What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 5pm

Red Bell Run

Home to The Sanctuary at Red Bell Run, a Special Needs Equine Sanctuary. They come here in need. We fulfill as many of those needs as we can.

The Sanctuary at Red Bell Run is home to special needs equines, those with medical or behavioral issues that make them unadoptable. Many times our residents are able to have a good quality of life with managed care; care that other organizations may not be able to provide due to staffing or financial restrictions. We strive to give each horse, mule, or donkey we care for the things that they lacke

d before coming to Red Bell Run. We do a lot of things here but at the Sanctuary, the most important thing we do is simply love them. OUR MISSION:
To rescue abused, neglected or at risk equines and other animals, offering rehabilitation and permanent placement including lifelong sanctuary. Foster the animal-human bond through empathy building, community assistance, educational and therapeutic programs.

08/24/2026

🍉🐴 PJ would like to interrupt your scrolling with an important message…

If you’ve been thinking about sponsoring our Boo & Bray Fun Run on October 10, consider this your official reminder from one very happy, watermelon-popsicle-covered face. 😂

Boo & Bray is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and sponsorships directly help us provide the feed, medical care, and daily support our 120+ rescued and special-needs equines depend on.

And we want to make sure our sponsors get some love, too! Depending on your sponsorship level, benefits include social media recognition, your logo on event materials, event signage, emcee recognition, and more. Sponsorship opportunities range from $250 to $1,500.

So, while PJ is busy enjoying the finer things in life (like homemade watermelon and cucumber popsicles) we’re looking for businesses and individuals who would like to help make those little extras, and all the essential care behind them, possible.

Want to join our Boo & Bray sponsor family? Send us a message for more information! 🎃🫏❤️

08/23/2026

✨ Staff Spotlight: Teresa ✨

Teresa has been part of the Red Bell Run family for about four years — off and on, as she says with a laugh! 😂 She started as a volunteer, then worked summers for two years before joining the team more regularly. Today, Teresa works part-time, spending one afternoon at Mini Heaven and two afternoons helping with office work. Before coming to Red Bell Run, Teresa was the director of an after-school program in Rutherfordton. Her love of horses, however, goes back much further. She’s loved horses since she was a little girl visiting her aunt and uncle’s farm in Indiana.

🐴Favorite sanctuary resident?
Cody! "Although he can sometimes be a handful, I love his personality! He is all boy - playful, mischievous, curious but sweet."

🫏Which resident has surprised you the most?
Willow. "Even thought she is no longer with us, Willow is the one who surprised me the most. I was and am still amazed out how very sweet she was considering the abuse she suffered before coming to Red Bell Run."

✨Which resident has a personality most like yours?
Hallie. "Quiet, reserved and wary of people but once you have earned her trust, she is very sweet and has such good manners. But if she doesn't like someone (one of the other horses) she won't hesitate to let them know!"

🥰What's your favorite part of the job?
"Since I work only in the afternoons, I get to mostly groom and love on the minis. It's the best!!"

💪🏼What keeps you motived on the hard days?
"I stay motivated by reminding myself that these equines are depending on us to show up and do the work no matter what."

When asked what she would tell our supporters, Teresa said, "I can personally vouch that the time and money supporters give goes toward providing excellent care for every equine at Red Bell Run. Mary truly loves and cares for them all and never cuts corners when it comes to their wellbeing."

We’re so grateful to have Teresa as part of the Red Bell Run family. From caring for our minis to helping behind the scenes in the office, she brings patience, compassion, and a lifelong love of horses to everything she does. ❤️

08/22/2026

🌟 Staff Spotlight: Paige 🌟

Paige has been part of the Red Bell Run family for almost two years! She came to Red Bell Run wanting to learn the importance of communication and rules, and along the way, she has formed some pretty special relationships with our residents.

🐴 Favorite sanctuary resident?
Hallie. "She shows me resilience and that anxiety can be controlled and taken by the horns!"

❤️ Which resident do you have a special bond with?
Hallie again! "She's the sweetest little angel."

😲 Which resident has surprised you the most?
April. "After watching her lose her mother, I have been inspired by April's resilience and her continued desire to connect with other animals."

🐰 Which resident has a personality most like yours?
Bunny. "She always wants to make friends and comes running in from turnout for food."

