire, our Behaviour Centre Senior Team Leader, joined Redwings in 2012. 

She said: “I left school at 17 and worked with horses elsewhere for a while. When I saw a job at the Redwings Behaviour Centre I applied! From there I became a team leader, then a senior.”

Felicity, our Senior Equine Behavioural Co-ordinator, joined Redwings shortly afterwards in 2014 after completing a degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. 

She added: “I didn’t really know what I wanted to go into, but I liked working with horses and was interested in behaviour. When a job came up at the Behaviour Centre it seemed the perfect opportunity!” 

Redwings Equine Behaviour Manager Sarah Hallsworth stands in the stables of the Behaviour Centre smiling at a black and white pony.
Equine Behaviour Manager Sarah Hallsworth.

A day in the life

 

No two days are the same at Redwings, especially in our Behaviour team! 

Sarah explained: “At the Behaviour Centre I have 12 members in my team, who are responsible for the daily care of over 140 horses. Ensuring gold standard care for these horses keeps us very busy. 

“We have 121 horses currently in a training programme. These horses can be in a handling programme for various reasons, leg handling problems, difficult to catch, difficult to inject but a large proportion of training is done with semi-feral horses, meaning horses with little or no handling prior coming into our care. 

“Our training approach is to use evidence-based training and as much as possible we use positive reinforcement. I have three Equine Behaviour Co-ordinators who work across all the Norfolk sites supporting the farm teams and vets with behavioural support and training. I also do our internal training with staff, plus external training with other charities and the emergency services on horse behaviour and rescue.”

As well as caring for the horses, Claire described other aspects of her role.

She said: “I organise the veterinary clinics for both our resident horses and those who are in training programmes to ensure procedures such as dentals and vaccinations are done on schedule. This is especially important at our site as many residents are elderly and require more frequent dental work. 

“I also organise farrier days and hold many of the horses for this – this is especially important at the Behaviour Centre as many are not familiar with having their legs handled. 

“As well as training my own project horses, I also match our team members with project horses and mentor them through the process to offer support and guidance where needed.”

Felicity’s role sees her work across our Norfolk sites, not just our Behaviour Centre. 

As one of three Behavioural Co-ordinators, Felicity explained: “We work with horses across our sites with certain behavioural issues that impact their care – such as being needle-shy. I work alongside our vets and farriers, preparing horses for these parts of their routine care.”

A brown donkey called Ruby receives handling training to help her cope with injections where a member of the Behaviour team is touching her neck. She is standing in a shelter and being held with a lead rope by another member of Redwings staff.
Ruby the donkey receives handling training to help her feel more comfortable with routine vaccinations.

Memorable moments and residents

 

With so much collective history at Redwings, it was difficult for the team to choose a favourite memory. 

Felicity and Claire shared the sentiment that rather than one specific memory, they instead remembered the milestones and first-time moments, such as touching a nervous horse or putting their head collar on for the first time. 

Felicity said: “Kanzi is one of my favourites; she’s a pretty black cob and I have done a lot of work with her. She went backwards a few times, at points I thought we were never going to get anywhere, but now she’s amazing. 

“The first time she had her feet trimmed without sedation I was so proud of her! I still hold her for her treatments, but she’s happy to interact with people now and I think she’s just so sweet.”

Claire spoke about Almond. She said: “He was a very fearful young horse who had been living on his own prior to coming into Redwings. Seeing the difference in his behaviour when we integrated him into a suitable group was very rewarding and really consolidated the ethos that we have here at Redwings. 

“Another favourite of mine is Rascal. He was the first ever semi-feral horse that I was given to train which means he will always have a special place in my heart. He’s come a long way from the semi-feral pony I started training. He can now be caught, lead, foot trimmed and receive the veterinary interventions that he needs. 

“It’s so rewarding to see the change in these horses. I think that’s what Redwings is all about. Being able to give horses what they need and completely changing how they feel about life.”

Sarah added: “My most memorable moment would be meeting the chocolate group (a rescued group of ponies all named after different chocolates!) who were rescued in 2004 and have lived with me ever since. They were a large reason behind us setting-up our behaviour work as we do it now. 

“I’d never really seen feral horses before, and they were integral in showing me how much these horses really needed our help. We weren’t as refined back then, but that group taught us a lot. Twenty years on and sadly some of them have now passed, but we still have nine of the group living at the Behaviour Centre – and four have been rehomed! 

“Aero is one of the group still living with us. She is my favourite of all time and she is known as Princess Aero. She’s a very old lady now, but super special.”

Black pony Kanzi is pictured trotting in his paddock.
Kanzi
 
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Part of the family

 

When you work with animals, falling in love and taking one home with you is a hazard of the job! 

Claire has Redwings Edward at home. She said: “Edward is 15, I’ve had him for four-and-a-half years. He came to Redwings unhandled and worked his way through the Behaviour Centre then went off to rehoming. 

“I originally took him for my mum, but he soon became mine. We do county level in-hand showing and do all the rescue classes. He’s got a busy schedule planned for this year and will be proudly flying the Redwings flag!”

Felicity has Redwings Ella as a companion for her horse Archie.

She said “Ella is an amazing little cob. We got her as we lost my old horse, and Archie needed a new friend. They are now best friends, and we’ve done quite a lot of clicker training with her. 

“She loves learning new tricks! She can pick up a bell and ring it, she passes her feed bowl on command, and her favourite is playing football. She loves it and it’s very good enrichment for her too!”

Sarah hasn’t taken a Redwings pony home, but she told us: “The trouble is I think these are all my horses, so I have 140!”

Redwings Edward with his Guardian Claire at a horse show. Edward has won a rossette.
Claire with Redwings Edward
Georgia standing with donkey Wiggins

Georgia Precious

Communications Officer

Find out more about Georgia Precious

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An image of a pony's ears with the Redwings 40 year logo

Support Redwings

At Redwings we are responsible for over 2,000 rescued horses, donkeys, ponies and mules, no matter their care needs. However, we are only able to do this thanks to the generosity of our supporters! 

Whether you have supported us for 40 years or 40 minutes, thank you for providing our residents with a safe home for life.

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