Northcote Horses & Animals

29/01/2025

🎉 Celebrate Your Special Occasion at Our Sanctuary! 🎉

Looking for the perfect venue for a birthday or private event? 🐴✨ Our sanctuary offers a unique and memorable setting to make your celebration truly special.

We can cater to almost any occasion and will work with you to create a custom package tailored just for you. From pony grooming and animal encounters to peaceful countryside views, we’ve got something for everyone to enjoy!

Plus, enjoy use of our 5⭐ cafe and facilities.

🌟 Make your next celebration unforgettable! Contact us today to plan your perfect event. 🥳

25/01/2025

We’ve recently welcomed some lovely new additions to our aviary, including Alex, a beautiful cockatiel. Alex came from a loving home where he lived alone, and his previous owners wanted him to enjoy the company of other birds. He’s settling in well with a rehomed conure, and they’ve started to form a sweet bond. Our colony aviary is a peaceful haven in the sanctuary, where visitors can enjoy the delightful songs of our feathered residents. 🐦🎵

24/01/2025

🚨 We Need Your Help! 🚨

Our trusty old muck trailer has seen better days, and as you can see, it’s no longer fit for purpose. Right now, our volunteers have to tip full wheelbarrows onto the ground and then manually throw the muck into the trailer—a tiring and inefficient process, especially for our older volunteers who work so hard every day.

We’ve found the perfect replacement! A durable metal trailer that will last, comes with a tipping mechanism, and even has a ramp so we can push wheelbarrows straight in—no heavy lifting required! This new trailer will make a world of difference to everyone at the sanctuary.

The trailer costs £1,500, and the seller has kindly held it for us, but we need to act quickly before it’s gone!

If you’re able to contribute, please visit our website to donate: www.northcotehorses.com/donate
Or donate directly via PayPal: [email protected]
We can also provide BACs details if needed.

Your support, no matter how small, means the world to us and helps us continue providing the best care for our animals.

💛 Thank you for helping us make life easier for our amazing volunteers!

23/01/2025

Our new 2025 brochures are now available! If you’re a Lincolnshire business—whether a campsite, Airbnb, hotel, caravan park, pub, shop, or similar—and would like to display some on our behalf, we’d love to hear from you.

We can send brochures and flyers advertising our visitors centre and upcoming events straight to you. Please get in touch. ❤️

21/01/2025

In case you missed it we are running a "Winter Fund Booster Prize Giveaway". For your chance to win an adoption, 2025 calendar, mug, and keyring (worth over £30) simply click the link below. Tickets are just £2 and the winner will be announced across our social media channels on Monday 10th February. You can enter as many times as you wish. All monies received will go towards our winter fundraising efforts to support the animals in our care.

https://www.northcotehorses.com/product-page/giveaway

Please enter using the address you would like the prize to be sent to and the name on the adoption certificate will be the name the order was processed in.

20/01/2025

Having a good January clear-out? Our partner charity shop Hooftastic Finds in Horncastle is looking for good-quality donations, including clothing, jackets, coats, accessories, books, pet items, DVDs, games, bric-a-brac, electronics, and more. Virtually anything in usable condition is welcome! 👚👕👖🧥👗

As they are a small, independent support shop, they don’t have reserves of stock, so your donations make a huge difference. Items can be dropped off at the shop or here at the sanctuary.

The shop is open Monday to Saturday, 10am–4pm. Thank you for supporting us and helping us continue our work! ❤️

19/01/2025

We are thrilled to share some heartwarming news from our sanctuary! The wonderful team at Circus Mondao has presented us with a generous donation of £800. This incredible amount was raised through their collection bucket during their performances in Blackpool last year. While captivating audiences with their amazing shows, they were also making a significant impact on our sanctuary—and for that, we are deeply grateful.

This donation will help us continue our important work, including building new enclosures for our animals and covering our essential winter feed bills. Every penny goes directly towards providing the best care possible for the animals that call our sanctuary home.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Circus Mondeo for their ongoing support. Their generosity, both in raising funds and championing our sanctuary, means the world to us. We are truly blessed to know such a caring and supportive group of individuals.

As a sanctuary run entirely by volunteers, we rely on the kindness and generosity of people like you to keep going. If you’d like to support our work and help provide for the animals, please consider leaving a donation at www.northcotehorses.com/donate. Every contribution makes a difference.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Together, we can continue to create a safe and loving environment for our animals. 🐴🐷🦙❤️

17/01/2025

This post comes with a heavy heart, though it’s long overdue. In mid-December, we said goodbye to George, our beloved chief yard cat of 15 years. Sometime during the night, George likely suffered a stroke and peacefully passed away before needing to see the vet.

George wasn’t just a yard cat; he was a loyal, loving companion to so many of us. Arriving at the centre as a tiny kitten in October 2009, he quickly became part of the family. We were incredibly fortunate—he rarely needed vet visits, never strayed far, and always seemed to know when we needed a comforting hug. While his yard and hunting skills were questionable at best, we forgave him for that because he brought so much joy in other ways.

During the open season, visitors often had the pleasure of meeting George. He had a knack for making introductions, especially if you were enjoying lunch—he was quite the lunch thief!

For those who remember George, we’d love for you to take a moment to reflect on the joy he brought, and hug your own pets. If you have any photos or memories, please share them with us—we’d cherish them.

We chose to lay George to rest near our large Monkey Puzzle tree, a spot where the sunlight hits perfectly. It was one of his favourite places to nap, and it feels right to have him there.

George’s absence is felt more deeply than words can express. He will always be loved, and forever missed. ❤️

16/01/2025

Our sanctuary is also home to a lively group of ferrets, each with their own unique and mischievous personalities. Did you know that ferrets sleep for up to 18 hours a day but make up for it with bursts of high-energy playtime? These little bundles of energy are full of surprises and will keep you entertained with their curious antics!

During our opening season, you’ll have the chance to join our popular ‘Ferret Playtime’ sessions. Get up close and personal with these fascinating creatures as you hold and interact with them, watch them dive into ball pits, and guide them through obstacle courses. It’s a fantastic way to see their quirky nature in action while giving them an opportunity to burn off all that energy.

These sessions are not only fun but also educational, offering visitors insight into the world of ferrets—a truly misunderstood yet amazing animal. Whether you’re a lifelong ferret fan or meeting them for the first time, you’re guaranteed to leave with a new appreciation for these adorable creatures.

15/01/2025

Enter our "Winter Fund Booster" for the chance to win our big prize giveaway, including an Adoption, Mug, 2025 calendar, and keyring (worth over £30). The winner will be announced on Monday, 10th February across our social media channels. Tickets are just £2.00 and you can make as many entries as you wish. All monies received will go towards our winter fundraising efforts to support the animals in our care.
Please leave the address where you would like the prizes sent. The name on the adoption certificate will be the name in which the order was placed.

Simply click on the link below to be taken to our online shop

Enter our "Winter Fund Booster" for the chance to win our big prize giveaway including an Adoption, Mug, 2025 calendar and keyring (worth over £30). The winner will be announced on Monday 10th February across our social media channels. Tickets are just £2.00 and you can make as many entries as you...

14/01/2025

Tuesday evening Kisses, from Churchill 😚

Churchill is a remarkable 18.2hh Clydesdale with a striking roan coat and an unforgettable presence. Born in 2014 and originally bred in Ireland, his life before arriving at the sanctuary remains something of a mystery—it’s believed he hasn’t done much, if any, work during his early years.

He joined us after the loss of his companion and has since become a cherished member of our sanctuary. With his kind demeanor and impressive stature, Churchill has captured the hearts of everyone who meets him.

We’re excited to announce that Churchill will begin his training this spring as we introduce him to light work. This next chapter in his journey will allow him to shine and play an even greater role in our activities. We’re confident he will excel and look forward to seeing him reach his potential.

12/01/2025

Another cold and frosty day is upon us, leaving many of the animals’ water supplies frozen and the taps out of action. Our amazing volunteers are hard at work, transporting pre-filled buckets and containers to ensure everyone has clean and fresh water. Despite the extra challenges, we can’t help but appreciate the refreshing crispness of the weather—everything looks clean, and the air feels invigorating. Plus, it’s certainly better than battling rain and mud!

