Beth and Lucy

Beth and Lucy

Welfare Coordinators

Beth and Lucy are our Welfare Coordinators. Each working part-time, between the pair of them they respond to many calls to our Welfare Support Line every month. Responding to phone calls, emails and letters, Beth and Lucy never know what they may be asked about. They may be reports of a horse in need, or an owner seeking out support when facing difficult decisions with their own horses.

Offering Support

A large number of enquiries will be from owners looking for help to rehome their horse. Sadly, the reality facing Redwings, and many other welfare organisations, is that we are operating at almost capacity, and can only admit horses and donkeys who are part of a welfare case and desperately need our help.

This does mean that we are most often not able to offer a home for horses that are part of a private rehoming request. But, that doesn’t mean we are simply unable to help. It's called our Welfare Support line, and Lucy and Beth both see their role as being a listening ear to owners.

Difficult Calls

“Every call is different, and every person deserves our time to talk through their situation and their horse. We have no script, we just listen, note the individual circumstances and then do our best to help,” says Lucy. “Sometimes there isn’t an easy answer, and we may have to have discussions around euthanasia. These are difficult conversations, but sadly it is a situation I have had personal experience of myself. I really pride myself on being a listening and reassuring ear and people have been very grateful to Redwings for this non-judgemental support.”

Beth said: “I have spoken to people on the phone who don’t have access to a computer. A lot of the information they could be signposted to is online, and they might not be able to access it, but I can write them a letter with the information they need – and they feel supported. In these cases, people have been so grateful that we have been able to take the time to help them and it’s what we pride ourselves on in the team.”

“Conversations can be difficult if people think we’re unable or unwilling to help, but I will always take the time to explain to them the laws we have to operate within, and when we can and can’t step in. We’re only human and some situations will stay with me, and I will keep thinking ‘is there anything else I could have done’, but I take a huge amount of job satisfaction in knowing that I have helped.” 

Working with the wider Welfare team

Beth and Lucy also support the wider Welfare team, updating our welfare database and liaising with Jo and Julie, our Field Officers, about welfare reports – arranging for them to visit horses in need, and logging any interventions and outcomes. They also support our Welfare vets, preparing their clinical lists and patient information to make sure their vet days run seamlessly.

The Welfare team are a small, and very close knit, bunch and they pride themselves on the continuity of case knowledge. From first taking the call, to working with our Field Officers to coordinate visits, and follow-up care, Lucy and Beth are involved throughout the process. Where possible they will give updates to those who have reported equines in need.

Between them they also coordinate our equine ID paperwork, and database. Being responsible for nearly 2,000 horses means it is crucial that we keep our equine passports organised. Often our newly rescued ponies have no ID, which is why finding out who is responsible for their suffering can be so difficult, but once at Redwings they arrange for a microchip and passport to be issued.

Alan and Clair - Horst Transport

Alan and Clair

Professional Horse Transporters
Waynbe and Jade

Wayne and Jade

Maintenance Team
Nic

Nic de Brauwere

Head of Welfare and Behaviour
Anne

Anne Whitehorn

Welfare Operations Manager
Alan and Clair - Horst Transport

Alan and Clair

Professional Horse Transporters

Waynbe and Jade

Wayne and Jade

Maintenance Team

Nic

Nic de Brauwere

Head of Welfare and Behaviour

Anne

Anne Whitehorn

Welfare Operations Manager

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