The popular visitor centre at Redwings Horse Sanctuary near Banbury has closed as its future opening is being considered amid 'rising costs'.
Redwings Oxhill in Banbury Road, just outside Banbury near Kineton, announced that the visitor centre is closed while the equine charity considers where it can continue running.
Both the Oxhill and the Redwings Mountains in Scotland are at risk of permanent closure, risking 39 staff roles, the relocation of more than 100 rescued horses and donkeys and the loss of the popular attractions.
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Redwings Oxhill had been operating as a popular visitor centre for nearly 20 years before the temporary closure.
A consultation has been launched on whether the centres should continue to operate and is expected to take at least a month, and the visitor sites have been closed in the meantime "out of respect for the staff involved".
The remaining Redwings visitor centres in Norfolk and Essex are operating as normal.
Charity Chief Executive Lynn Cutress said: “At Redwings we have been rescuing horses for 40 years, and thanks to the generosity of our supporters and the hard work of our team of staff and volunteers, we have been able to give our rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules across the UK a safe place to live, providing essential veterinary treatment, rehabilitation and lifelong care.
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“We want to be able to continue our vital mission well into the future; being there for the horses currently in our care and for neglected horses when they need us most.
“Our loyal supporters have been and continue to be incredibly generous, but with rising costs that are beyond our control, it is essential that we act now to ensure that we are using their donations most effectively and are investing in activities which will have the greatest impact for the horses in our care and the welfare of those beyond our paddock fences.
“We are now in our fourth year of needing to spend from our financial reserves to balance the budget and continue to provide excellent care for our horses, but it is simply not sustainable to do so any longer.
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"We need to immediately reduce our operating costs, and these sites have been selected for consideration due to their high running costs.
“Rest assured we have not made these proposals lightly, this is an incredibly sad and painful time for us and not something I ever wanted to see during my time at Redwings, but it is essential that we explore every avenue to ensure we can safeguard the wellbeing and future of the more than 1000 horses in our care.”
Redwings is one of the largest equine welfare charities in the UK and was founded in Norfolk where its head office, several large sanctuary sites and two visitor centres remain.
