Redwings Horse Sanctuary has announced the start of a consultation that could lead to the closure of its Mountains (Forfar, Angus) and Oxhill (Warwickshire) visitor centres. If the closures proceed, the animals, including the much-loved Adoption Stars, will be relocated to Norfolk.
The closures are not a reflection on staff commitment, but the result of rising costs that have made the current situation unsustainable.
Redwings’ Chief Executive, Lynn Cutress, underscored the gravity of the decision:
“At Redwings we have been rescuing horses for 40 years, and thanks to the generosity of our supporters and the hard work of our team of staff and volunteers, we have been able to give our rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules across the UK a safe place to live, providing essential veterinary treatment, rehabilitation and lifelong care.
“We want to be able to continue our vital mission well into the future; being there for the horses currently in our care and for neglected horses when they need us most.
“Our loyal supporters have been and continue to be incredibly generous, but with rising costs that are beyond our control, it is essential that we act now to ensure that we are using their donations most effectively and are investing in activities which will have the greatest impact for the horses in our care and the welfare of those beyond our paddock fences.
“We are now in our fourth year of needing to spend from our financial reserves to balance the budget and continue to provide excellent care for our horses, but it is simply not sustainable to do so any longer. We need to immediately reduce our operating costs, and these sites have been selected for consideration due to their high running costs.
“Rest assured, we have not made these proposals lightly, this is an incredibly sad and painful time for us and not something I ever wanted to see during my time at Redwings, but it is essential that we explore every avenue to ensure we can safeguard the well-being and future of the 1000+ horses in our care.”
The closures highlight a growing crisis for animal welfare organisations across the UK, as rising costs threaten both animal care and the livelihoods of experienced, compassionate workers.
During the consultation, both centres are closed to visitors out of respect for affected staff. Redwings has pledged to keep supporters and sponsors updated throughout this difficult period. Further updates will be published via the Redwings website.
