For more than a century, Blue Cross has stood as a pillar of equine welfare in the UK, evolving from a wartime fund for horses into a comprehensive national rescue and rehoming service. Their work focuses on providing a "second chance" for horses and ponies that have been abandoned, neglected, or surrendered by owners no longer able to care for them.
Operating from primary centres in Burford, Oxfordshire and Rolleston, Staffordshire, Blue Cross provides holistic care for every horse that enters its gates. Their mission is built on several key pillars:
Rescue and Rehabilitation: Every animal receives a "full MOT," which includes vaccinations, microchipping, worming, and a full veterinary health check.
Behavioural Assessment: Expert horse rehabilitation trainers and behaviourists create tailor-made training plans for each horse, ensuring they are mentally and physically ready for their new homes.
Home Direct Scheme: This innovative program allows owners to rehome their horses directly from their current yard to a new home, reducing the stress of moving the horse into a rehoming centre.
Lifelong Support: Blue Cross offers a safety net; if an adopter’s circumstances change, the charity will always help find a new home for the horse.
The Blue Cross adoption process is designed to find the perfect "match" between horse and human, rather than operating on a first-come, first-served basis.
Application: Prospective owners begin by searching for available horses on the Blue Cross website and filling out an application form for a specific animal.
Assessment and Matching: A member of the team will contact suitable applicants within 10 days for a detailed discussion to ensure their experience and facilities meet the horse’s specific needs.
Meeting the Horse: Applicants are invited to the centre to meet the horse, often multiple times, to ensure they are a good fit for each other.
Home Visit: A home visit (often virtual or in-person) is conducted to assess the facilities, grazing, and stable management where the horse will be kept.
Trial and Loan Period: Horses are initially rehomed on a monitored loan basis. During this time, regional adoption facilitators visit to provide advice and ensure the horse is settling in well.
Transfer of Ownership: After a successful long-term loan period, Blue Cross may transfer full ownership of the horse to the adopter, a scheme currently being piloted for long-term happy homes.
Adopting a horse involves a rehoming fee, which contributes to the charity's ongoing rescue work. Typical fees include:
Companions (non-ridden): £180.
Project Horse/Pony: From £400.
Ridden Horse/Pony: Ranges from £600 to over £800 depending on the level of training.
Adopters must provide proof of public liability insurance annually and are responsible for all ongoing veterinary and farrier costs.
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