About The Shetland Pony Welfare Trust

Dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating Shetland ponies in need, we provide shelter, education, and support for their owners.

At The Shetland Pony Welfare Trust, our mission is to relieve the suffering of Shetland ponies and their sometimes much larger companions.
We provide care and shelter to those in need, especially when their owners can no longer support them.

To relieve the suffering of Shetland and Shetland-type ponies in need of care and protection whose owners have become ill, are in hospital have died or are no longer able to look after them in particular by providing temporary or long term shelter for such animals
Through education, we strive to enhance public knowledge regarding equine welfare.

The Shetland Pony Welfare Trust's equine-assisted wellbeing foundation is part of our Charity. Our equine-assisted wellbeing workshops have been highly beneficial for individuals managing conditions such as anxiety, autism, and dementia, significantly improving overall mental health. For those looking to escape the busy pace of life and reconnect with nature, our Walking with Shetland Ponies workshops have become extremely popular.

Check Out The Shetland Pony Welfare Trust Equine Assisted Wellbeing Foundation

The Shetland Pony Welfare Trust is currently caring for over 30 rescue ponies, with an additional 22 on our adoption program. We depend entirely on public donations and receive no government funding. Every contribution, big or small, makes a huge difference. With no paid staff, we are supported entirely by our amazing team of volunteers and trustees.

We cannot help all but for those we do we can make a difference

Do something amazing and please consider a small donation

Thank you for caring

Rescue ponies peacefully grazing at the sanctuary.

Rescued by S.P.W.T

Street Cobs

Is that a Shetland pony that's grown unusually large?

I thought you specialized in rescuing only Shetland Ponies.

Visitors to the sanctuary often ask this question when meeting the ponies. The Shetland Pony Welfare Trust was founded in 2002 to rescue Shetland ponies. Now, in our 23rd year and with many changes in the economy, we have found it necessary to welcome all breeds of equine.

In 2012, The Shetland Pony Welfare Trust received an urgent plea from a borough council to find homes for six abandoned gypsy cobs that were facing euthanasia. Up until that point, the Trust had only offered sanctuary to Shetland Ponies in need. The colts had been left to roam freely through the town, their future looking bleak. With just 24 hours to save them, we made the decision to step in and help. All the cobs were feral and in very poor condition when they arrived . 

The Shetland Pony Welfare Trust successfully raised funds to have the ponies gelded, after which they joined our training and re-homing program. Since then, many cobs and other breeds have found refuge at the sanctuary. Some, due to age or health issues, have stayed under our care, while others have joined our adoption scheme.

The street cobs have joined the Shetland Pony herd and now serve as their protectors.

Help us to continue to help them by making a small Donation 

Shetland Pony Welfare Trust Grassroots Equine Rewilding Project

The Shetland Pony Welfare Trust Grassroots Equine Rewilding Project started 2022 now in its second year and is proving to be very beneficial .

Rewilding is about letting nature take care of itself, enabling natural processes to repair damaged ecosystems and restore degraded landscapes, its about working with nature rather than against it. The Shetland Pony Welfare Trust Grassroots Equine Rewilding project is using ponies as a major component because their natural grazing behaviours promotes a biodiverse environment

The concept of rewilding as a valuable tool for grassland management in the fight against climate change is becoming more important. Governments worldwide are allocating resources to assist landowners/managers in improving their lands health. In turn this helps the environment, increase biodiversity and protects species of flora and fauna some of which are in danger of becoming extinct.

Horses play a crucial role in shaping natural habitats. From grazing through to trampling, wallowing and scenting, their influence benefits a multitude of species. Horses and ponies love coarser grasses and herbs. As a bulk grazer, they will break up tussocky grasslands to form sward mosaics with characteristic, and species-rich, short-sward lawns. This fosters and maintains diverse communities of grasses and wildflowers.

Horses and ponies also tackle woody vegetation, debarking some trees and shrubs, although as a non-ruminant they struggle to digest woody material. By wallowing in dry, sandy soil, horses create habitat that numerous warmth-loving, basking and burrow-nesting insects require, including pollinating bees and wasps. Rewilding is bringing things back to an original state of being,” horses are only one of the myriad of species that help enrich our ecosystem through their natural behaviours not only on our doorstep but all over the globe. Rewilding is the key to maintaining and creating biodiversity and we can join this cause by; aiding the repair of damaged landscapes, the reintroduction and restoration of wild species and educating others on the severe loss of wildlife our world has endured through man .By eating unwanted plants and fertilizing the ground with their faeces and urine, the large feral herbivores “serve as a part of a functioning ecosystem,” much like their predecessors did thousands of years ago.

the reintroduction of a large grazer with an ecological history in the region can lead to rapid responses in the number of plant species, functional type and form. The particular role of ruderal species and ruderal functional traits has often been surprisingly overlooked in studies of disturbance ecology. It is also useful and interesting to see that insect species, in particular pollinators, are sensitive to these small-scale habitat structural and compositional changes, adjusting their behaviour to benefit from them. they're fulfilling a general large herbivore role. We've domesticated everything or hunted it. The only large herbivore we've got left roaming are deer. So the ponies are mimicking what would have been here before, to try to add a bit of balance back to the environment.

Land owners are in a unique position to make a huge difference, and we can show you how you can do this in a way that benefits you, and the environment..

