The Mare and Foal Sanctuary | Care for Horses

Welcome to The Mare and Foal Sanctuary

The place for people who want to make a difference to the lives of horses, ponies and foals. We’re unlocking a world of natural, wild beauty where ponies and people who were struggling can enjoy life again.

Subscribe to our mailing list today ✉

578

rescued horses and ponies currently in our care

Success stories

196

children and young people attended equine assisted learning and activity sessions last year

Explore learning

horses and ponies rehomed in the last 12 months

Rehome a horse

The Rising Costs of Extreme Heat

As you’ll have seen, this summer is on course to be the UK’s hottest since records began. Here at The Mare and Foal Sanctuary, the long, dry spell is now having a serious impact on our land, our teams and our costs.

We currently care for more than 120 rescued horses and ponies across our four sanctuary sites in Devon. Some herds are eating almost as much supplementary hay and haylage as they would in the depths of winter because the grass simply is not growing back fast enough.

At Coombe Park, our Education and Equestrian Centre near Totnes, the drought has led to a 592% jump in the latest water bill from April to July, rising from £240 to £1,661. Our rainwater tanks have been dry for months, so we are relying entirely on mains water.

Thanks to our amazing supporters, every horse and pony is still getting the expert care they need, but our costs are rising fast.

What We Do

Advice and Support

We provide advice and support to horse owners or people who are thinking about getting a horse or pony. We also offer support to smaller equine welfare sanctuaries and other equine professionals.

Therapeutic Horses

We offer a range of therapeutic equine-assisted programmes in partnership with our rescued horses and ponies to support both physical and mental wellbeing for children, young people and adults.

Lifelong Sanctuary

Care for life is provided through our network of knowledgeable carers and also in our peaceful sanctuaries for the horses and ponies whose needs mean that they cannot easily be cared for elsewhere.

Rehome a Horse

For every equine we rescue, we must also ensure they have lifelong care. Our carers who rehome through our Sanctuary at Home scheme are a group of very special people who help make this possible for over 400 horses and ponies today.

View all horses

Alan, a 15-year-old grey Moorland pony gelding, stands calmly as a sanctuary worker holds him gently. Dappled sunlight filters through trees in the background.

Rehome Alan

Rehome Fizzy

Rehome Flynn

Rehome Hugo

white horse named Nero, available for companion home.

Rehome Nero

Success Stories

Daisy’s Story

Daisy joined our equine assisted learning programme to help with feelings of anxiety. Working alongside our equine assisted learning facilitators and our rescued horses and ponies can help to build a sense of connection for participants.

Eva’s story

“When I mentioned that I love horses, my support worker told me about The Mare and Foal Sanctuary’s This Girl Can Exercise with Equines programme funded by Sport England. I struggle with anxiety and had become quite isolated. I wanted to try something different and coming to the sanctuary felt like it might be a good fit.”

Hugo and Gabriel

Hugo and Gabriel were found severely underweight and suffering with sores when we rescued them in June 2022. We were shocked to find these two magnificent Andalusian horses in this state.

Mouse

Mouse had been through so much before he arrived at the Sanctuary: desperate conditions on the moors, a major round up and rescue mission and months spent at a holding centre.

Richard’s story

It’s being with the equine partner that makes the sessions so impactful. After doing equine assisted wellbeing with The Mare and Foal Sanctuary I certainly understand, at a much deeper intrinsic level, the benefits of developing a bond with a horse.”

Zahra

Zahra’s carer Lesley rehomed her just after the pandemic when we were able to restart rehoming. Lesley provides her with the best possible care and Zahra has become one of the family!

Ava

Our team worked round-the-clock to make sure Ava was safe and had everything she needed, including a teddy bear for company.

Myrddin

Life could have been very different for Myrddin and the 14 other very young colts taken in from the Whispering Willows horse sanctuary.

Tegan-Jai’s story

Tegan-Jai is a remarkable 14 year old. When she was born with an inoperable brain condition, her parents were told she would never walk, talk, eat or live beyond her first birthday. But Tegan defied her prognosis with the help of our Equine Assisted Services sessions.

Tilly’s Story

When Tilly joined our equine assisted learning programme her anxiety was having a serious impact on her daily life. She was unable to go to school or leave the house.

Chandrani and Chandler

We rescued another mare and foal from a complex situation involving 12 other equines. The adorable Dartmoor colt foal, named Chandler, and his dam Chandrani are enjoying their new home.

Barbara’s story

Barbara has worked as a volunteer at our Brunel retail shop in Newton Abbot for eight years.

Contact Us

"*" indicates required fields

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Name*

First Last

Email*

Message*

CAPTCHA

This field is hidden when viewing the form

gclid