Horse Rescue Charities Merge


Petra and Annie, two of the residents at Mountains

Scottish horse rescue charity Mountains Animal Sanctuary has officially merged with Redwings Horse Sanctuary, the largest horse sanctuary in the UK.

Mountains is located near Forfar in Angus, and is currently home to 85 rescued horses, ponies and donkeys, with 53 out on loan. Residents on Mountains’ 220 acres of paddocks and woodland include donkeys Minnie and Mouse, tiny falabella Dayzee, two sheep called Toffee and Treacle and orphaned foal Gibson Fraser, who was rescued in July after his mum sadly passed away.

Gibson Fraser was named in honour of the late Mountains founder Alan Fraser, a former racing driver who developed the Fraser Imp competition car and went on to be chairman of the RSPCA in Gibraltar before returning to Scotland and establishing his own animal rescue centre – Mountains.

2000 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules

Redwings is the largest horse sanctuary in the UK, and is responsible for over 2000 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules at ten sites. Its work includes rescues and round-ups, in particular the rescue of larger groups of semi feral and vulnerable horses, dedicated care for its residents at its sanctuary sites, rehoming horses capable of a working life as well as carrying out key education work.

“I am so thrilled that the merger with Mountains is complete,” said Redwings Chief Executive Lynn Cutress. “This is a meeting of minds for two dedicated horse welfare charities and ensures a secure future for Mountains, as well as allowing Redwings to expand our work across the border into Scotland.

Both charities celebrated their 30th anniversaries

“Both charities celebrated their 30th anniversaries last year and so it’s a very appropriate and exciting time to begin this wonderful new chapter in our history.”

Redwings Mountains, as the Forfar centre is now known, will continue to operate as an active rescue and rehoming centre as well as being open to visitors from late summer.

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