Summer heatwave drives Winter feed appeal for Raystede's Horses and Donkeys

Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare is appealing for support as soaring feed costs threaten to push up the charity's winter care bill.

The charity needs to raise an extra £9,700 this winter to help feed the 15 horses and ponies and seven donkeys in its care. After a summer of prolonged heat and little rain, grass growth has been poor and the cost of essential feed is rising sharply as winter approaches.

While the hot weather may have been welcome for many, for grazing animals, the impact has been serious and long-lasting. Parched fields have produced less forage, driving up the cost of hay and straw ahead of the colder months.

Hay prices have risen by around 150% and straw costs are up by around 22%. Hard feeds, including fibre mash, balancers and conditioning cubes, have also become more expensive.

For many of the animals in Raystede's care, especially those who are elderly, recovering from neglect or living with health conditions, cutting back on feed is not an option.

Dot's story

One animal already affected by the summer weather is Dot, one of Raystede's much-loved donkeys.

Dot has limited teeth and no incisors following treatment for a painful dental condition called Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis (EOTRH). As a result, she can only graze on longer grass.

The hot, dry summer left much of Dot's grazing scorched and unsuitable to eat. She has lost weight and now needs extra supplementary feed to stay healthy.

Dot also relies on straw bedding, which forms an important part of a donkey's fibre-rich diet. With straw prices rising and shortages expected later in the season, caring for donkeys like Dot is becoming increasingly expensive.

"Animals like Dot remind us why this appeal matters," said Wendy Bardsley, Head of Fundraising at Raystede. "Dot has already overcome significant health challenges and depends on a specialist diet every day. The summer heatwave has reduced the grazing she can eat, just as the cost of the feed she relies on continues to rise. We know many people are facing financial pressures, but every donation will help make sure animals like Dot receive the care they need this winter."

Winter pressures ahead

Winter feeding runs from November to April, when horses, ponies and donkeys need more food and bedding to stay healthy through cold, wet weather.

Last year, Raystede spent approximately £7,017 on hard feed. Between January and September this year, the charity had already spent around £5,030, before the additional costs of winter feeding begin. 

Many of the horses, ponies and donkeys at Raystede arrive with complex needs. Some are underweight. Others are elderly or require specialist diets to recover from neglect and poor health. Every animal receives an individual feeding plan to ensure they get the nutrition they need.

How the public can help

Raystede is asking supporters to help fill a feed bucket this winter.

• £10 could help pay for hay, straw or supplementary feed.
• £25 could help provide essential winter feed for an animal in Raystede's care.
• £50 could make a valuable contribution towards the charity's growing winter feed bill.

To support the appeal and make a donation, visit www.raystede.org/winterfeed