🧹 What does a typical day at the sanctuary look like?
According to Paige, there's a pretty consistent theme: cleaning. 😂
"Come into the barn around 7:50, take the time to familiarize myself with new information, then 8 o'clock marks the beginning of making meds and grain. Then clean, and more cleaning and cleaning and cleaning. Then hay!! Remake hay, clean up hay, move hay, feed hay and remake hay. Then clean ponies in the evening, make grain, clean… clean… CLEAN… then done!!"

😳 What's something people would be surprised to learn about your job?
"How up close and PERSONAL you get with these guys!!!"

😂 What's the messiest or funniest part of your work?
Cleaning udders! "Some mares love it, and I find it hilarious."

❤️ What's one thing you wish everyone knew about sanctuary animals?
"They are so much more than their hardships. When I look at these guys, I don't consider their stories as them. I look at their strength, their growth, and their wants and needs."

⏰ What keeps you motivated on the hard days?
"It's almost five o'clock." 😂

🗣️ If one sanctuary resident could talk for five minutes, who would you choose?
Shelby. "I know she had some lore she could drop."

🔐 Who would survive the longest in an escape room?
Newt. "He will always find a way out."

👑 Who's secretly the boss of the sanctuary?
"The mustangs… I know they secretly boss Mary around."

🍽️ Who's the biggest food critic?
Petrina. "She hates everything I give her."

🏆 Who would win a talent show?
Levi. "Very talented boy."

📺 Who deserves their own reality TV show?
Griffin. "THE DRAMA this man makes."

And if Paige could switch jobs with any resident for a day? Dante. "If I could just run around and be silly all day, I would die happy." 😂

But underneath all the laughs, Paige has learned something important during her time here: how much communication matters—both between people and with the equines in our care. If she could instantly teach every visitor one thing, it would be how to read and properly respond to equine body language.

When asked what she would tell our supporters, Paige said, "Even if your support is just mentioning us and this place to a friend, it helps. So many volunteers have started here and become a core part of the RBR family just from one mention of us!"

Thank you, Paige, for bringing your humor, hard work, and love for our residents to Red Bell Run—and for doing all that cleaning… and cleaning… and CLEANING. ❤️🐴

08/21/2026

It’s Friday, and Jacques is diving headfirst into the weekend. 🫏

08/20/2026

👀 Would you be interested in a behind-the-scenes Vet Tech Tour at Red Bell Run?

Caring for more than 100 equines means that some of our residents require a little (or a lot) more than the standard daily care.

Frodo is one of our medically compromised residents and keeping him comfortable during the summer can mean using tools like a portable AC unit and cooling sheet. But that’s only one example of the specialized care happening around the sanctuary every day.

We’re considering offering a Vet Tech Tour that would take you behind the scenes to meet several of our higher medical-needs residents and learn:

🐴 What medical conditions they live with
🩺 How our team manages those conditions day-to-day
💊 The medications, treatments, and supportive care involved
❤️ What it really takes to keep medically compromised equines comfortable and thriving

This would be a more in-depth, educational look at a side of sanctuary care that visitors don’t normally get to see.

Would you be interested in a tour like this? Let us know in the comments! 👇

08/19/2026

👢 Poncho is new boot goofin’! (Zoom in to peep the sparkles!)

Unfortunately, we had to break the news to Poncho that he and his mini donkey buddies will NOT be available as walking partners for our Boo & Bray Fun Run. Stopping every 30 seconds for a five-minute grass break is not considered an acceptable race strategy no matter how much Poncho disagrees. 🫏

But don’t worry—we’ve got some slightly more motivated friends ready to join you! For $100, you can walk the course with one of our mini horses! (Limited availability.) More details at the link below.
https://redbellrun.org/event/boo-bray-5k-vendor-market/

Whether you’re running for a PR, strolling for fun, or mostly just here for the equines, every step supports a great cause. All proceeds directly benefit the residents of The Sanctuary at Red Bell Run. ❤️

Poncho will be cheering you on from the sidelines.😉

08/18/2026

When you technically survived the hottest Tuesday ever, but this is all you have left to give. 😂

Bring on those cooler temps!!