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported us so far, whether through generous donations or kind words. Your encouragement truly means the world to us.

We’re also busy finalising our opening dates for this year and can’t wait to welcome you back. You’ll be able to see all the exciting changes we’ve made and, of course, spend time with the animals you love.

In the meantime, if you’d like to support our winter fundraiser, you can leave a donation on our website: www.northcotehorses.com/donate or directly by PayPal to [email protected]

Thank you for being an incredible part of our journey—your support means so much to the animals, the sanctuary, and our dedicated volunteers.

09/01/2025

It’s another cold and frosty morning here, and the list of jobs to be done is endless! We’re in urgent need of extra help with mucking out, maintenance, and so much more to keep things running smoothly. If you have some time to spare and would love to make a difference, please get in touch. Your support means the world to us and our animals!

Call or text Terena on: 07899815960

07/01/2025

Urgent Winter Appeal: We Need Your Help!

As we settle into the depths of winter, we’re reaching out to ask for your much-needed support. Our outgoings are critically high at this time of year—with our most recent animal food bill alone exceeding £2,000.

Many of our longtime supporters know that we’re not the type of charity to simply ask for money. Instead, we love to welcome you to experience our work firsthand. However, with our visitor centre closed for the winter months, our income drastically decreases, while our expenses continue to rise.

This winter, we’re kindly asking for your urgent help to see us through the cold months and into brighter days ahead. It’s not just the cost of food for our animals that adds up, but also essentials like:
• Straw for bedding: We take pride in providing our animals with clean, dry, and comfortable spaces, which requires a significant amount of straw.
• Fresh water: Just as we wouldn’t drink dirty water, we ensure our animals have clean, fresh supplies at all times.
• Lighting and electricity: The dark winter mornings and evenings mean higher electricity costs for stable lighting.
• Veterinary care: Many of our animals are on lifelong medications, which can be very expensive, alongside regular worming treatments and health checks.

Please remember, our sanctuary is entirely volunteer-run. Every ounce of love, care, and effort comes from unpaid volunteers who dedicate their lives to our animals.

We’re incredibly grateful for the support you’ve shown us in the past, and we kindly ask for your help again during this challenging time. Every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference.

It’s easy to donate:
• Online: Visit our website at www.northcotehorses.com/donate
• PayPal: Send directly to [email protected]
• Bank Transfer: We’re happy to provide our details upon request.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for standing with us. Together, we can continue to provide the love and care our animals deserve.

(Photo by Kirk; Lovell a Welsh type pony grazing after a good muddy roll!)

06/01/2025

Who else could use a hug? Is it just us, or does it feel like January has already lasted an eternity?

02/01/2025

Is your New Year’s resolution to try something new or make a difference? Why not start by helping out at our sanctuary! We’re home to more than just horses – you’ll find cheeky goats, pigs, llamas, chickens, ferrets, birds of prey, and more, each needing special care.

Whether you’re an experienced animal lover or just looking to learn, we’ll teach you everything you need to know. Make 2025 the year you connect with animals and make a real impact.

If you're interested in lending a hand and making a difference, we'd love to hear from you!

27/12/2024

We’ve already received some wonderful donations of fruit and veg, which are not only a great addition to our animals’ meals but also make for a tasty treat they truly enjoy. If you have any surplus or unwanted fruit and veg, we’d love to put it to good use! Donations can be dropped off at the sanctuary or at our charity shop, Hooftastic Finds in Horncastle, reopening on 6th January. Thank you for helping us care for our animals!

25/12/2024

We would like to wish all our incredible supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎄✨

2024 has brought its share of challenges, but also many rewards. While we’ve had to say goodbye to some beloved residents—a heartbreaking reality of running an animal sanctuary—we’ve also had the joy of welcoming new ones into our family. ❤️🐴

The financial future may look uncertain, but today is not for worry. Today is for gratitude—reflecting on the positives, celebrating the moments that make it all worthwhile, and sending our heartfelt best wishes to everyone who makes what we do possible.

Wherever you are and however you’re spending this festive season, we hope it’s filled with warmth, love, and joy. 🎁✨