WORLD HORSE WELFARE
Charity exists to promote horse welfare. In UK through rehabilitation centres where horses can be returned to health ; Field Officers investigate welfare concerns and give advice.Overseas by working with communities and local bodies to provide equine and other skills to help working horses.Internationally by campaigning for improved welfare and an end to long distance transport for slaughter
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that total income for the year was £11.1m (2024: £9.9m), while total expenditure was £12.2m, resulting in a deficit of £120k. The charity holds unrestricted reserves of £14.6m, which the trustees report are sufficient to manage an ongoing deficit for at least 12 months.
What the accounts disclose
What the charity says about itself (2024)
“Currently there are an estimated 7 million or more horses, donkeys and mules (equids) in Europe”
“The sector is worth more than €100 billion per annum to the EU, uses at least 2.6 million hectares of land and provides employment to at least 900,000 people.”
“In 2023 there were a total of 460,970 officially recorded movements of equids into and between EU member states alone.”
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (19/11/2024)
- Received assets from another charity (19/11/2024)
- Received assets from another charity (14/05/2021)
- Received assets from another charity (22/07/2020)
Trustees
- Alice Elspeth Middleton Talbot Rice
- Dr Christopher Wynne Tufnell MRCVS
- Dr Meredith Smith
- Dr Polly Clare Compston
- Edward Hugh Thomas
- Elizabeth Katherine Saville Roberts
- Jane Allen
- Lars Breisner
- Mark Davies CVO DL
- Melissa Gray-Cheape
- Rebecca Sheena Claire Emerson-Keeler
- SAIMA HABIB
- SAM BULLARD
- Samantha Tolhurst
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £11.1m | £12.2m |
| 31/12/2024 | £9.9m | £12.2m |
| 31/12/2023 | £16.5m | £10.7m |
| 31/12/2022 | £8.3m | £9.5m |
| 31/12/2021 | £8.5m | £8.0m |
Common questions
Is WORLD HORSE WELFARE financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total income for the year was £11.1m (2024: £9.9m), while total expenditure was £12.2m, resulting in a deficit of £120k. The charity holds unrestricted reserves of £14.6m, which the trustees report are sufficient to manage an ongoing deficit for at least 12 months. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by RSM UK Audit LLP.
Who funds WORLD HORSE WELFARE?
Funders whose own accounts filings name WORLD HORSE WELFARE as a grant recipient include MRS D M FRANCE-HAYHURST FOUNDATION, THE PETS AT HOME FOUNDATION, SIR PETER O'SULLEVAN CHARITABLE TRUST, THE RACING FOUNDATION, THE ROSE ANIMAL WELFARE TRUST CIO.
Known funders
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| The Trevor Hemmings Foundation | 1 | £25k |
| THE WESTMINSTER FOUNDATION | 1 | £20k |
| JOHN JAMES BRISTOL FOUNDATION | 1 | £10k |
| THE PATRICK & HELENA FROST FOUNDATION | 1 | £10k |
| THE REED FOUNDATION | 1 | £5k |
Charities like this
- HORSES AND PONIES PROTECTION ASSOCIATION
- HORSEWORLD TRUST
- HERE4HORSES
- RETRAINING OF RACE HORSES
- NEW BEGINNINGS HORSES
- HORSE RESCUE FUND
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WORLD HORSE WELFARE | £11.1m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| HORSES AND PONIES PROTECTION ASSOCIATION | £1.1m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| HORSEWORLD TRUST | £1.2m | £70,001 - £80,000 | 2 | below | 21.6% | no doubt |
| HERE4HORSES | £90k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| RETRAINING OF RACE HORSES | £1.3m | £120,001 - £130,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| NEW BEGINNINGS HORSES | £414k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |