Horse welfare charities faced significant financial challenges throughout 2025, driven by rising costs in hay, veterinary care, and general upkeep amid a cost-of-living crisis impacting horse owners. World Horse Welfare, Blue Cross, Redwings, and the RSPCA all reported increased demand for their services, with many charities forced to reduce intake, close centers, or make redundancies. The summer drought further strained resources by reducing forage yields, while large-scale welfare cases and owners’ inability to care for horses due to illness or death added pressure on rescue centers.

Despite these difficulties, charities continued their efforts to rehome and care for horses, though numbers varied. World Horse Welfare rehomed 302 equines and took in 200 by November, while Blue Cross saw a rise in intake but a slight dip in rehoming. Redwings limited new intakes to maintain care for existing residents, and the RSPCA admitted 546 equines, rehoming over 200. Charities also introduced initiatives like Blue Cross’s Home Direct scheme to support owners in keeping horses at home while finding new owners, highlighting ongoing adaptation to the sector’s financial and operational pressures.