New Zealand's national horse welfare charity
From a worried first phone call to the day a horse no longer needs us, we're there for horses and their people. Equine Welfare NZ offers advice to owners, and rescue, rehabilitation, foster care and rehoming for horses in crisis.
FOR HORSES AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM
MEET BONNIE
We couldn't change the birth.
We could change what came next.
Bonnie gave birth to her foal, Sammie, the day before we were due to collect her. The birth went badly, and both needed urgent veterinary treatment. Their initial care cost around $14,000, and it was there for them because people give every week.
They both pulled through. Today Bonnie is thriving in foster care, and she's taken on another important job as aunty to a foal in our care.
Ongoing care, week after week. Change or cancel anytime.
Worried about a horse, or struggling with your own? Talk to us in confidence.
What recovery actually looks like
Recovery is a long road, not a single moment. Here's what it typically looks like for a horse in our care. Every horse is different, and some need far more.
DAY 1
Rescue and assessment
• Safe uplift and transport
• Vet check
• Parasite control
• Careful reintroduction to feed
• Settled somewhere quiet and safe
Cost to deliver: $420
WEEK 4
Stabilisation
• Nutrition plan
• Dentistry
• Farrier work
• Decompression
• Ready to head to foster
Cost to deliver: $680
MONTH 3
Rehabilitation
• Weight gain
• Behaviour support
• Gentle handling
• Routine
• Fostered with one of our network
Cost to deliver: $1,140
MONTH 6-18
Rehomed, with a safety net
• Training with a qualified trainer
• Carefully matched to a long-term lease or adoptive home
• Lifelong return-to-us option if anything changes.
Cost of full journey: $2,300+
Your weekly donation covers the long middle part that most people never see.
CLEAR AND ACCOUNTABLE
Where the money goes
We have no paid staff, so what you give goes to the horses. It covers rescue and rehabilitation, education, owner support and rehoming, with vet care as our highest single cost.
See the real cost of our work behind the scenes.
Horses eat every day. Their care shouldn't depend on the next fundraiser.
Feed, farrier and vet bills add up quickly, and they continue for as long as a horse is with us. Steady weekly donations mean we spend less time fundraising to cover the basics and more time helping horses and supporting owners early, before things become a crisis.
OUR GOAL
1,000 people donating $5 weekly
This would let us prevent problems, not just respond to them. More education, more owners supported early, and room for more horses.
CHOOSE YOUR WEEKLY DONATION
Every donation supports all our work. The more that comes in each week, the more horses and owners we can help, and the earlier we can reach them.
$5 a week
Enough to feed a horse in our care for a day.
$10 a week
Enough to keep a horse's feet trimmed and healthy all year.
$25 a week
Enough to cover vet care, rehabilitation and retraining for a horse in our care.
WHO WE ARE
More than just a rescue
Equine Welfare NZ is a registered charitable trust that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes horses in need across Aotearoa.
We believe prevention should always outweigh rescue, so fewer horses ever reach crisis. Every horse deserves to be safe, respected and able to thrive, not just survive.
That's why we educate owners, support people before situations become emergencies, and advocate for better welfare outcomes nationwide. Founded by veterinary nurse Alice Hayward in 2020, we're run by a national network of volunteers, foster homes, professionals and industry partners, with no paid staff.
OUR MODEL OF CARE
Every horse. The same commitment.
Our care starts before a horse ever needs rescuing and continues long after they leave us, with follow-up support and a lifelong option to come back to us.
PREVENTION
Small problems are easier to fix
Most welfare issues begin quietly, with weight loss missed over winter, feeding that no longer meets needs, and untreated pain or conflicting advice. Talk to us early, before it becomes something bigger.
WHAT WE DO
The work at a glance
Owner support
Help and advice for owners before situations reach crisis.
Education
Practical knowledge for current and future horse owners.
Rescue and rehabilitation
Safe uplift, vet care, and the long road to recovery.
Foster network
Paddocks, people, and patience across the country.
Rehoming
Carefully matched homes for horses in our care, with a lifelong option to return.
Industry collaboration
Working with vets, farriers, councils, and agencies on better outcomes.
OUR COMMUNITY
Trusted by people who work with horses every day.
We work alongside veterinarians, farriers, trainers, transporters, councils, and equine businesses across New Zealand. Welfare improves when the people closest to horses share what they know.
COMMON QUESTIONS
I can't afford to feed my horse over winter. What are my options?
Please contact EWNZ early. We can talk through practical options and help you understand what support may be available before the situation becomes harder to manage.
Are donations to Equine Welfare NZ tax deductible?
Yes. Equine Welfare NZ is a registered charity approved by IRD, so donations of $5 or more are eligible for a tax credit.
Will I get in trouble if I ask for help with my horse?
Asking for help is the right thing to do, and it's exactly what we want owners to do. We're a charity, not an enforcement agency. Many of the people who contact us are doing their best and just need advice or support through a tough patch. We'll talk it through with you, without judgement, and help you work out what to do next.
In rare cases where a horse is at serious risk and we can't resolve things together, we may need to involve MPI or the SPCA. If that happens, we'll be upfront with you about it.
Equine Welfare NZ Registered Charitable Trust Building on the work of Rodney Animal Rescue
Charity Registration CC63890