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.

Afternoon reminder from Hannah: starvation is imminent unless dinner arrives *right now*.
06/22/2026

Afternoon reminder from Hannah: starvation is imminent unless dinner arrives *right now*.

Happy first day of summer! Justin says stay hydrated and fabulous. 🍹
06/21/2026

Happy first day of summer! Justin says stay hydrated and fabulous. 🍹

You’ve seen the photos of our tiny but mighty Appaloosa mini, Hazel- usually napping or sharing hay with her best friend...
06/20/2026

You’ve seen the photos of our tiny but mighty Appaloosa mini, Hazel- usually napping or sharing hay with her best friend Butterscotch, but do you know her story?

Hazel was found sick, starving, and struggling at an alpaca farm. A kind stranger couldn’t leave her behind but even with love and TLC, Hazel wasn’t improving, so she was taken to Rainbow’s Edge Training Center, where the vet discovered severe anemia, a bladder infection, locking stifles, and extreme weight loss.

After months of medical care, special feed, and lots of patience, Hazel was finally strong enough to make the trip to Red Bell Run and we were honored to give her a permanent, safe home.

Today, Hazel is healthy, opinionated, and living her best life at our Mini Heaven Barn. She’s a spicy little character with a big personality and an even bigger fan club. Hazel is proof that compassion changes everything. ❤️

Nothing says friendship like a synchronized afternoon nap. Hazel and Butterscotch have mastered it.
06/19/2026

Nothing says friendship like a synchronized afternoon nap. Hazel and Butterscotch have mastered it.

Spicy would like everyone to know that frozen‑treat season is officially OPEN… and he is accepting donations in the form...
06/18/2026

Spicy would like everyone to know that frozen‑treat season is officially OPEN… and he is accepting donations in the form of anything icy and delicious.
(Also- I almost lost a finger getting this photo. The commitment is real.)

To keep our residents cool this summer, we’re making big herd‑sized popsicles, and we could use empty plastic gallon ice cream containers to freeze them in! 🍨

Want to make treats at home for our horses and donkeys? Freeze them in 12‑ounce paper cups and drop them off at the Sanctuary!

Here’s an easy, safe recipe our residents love:
Chunks of watermelon, apples, carrots or bananas
Water to fill
Mix, pour, freeze, deliver, and prepare to become VERY popular. 😎

One of the perks of nightcheck: front‑row seats to sunsets like this. 🌄
06/17/2026

One of the perks of nightcheck: front‑row seats to sunsets like this. 🌄

Yes, donkeys dream! Like horses and humans, they enter REM sleep- the stage where the brain processes memories and creat...
06/16/2026

Yes, donkeys dream! Like horses and humans, they enter REM sleep- the stage where the brain processes memories and creates dream images. So, when you see a donkey twitching, snuffling, or paddling their feet during a nap, they’re probably off on a little adventure of their own- stealing snacks, escaping fences, dramatic reenactments of “the time the farrier betrayed me”, or being the main character in their own telenovela. 📺

Hannah (left) and her mom, Daphne. A great reminder that equine genetics are full of surprises- foals inherit color gene...
06/15/2026

Hannah (left) and her mom, Daphne. A great reminder that equine genetics are full of surprises- foals inherit color genes from both parents, and the combinations can create everything from light cream coats to deep chocolate ones.

Horses can figure out how to open just about anything… especially if it leads to grass. Right, Lincoln? 🤨
06/14/2026

Horses can figure out how to open just about anything… especially if it leads to grass. Right, Lincoln? 🤨

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. ❤️

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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