With winter weather biting across the UK, the team at Remus Horse Sanctuary, has launched the charity’s annual Winter Feed Appeal to help ensure rescued and vulnerable equines stay safe, warm and well-fed through the colder months. Home to more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys, the Sanctuary is aiming to raise £2,500 to keep essential feed supplies stocked and to support emergency welfare responses for tethered and neglected horses in Essex and beyond.
Winter is one of the toughest times of year for equine welfare. When grazing is limited or unavailable, older horses and those recovering from neglect often depend on hay and specialist feeds to maintain condition and generate warmth. This year, the challenge has been increased by lower hay yields and rising costs, following difficult growing conditions in 2025, making forage and feed both harder to source and more expensive.
Alongside caring for its residents, Remus Horse Sanctuary continues to respond to reports involving tethered horses with little or no access to food or water. While tethering is not illegal, welfare requirements set out in the DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) Code of Practice for Horses are frequently not met. Through community outreach and feed deliveries, the Sanctuary helps provide immediate support where needed and alerts the relevant authorities when welfare standards appear to have been breached.
The Winter Feed Appeal is seeking to raise £2,500, with donations going directly towards hay, feed and urgent call-outs, including:
- £15 could buy a sack of fibre feed for an older pony for a week
- £25 could contribute towards a pallet of hay for high-need residents
- £50 could help fund remedial shoes for a laminitic pony
These examples show how supporters can help, with funds used where they are needed most across forage, specialist feeds and urgent welfare cases.
“Every winter we see animals arrive thin, cold and frightened,” says Sue Burton, Founder of Remus Horse Sanctuary. “A warm rug and a full belly can be the difference between despair and recovery. With your help, we can say yes when the next call comes – and will keep working to ensure more horses are safe, warm and cared for this winter.”
To donate, visit Remus Horse Sanctuary’s Winter Feed Appeal and help reach the £2,500 target: Just Giving | Remus Winter Appeal 2026
