Racehorse Sanctuary faces closure due to lack of funds

The Racehorse Sanctuary faces imminent closure, claiming its finances are at a “critical” level.

Vital funds

The Sanctuary relies on donations and fundraising to keep its stable doors open, but in the current climate it is struggling to garner support.

The charity moved to less expensive premises in Somerset in 2017, which also used up vital funds.

The Racehorse Sanctuary provides a life after racing by retraining Thoroughbreds and rehoming them, where possible. Ex-racers are increasingly popular riding and competition horses – and there are a number of series in all disciplines, from eventing to showing.

Home for life

Those that can’t be rehomed are given a home for life with the charity. All of this costs money, which The Sanctuary simply doesn’t have.

“We had expected that our many summer fundraising events last year would enable The Sanctuary to build up our reserves and secure a solid base to take us into 2018,” said co-founder Graham Oldfield. “Sadly, following the cancellation of two important events in our fundraising calendar due to lack of sponsorship, this has not proved to be the case.”

The charity needs to raise funds to finance their work for a year to give them breathing space or, at the very least, allow them time to rehome their horses.

Financial security

They are also hoping to find suitable premises free of charge, or for nominal rent, in the South of England.

“With an estimated seven million horse lovers in the UK it would take only a fraction of these to donate £1 to make us financially secure – or even allow us to purchase our own property in order to secure our long-term future,” said Graham.

To donate text HORS20 followed by £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10 to 70070. You can also donate online.

Find out just how versatile ex-racers are in Rudall’s Round-Up: RoR Eventing which sees Rhi Lee-Jones head to Brightling Park for the Retraining of Racehorses Grassroots Finals. You can watch the show online now on Horse & Country.