08/17/2026

🎃🫏 Boo & Bray sponsors needed! 🫏🎃

Our Boo & Bray Fun Run is Red Bell Run’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and we’re looking for businesses, organizations, families, and individuals to help make it a success!

📅 Sponsorship deadline: August 31

Your sponsorship helps us care for more than 120 rescued and special-needs equines while allowing us to continue giving back to our community through:

🐴 Free sanctuary tours
📚 School tours & Read with Rescues
🚜 Hayrides for larger groups
🌾 Our community hay bank for horse owners in need
❤ Lifelong care for rescued and special-needs equines

Sponsorship opportunities:
🥉 Bronze — $250
🥈 Silver — $500
🥇 Gold — $1,000
🏆 Platinum — $1,500

Sponsorships are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, and sponsors receive recognition through event signage, social media, our website, T-shirts, event materials, and more depending on sponsorship level.

You don’t have to own a horse to make a difference in the life of one. 🖤

We’d love to give you more information about the things you’ll be supporting!
📧 [email protected]

08/16/2026

✨ Staff Spotlight: Bri ✨

Before joining the Red Bell Run family, Bri spent 10 years as a retail store manager. Nearly five years ago, she found her way to the sanctuary, and she’s been an important part of the Red Bell Run family ever since.

🐴 Favorite sanctuary resident?
Nick. Although he has since crossed the rainbow bridge, Nick will always hold a special place in Bri’s heart. He was a mini donkey who acted more like a dog, and the two of them did just about everything together—from going on walks to making feed. In the winter, Bri even let Nick pick out his own wardrobe! He would help her fill out paperwork, make sure everyone was doing their job, and keep everyone on their toes. 🫏❤️

🩵 Which resident has a personality most like yours?
Isaac. "Very stubborn, has an attitude, but very sweet and smart."

🤝 Which resident would make the best coworker?
Mickey. "He's always helping out with making grain!"

😂 Which resident makes you laugh the most?
Dante. "He's always getting into trouble!"

🍴 Who's the biggest food critic?
Vinnie. The hay has to be *just right.*

💅🏼 Who's the biggest diva?
Stella the cat. 👑

👶 Which resident would you trust to babysit another animal?
Shelby Ann.

📺 Which resident deserves their own reality TV show?
Early. "Keeping Up with Early."

Thank you, Bri, for nearly five years of dedication, hard work, and love for our residents. We're grateful for everything you bring to Red Bell Run and so glad you're part of our family! ❤️

08/15/2026

✨ Staff Spotlight: Raven ✨

For the past six years, Raven has been a dedicated part of the Red Bell Run family. Before joining the sanctuary, she cleaned houses and waited tables, but her lifelong love of horses eventually led her to Red Bell Run—a place where that passion shines through in the care she gives our residents every single day.

One thing Raven wishes more people understood is that caring for equines is about so much more than feeding and cleaning. It takes knowledge, observation, and a willingness to keep learning. From recognizing subtle signs of discomfort to understanding that every horse, donkey, and mule has a unique personality and needs, no two days are ever the same.

🐴 Favorite sanctuary resident?
Choosing just one isn't easy, but if she had to, Raven says it would be Quinn.
"She's a little sassy but so, so sweet. She has come such a long way, and seeing her progress makes my heart so happy." 🖤

Of course, we couldn't resist asking a few fun questions...

🐴 Best coworker?
Bucky. "He always has something to 'say' to everyone who walks by and makes great company."

🗣️ If one resident could talk for five minutes, who would you choose?
Charlotte. Raven is convinced she'd have plenty of stories to tell! 😂

👑 Who's the secret boss of the sanctuary?
Shelby Ann.

💅 Biggest diva?
Hazel. (No hesitation there!)

🎬 Who deserves their own reality TV show?
Cody. "Because he's always being goofy and finding something to get into." 🤣

When asked what she'd like supporters to know, her answer was simple:
"We appreciate all of the support you give us. It truly makes a huge impact on the equines' lives—and on ours." ❤️

Thank you, Raven, for six years of hard work, compassion, and dedication. Your heart for the residents, your commitment to learning, and the joy you find in watching rescued equines heal and grow make Red Bell Run a better place every day. ❤️

Address

385 Blackwood Road
Columbus, NC
28722

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

(828) 863-2017

Website

http://www.redbellrun.org/

Alerts

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