Red Bell Run

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.

When LeRoi was first spotted, he looked so thin and bedraggled that everyone assumed he was an elderly equine. Once he r...
06/13/2026

When LeRoi was first spotted, he looked so thin and bedraggled that everyone assumed he was an elderly equine. Once he reached the vet clinic, we learned the truth: he was only about two years old- just desperately sick, wormy, and suffering from pneumonia and anemia.

Hinnies like LeRoi (horse father, donkey mother) tend to be more skittish and sensitive, and he’d clearly had very little kind handling. But with treatment, quarantine, and months of patient care, he slowly came around.

Today, LeRoi is healthy, handled with ease (most of the time), and even enjoys exercise walks in the vineyard. His “coat of many colors” dapples beautifully in summer and turns fuzzy in winter. He spends his days grazing, sunbathing, and enjoying the gentle life he deserves alongside his pony friends, Kit Kat and Findley. ❤️

Curiosity keeps equines safe in the wild… and very busy at the sanctuary.As prey animals, equines are wired to investiga...
06/12/2026

Curiosity keeps equines safe in the wild… and very busy at the sanctuary.

As prey animals, equines are wired to investigate anything new- a sound, a scent, a strange object on the fence. That curiosity helps them understand what’s safe, what’s not, and what might be worth avoiding. Here at the sanctuary, that same instinct shows up in the funniest ways: every new bucket, toy, or visitor gets a full inspection. It’s how they learn, how they stay confident, and sometimes how they keep us entertained.

When you’re cute, sweet, and apparently a five‑star buffet. 🪰Flies may be tiny, but they cause BIG problems for equines....
06/11/2026

When you’re cute, sweet, and apparently a five‑star buffet. 🪰

Flies may be tiny, but they cause BIG problems for equines. Biting flies like horseflies, deer flies, and stable flies don’t just annoy our residents- they can cause painful welts, skin infections, stress, and even transmit disease. For seniors or medically fragile equines, those bites add up fast.

At Red Bell Run, we work hard to keep our herd comfortable. That means fly masks, fly sheets, fans in barns, manure management, and safe repellents.

Spicy listening like he’s about to weigh in on the maintenance schedule himself.
06/10/2026

Spicy listening like he’s about to weigh in on the maintenance schedule himself.

Larry and Louie, two of our barn cats, hard at work supervising… 😂
06/09/2026

Larry and Louie, two of our barn cats, hard at work supervising… 😂

"Oh good, you’re here! I’ve been working on this lid but it’s not going great." -Mickey
06/08/2026

"Oh good, you’re here! I’ve been working on this lid but it’s not going great." -Mickey

Saving Little Isaac ❤️Isaac was only three weeks old when he was abandoned at a Pennsylvania auction, sick and alone. A ...
06/07/2026

Saving Little Isaac ❤️

Isaac was only three weeks old when he was abandoned at a Pennsylvania auction, sick and alone. A rescue friend rushed to pick him up on July 3rd, but every vet was closed for the holiday. With help from our Texas vet and a dose of Doxycycline, Isaac made it through the night and the next morning, Dr. Brian Burks welcomed him into his clinic and became his hero.

Isaac was fighting pneumonia in both lungs, anemia, and the worst ulcers the vet had seen in 30 years. For months it was antibiotics, sleepless nights, setbacks, and tiny victories. He even had a teddy bear to keep him company when he was too sick for a real friend.

At a year old, Isaac was finally strong enough for surgery to fix his cryptorchid condition — and he came through like a champ. Soon after, we rescued Ellie, another hinny, and the two became inseparable.

After 14 months of care, Isaac came home to Red Bell Run. His lungs will always need watching, but his ulcers healed and his spirit is bright. Ellie has since crossed the Rainbow Bridge, but Isaac now has a new best friend in Frodo, and the two enjoy their days together at our Sunset Ridge barn.

From a lonely auction pen to a life filled with love- Isaac’s journey was long, but worth every mile. ❤️

Just a little ray of sunshine to start your Saturday. ☀️
06/06/2026

Just a little ray of sunshine to start your Saturday. ☀️

That moment you hear your name being called but you want one last bite of grass before going back to your stall.
06/05/2026

That moment you hear your name being called but you want one last bite of grass before going back to your stall.

Groundhogs are curious neighbors, but donkeys are territorial- so it’s probably for the best that the minis were inside ...
06/04/2026

Groundhogs are curious neighbors, but donkeys are territorial- so it’s probably for the best that the minis were inside during his ‘herd audition.’

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

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