Sanctuary water bill soars by nearly 600% as record heatwave piles on winter level pressures

13 August 2026

As an equine welfare charity, we care for more than 120 rescued horses and ponies across our four sanctuary sites in Devon. Some herds are now eating almost as much supplementary hay and haylage as they would in the depths of winter. Pastures are struggling to recover, and daily routines have been overhauled to protect both equines and staff.  

 

2025 and Summer 2026

2025 and Summer 2026

2025 and Summer 2026

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. Although hosepipe bans do not apply because water is essential for animal welfare, the lack of rain has left the site’s rainwater tanks dry for months, forcing full reliance on mains supply.  

Horses are drinking more in the heat, evaporation is higher and dry, dusty ground can worsen breathing problems, so water use has increased sharply. Hay for many equines must also be soaked to wash away excess sugar, helping to prevent conditions like laminitis, and to reduce dust that can aggravate equine asthma.  

While the horses’ nutritional needs are being fully met through additional feeding, the lack of available grazing means they are unable to spend as much time carrying out their natural foraging behaviours, such as moving around fields and grazing throughout the day. This change in routine can influence their behaviour and engagement, creating additional challenges for training and management.  

At our Honeysuckle Sanctuary near Newton Abbot, staff say the drought has effectively brought winter feeding into high summer. Team Leader Grace said: 

“We’re using almost as much hay now as we would in winter, simply because the grass isn’t growing. Training is more challenging, and every day requires extra planning to keep them comfortable, healthy and progressing despite the heat. Our biggest concern is that the impact won’t end when the heatwave does. If the pastures can’t recover before winter, we’ll face months of additional feeding, increased mud management and further pressure on resources, all while ensuring every pony receives the care they need.”  

Across all of the Sanctuary’s Devon sites, grazing fields are brown and parched. 

At Beech Trees Veterinary and Welfare Centre, our main intake site, new arrivals who would normally thrive on good grazing are now being supported with intensive feeding. Chelsea, the Team Leader at Beech Trees, said: 

‘Lush grazing would normally provide everything our newest arrivals need. But after months of drought, we’re carrying haylage by wheelbarrow across the fields and feeding some underweight equines up to five times a day. Every bale, every feed and every extra hour of care help ensure vulnerable horses can continue their recovery, despite the challenges the weather brings.’  

Across our four main sanctuary sites; Honeysuckle, Beech Trees, Coombe Park near Totnes, Upcott Park Rehoming Yard near Holsworthy and our specialist Moorland Rescue Unit at Yelverton on the edge of Dartmoor, teams report similar pressures, with additional feed costs rising fast. At some sites, herds are now getting around six small bales of hay a day, adding £30 to £42 in forage costs alone. Underweight equines are also receiving up to 8kg of extra hard feed each day. With 15kg bags costing between £20 and £30, individual feeding plans are quickly adding up.  

The Mare and Foal Sanctuary follows responsible land management practices focused on working with the land to create healthy, species-rich pasture while allowing horses and ponies to live in more natural social groups. Creating healthy equine habitats involves careful rotation of grazing, protecting soil structure and encouraging diverse plant growth. This summer’s extreme heat and lack of rain have made that much more difficult, with parched ground and slow pasture recovery limiting how flexibly fields can be rested and rotated. The Sanctuary fears that when the weather finally breaks, there will be little cover to protect the soil from becoming deep mud.  

While Upcott Park has so far been helped by its marshy ground and good hay reserves, hay usage there is already creeping towards winter levels. At Yelverton, fields are recovering more slowly between grazing periods and staff are introducing extra water enrichment points and balancers to make up for poor-quality grass. Staff have brought in early-morning working patterns to complete heavy jobs before the heat and flies peak. Exercise and training sessions have been cut back or moved under cover to protect horses and ponies, and vulnerable equines with existing breathing issues have needed extra veterinary support.  

Horses need to eat for up to 18 hours a day. Extra feed is needed at times of low natural forage. 

Despite the strain, our Sanctuary teams are finding ways to keep the equines comfortable and stimulated through the heat. Leyla Anstee, Head of Sanctuary Care, said:

‘Our priority is always the horses and ponies. If that means treating August like January in terms of forage and staff hours, then that’s what we do. The teams have been amazing. They’re starting earlier, adapting routines and making sure prone horses are protected in the sun with suncream and flysheet protection. Horses are being sponged down to help them stay cool and extra water has been introduced across the fields to encourage greater water intake and reduce the risk of dehydration. It’s hard, hot work, pushing wheelbarrows of hay across parched fields and checking more regularly on all of our equines throughout every day, but the standard of care is extremely high and that’s something I’m very proud of.’  

We are acutely aware that we are not alone in facing these pressures. Across the country, people working the land are warning of a growing crisis, from farmers and small holders to high-profile landowners such as Jeremy Clarkson, as wildfires, crop failures and failing pastures become more common. Anyone caring for animals is grappling with the same problems: fields that cannot keep up, rising feed bills and serious concerns about what will happen when winter arrives.  

We also want to stress that, despite the challenges brought by the drought, the animals’ needs are being fully met, and welfare remains central to every decision. Leyla said: ‘We’re only able to respond like this because of the people who support us. Thanks to them, we can buy the extra forage and give our teams the resources they need to keep standards of care high. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated, visited our charity shops in Newton Abbot, Babbacombe, Brixham and Bovey Tracey, shared our updates or backed us in any way this summer. It makes a direct difference to what we can do on the ground.’  

If you are able to support our work at this difficult time, please consider making a donation, visiting one of our shops or sharing this update to help raise awareness.