Locations and criteria

Where are your Rescue and Rehoming Centres located?

We have four centres throughout Britain: Belwade Farm in Aberdeenshire, Penny Farm in Lancashire, Hall Farm in Norfolk and Glenda Spooner Farm in Somerset.

Where do you rehome to?

We do not have catchment areas. Due to our policy of carrying out regular visits to our rehomed horses and ponies, we can rehome to anywhere on mainland Britain, the Isle of Skye, Anglesey, the Isle of Sheppey, and the Isle of Wight. Unfortunately, we cannot rehome to any other locations for a variety of reasons, including the fact that we would be unable to carry out ongoing checks. We’re very sorry to disappoint anyone interested in rehoming who happens not to live in an area that we can rehome to – we do really appreciate your interest though.

Do you have catchment areas?

We don’t have catchment areas so you are welcome to apply for a horse at any farm, but do bear in mind that you will usually be asked to travel to the relevant farm to meet your chosen horse and you would also have to arrange transport to take the horse home should you be successful – plus not all our horses can travel long distances.

Can horses be moved to different farms for viewings?

We are not able to move our horses to a different farm for viewing purposes. We don’t have catchment areas so you are welcome to apply for a horse at any farm, but do bear in mind that you will usually be asked to travel to the relevant farm to meet your chosen horse.

Do you rehome to equestrian businesses such as riding schools?

We will consider applications from equestrian businesses such as riding schools or equine therapy centres on a case by case basis.

Why don’t you allow your horses to be trimmed by barefoot trimmers/equine podiatrists?

We really appreciate that many podiatrists and barefoot trimmers are excellent, but unfortunately we have, on a number of occasions, also seen the other side of things where significant suffering has been caused as a result of poor trimming. The reason we currently insist on the use of registered farriers for our rehomed horses is due to the lack of a government-recognised barefoot qualification with robust regulation. Should one be developed then we will certainly reconsider this policy but at the moment we do require the use of a registered farrier.

What kind of fencing do you allow?

We don’t have specific types of fencing that we do or don’t allow – we are looking for safety, security and suitability for the individual horse, so how well the fencing is maintained and managed is as important as the type.

What happens if I don’t pass my home check?

Home checks are a way to make sure the location is safe and appropriate for the horse. We always try to give potential rehomers feedback and the opportunity to make necessary improvements should any be identified by the Field Officer during their initial visit. We don’t mind if the yard hasn’t been swept!

Can I rehome if I don’t have other horses?

As horses are herd animals, we normally require our horses to have the company of other equines. These don’t have to be owned by you – many of our rehomed horses are kept at livery or on a shared private yard.

Do you ever need foster homes for your horses?

Ideally we look for long-term homes for all our horses, although we appreciate that in some situations a home may naturally only be available for a shorter period – we would assess such a situation on a case by case basis. However, in all cases the rehomer will be responsible for all costs and care associated with the horse.

I have some land available – can you make use of it?

We are not able to keep horses on land away from our four Rescue and Rehoming Centres as we do not have the staff available to make this a viable option. If you are interested in supporting our work, please do consider whether rehoming would be an option for you.