Redwings Superstar Resident Retires from Service

One of Redwings Horse Sanctuary’s most beloved rescued residents – Dolly – is taking a bow from the charity’s popular Adoption Scheme after serving as a member for 15 years.

Now it has been decided that the stunning chestnut cob, having recently celebrated her 25^th birthday and in need of some ongoing veterinary attention for lameness issues, should take a step back from the limelight and retire from the scheme. This means Dolly will no longer be available for adoption, although she will continue to keep in touch with her existing sponsors and her fans can still continue to visit her at Redwings Ada Cole.

Debbie Scott, Redwings’ Head of Fundraising, said:

Dolly is one of the longest serving members of our Adoption Scheme and we know of families who have sponsored her for generations.

She’s delighted countless visitors with her friendly nature, but in her role as an Adoption Star, Dolly has also helped to raise money which has not just supported her but hundreds of other horses, ponies, donkeys and mules who have been brought into the safety of the Sanctuary, just like she was once. Now at the grand age of 25, we feel she deserves to put her hooves up!

We’d like to say a big thank you to Dolly for being such a wonderful ambassador for Redwings and to all her fantastic adopters for supporting her throughout the years.”

Dolly’s Story

Dolly arrived at Ada Cole Memorial Stables (now Redwings Ada Cole), near Harlow in Essex, in 1998 having been tragically stuck in a ditch for three days and suffering serious injuries in a frantic bid to free herself. When her owner was unable to pay for her treatment, the vet approached the charity for help. They ensured she received the help she needed and a new secure home for life.

Following a merger with Redwings in 2005, beautiful Dolly became one of their latest Adoption Stars.

About Redwings Adoption Scheme

The Adoption Scheme allows Redwings’ supporters to sponsor one or more of the charity’s Adoption Star horses, ponies, donkeys and mules with all the money going towards the care of their four-legged friend and other rescued residents.

Sponsoring a Redwings Adoption Star costs from just £15 per year. Adopters receive photographs and updates from their four-legged friend about their adventures at the Sanctuary, as well as access to their online diary.

The visitor centre is currently trialling a phased reopening, with reduced opening hours and pre-booked ticketed entry, having had to temporarily close during the Covid-19 lockdown. Further details and tickets are available at www.redwings.org.uk/visit

To sponsor an Adoption Star, call 01508 481000 or visit www.redwings.org.uk/adopt

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Suzanne Ashton

Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.