Redwings Horse Sanctuary has announced the closure of its south Warwickshire centre at Oxhill and its Redwings Mountains site in Scotland due to rising operational costs and financial challenges over the past four years. Following a consultation, 33 staff members were made redundant, and over 100 rescued horses and donkeys have been relocated to the charity’s Norfolk sites. Despite these closures, the charity emphasized that its ability to rescue horses nationwide remains unaffected, as neither closed centre directly took in rescue cases.

The charity, one of the UK’s largest equine welfare organizations, has been forced to use its financial reserves to cover the gap between income and expenditure, a situation deemed unsustainable long-term. Chief executive Lynn Cutress highlighted that closing these centres will reduce vital operating costs, helping secure the future care of more than 1,000 rescued horses in their sanctuary. The decision followed nearly two years of financial review and external advice, with the Board of Trustees concluding that such measures were necessary amid the challenging economic climate.