The UKs equine rescue, rehoming and sanctuary sector is at breaking point due to an increase in welfare demands, rising costs and a fall in donations, a survey by the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) has found. The survey, which gathered information from UK-based rescue centres, rehoming organisations and sanctuaries and was carried out by World Horse Welfare and Redwings Horse Sanctuary on behalf of NEWC, discovered that all the respondent organisations are now at or near capacity with around 4,500 equines collectively in their care.Rehoming applications are decreasing in number, so fewer equines are leaving these organisations and this, coupled with the cost-of-living crisis which is affecting horse owners, donations and the organisations themselves, and a rise in welfare cases, is putting these organisations under substantial pressure. Challenging conditionsThis survey makes painfully clear that equine welfare organisations are doing everything they can to protect the horses in their care, but the system is under unsustainable strain, said Carolyn Madgwick, Chair of NEWC.Rising costs, fewer rehoming opportunities and increasing calls for help means we are being asked to do more with less. Without coordinated action and greater support, more horses could be left without the safety net they urgently need.Financial pressures and climactic conditions have made horse ownership and care increasingly challenging, with prices for hay more than doubling in the past five years and rises in veterinary and energy costs. Wet winters have impacted pastures and grazing, while drought in summer has required owners and rescue centres to use hay stocks meant for winter. This all adds up to challenging conditions for everyone involved in keeping horses.Results of the survey will be used by NEWC to engage with rescue and rehoming charities to find out what support they most require as well as raise awareness among horse owners of the wider pressures affecting the welfare sector such as breeding practices, responsible ownership and forward planning for forage availability. Governments and political representatives in the UK will also be made aware of the findings and recommended actions.Key survey findings:Demand for welfare support is rising: 81% of respondents reported an increase in requests to hand over equines, 67% reported an increase in welfare concern calls, and over a third reported more equines being returned by adopters.Rescue centres are running out of space: Half of respondent organisations are at or over capacity, while the remaining half are close to capacity. Together, respondents are caring for approximately 4,500 equines.Costs are increasing sharply: More than 90% of respondents are concerned about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, while 84% reported rising equine management costs and 89% reported increased site maintenance costs.Funding is becoming harder to secure: 63% of respondents have received fewer large donations this year, and 65% are finding it more difficult to secure major donors.Organisations are protecting welfare standards: Despite the financial pressure, respondents were clear they will not take measures that compromise equine welfare. Most said they would not reduce forage, switch to cheaper forage or reduce bedding use.Options are narrowing: Over a third of respondents have implemented stricter intake criteria, more than half have reduced intake numbers, over a third have been through restructuring, and two centres are facing planned or guaranteed closure.The survey findings are available to read in two formats:Rescue, Rehoming and Sanctuaries Survey 2026: Executive SummaryRescue, Rehoming and Sanctuaries Survey 2026: Sector ReportImage Shutterstock.More from Your HorseHow to provide a stabled horse with the three Fs (and why its so important that you do)7 ways to enrich your horses environmentHow to tell if a horse is happyLacking hacking motivation? These three ideas will helpThe post UKs equine rescue, rehoming and sanctuary sector under unsustainable strain, survey shows appeared first on Your Horse.