The Mare and Foal Sanctuary

Devon-based charity The Mare and Foal Sanctuary is dedicated to protecting vulnerable ponies and horses and strengthening the bond between humans and equines. From confidential welfare advice to lifelong sanctuary, our work ensures every horse we help is safe, understood, and given the chance to thrive. We have rescued more than a thousand equines and are currently caring for almost 600.

Welfare sits at the heart of what we do. We work closely with partner charities to respond to reports of abandonment, neglect, and abuse, particularly across the South West. We provide confidential, non-judgmental guidance to owners, aiming to keep horses and ponies with their families wherever possible. Our Welfare and Rehoming Team offers advice without prosecution, helping resolve issues early and compassionately. When horses and ponies cannot remain safely with their owners, we provide them with specialist rehabilitation, extended recovery and sanctuary for life.

Rehoming is our promise of lifelong care in action. Through our Sanctuary at Home scheme, our volunteer carers offer loving homes on a loan basis, supported at every step by our dedicated team. More than 400 horses and ponies currently live contented lives through Sanctuary at Home, freeing vital space for new rescues while every equine remains our lifelong responsibility. For horses whose complex medical, behavioural, or emotional needs mean they cannot be rehomed, we care for them at one of our four peaceful sanctuaries in Devon. Our expert team provides tailored care plans, gentle handling, enrichment, and herd life. We steward these sites for biodiversity by restoring hedgerows, nurturing wildflower meadows, protecting waterways, and managing pasture in ways that let horses, plants, and wildlife flourish together.

Our Wellness in Nature programme helps people reconnect with the natural world. These restorative events invite people to slow down, breathe, and find balance at our Sanctuary sites. Participants practice yoga beside our pony herds, share nutritious meals, and meet our rescued equines. Our horses often choose to engage, offering moments of quiet presence that can be profoundly grounding. Rooted in the wisdom of the herd, the programme explores trust, boundaries, and non-verbal communication. We learn from horses' instinctive foraging to self-medicate, their sensitivity to energy and emotion, and their steady rhythms that invite mindfulness. Our Wellness in Nature events fund our core work of rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming equines, sustaining therapy and education, and securing lifelong sanctuary.