The Shetland Pony Welfare Trust .Equine Assisted Wellbeing Project

Supported by The National Lottery Awards for all fund

Our project was made possible thanks to National Lottery players

In December 2024 The Shetland Pony Welfare were awarded a grant from The National Lottery Awards for all fund.

The Shetland Pony Welfare Trust has recently established the Shetland Pony Equine Assisted Wellbeing Foundation, now a division of the charity. This summer, we have been conducting equine-assisted wellbeing workshops in both local and wider communities. Several of our rescue ponies have been trained as therapy ponies and have been actively participating in our workshops. Our “Meet and Greet a Shetland Pony,” “Walking with Shetland Ponies,” and S.P.E.A.L. (Shetland Pony Equine Assisted Learning) workshops have all been very popular. We have been working with both adults and children, including those with special needs and those who simply enjoy being in the countryside. For 2025, we aim to expand this project, but to do so, we need to enhance our facilities at the sanctuary. We need to create more wheelchair-friendly areas and extend our walkways around the site that we use for our Walking with Shetland Ponies workshops. The walkways will need to be fenced and gated and suitable surface for wheelchair access. Additionally, we plan to install an undercover training area to allow us to work in all weather conditions. This could be a large double field shelter that can also serve as a crew room and reception area. The project is already making a significant impact by providing children and adults with new skills and helping to improve mental health and wellbeing. Currently, we can only accommodate one-to-one sessions or a maximum of four people per session. Expanding our facilities will enable us to offer our workshops to more people. We have a large following of over 10,000 supporters on social media, and we also advertise in the local community. This year has been a trial for us and has allowed us to see how we can move forward with the project and create a more permanent facility.

Shetland Pony Equine Assisted Learning

S.P.E.A.L

It’s a fascinating concept that blends the wisdom of Shetland ponies with human learning. These ponies, known for their gentle nature and distinct personalities, play a crucial part in this process.

By including Shetland Ponies in uniquely-designed learning exercises, an equine-assisted practitioner can observe non-verbal communication between the Pony and the participant. The practitioner guides the session, translates what they see going on, and encourages the learner to move through the exercise. Once the activities of the session are complete, the practitioner and participant debrief on the experience, discuss insights and look at next steps. This experiential approach to learning effectively provides understanding and retention of skills and ideas.

Shetland Pony Equine-assisted learning workshops, which involve a practitioner and one or more participant, vary depending on the situation being addressed. Experiential techniques such as role-playing, role-reversal, and mirroring, are combined with Shetland Pony -based activities, including choosing, grooming, walking and groundwork activities with a pony .. After the activity, participants then process or discuss their feelings and behaviours associated with the session.

Our Shetland Pony Equine Assisted Learning workshops are great for improving confidence and team building skills.

We offer group and individual Shetland pony Equine Assisted Learning workshops

To find out more click here to go to The Shetland Pony Equine Assisted Wellbeing Foundation

Our Projects

Walking with Shetland Ponies

Shetland Ponies helping to promote wellbeing

Walking with Shetland Ponies Experience at The Shetland Pony Welfare Trust

There is a quickly growing field of research in the UK that demonstrates that spending time with Ponies helps us feel good as it “embraces positive behaviors.

The Connection between nature and animals can play an important part in recovery from such things as chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, trauma, and many other conditions Helping to reduce stress and anxiety, whilst providing an invaluable opportunity to interact with these highly emotionally intelligent creatures.

If you have ever spent time with a horse or pony you will recognise the benefits. Shetland Ponies in particular have proven to be very beneficial in promoting wellbeing as due to their small size appear less intimidating than some of their much larger friends

These tiny characters will help you to reconnect with nature, they are flight animals so to have a bond with them you have to project an outer calm. Being outdoors can create a sense of mindfulness, and calm, and with a pony following along at a gentle pace it gives you the chance to notice the little things that nature has to offer such as butterflies, dragonflies, and of course the buzzards flying overhead.

Walking with Shetland Ponies is ideal for those of us who are tired of the speed and rush of life. Perfect for getting out of the office and restoring your sense of mindfulness whilst getting up close and personal with one of our little ponies.

A chance to slow down and simply reconnect by walking with our little herd of rescue ponies who have all been rehabilitated and trained by The Shetland Pony Welfare Trust

So why not join us for walking with Shetland Ponies Experience at The Shetland Pony Welfare Trust? Registered Charity 1093364

What is included in a Walking with Shetland Ponies Experience

You will meet and greet your Shetland pony

(Including a short safety talk)

Demonstration on how to walk and lead a Shetland Pony

Training session on handling and walking a Shetland Pony

Short practice session and off we go for a walk with our little herd of rescue ponies along beautiful meadow tracks.

At the end of the walk a chance to get up close and personal and take a selfie of you and your Shetland Pony

Level of Ability All ages and abilities are welcome.

If you have never been around ponies or are a little fearful don't worry you will have clear instructions about how to keep yourself safe so that you can enjoy the experience.

No experience is required.

All children must be accompanied by an adult. This experience is not suitable for children under 6yrs of age.

Each walk has a maximum of 4 people

Please wear suitable footwear such as Wellington boots for wet weather conditions, Waterproofs.

(Trainers are fine for summer months )

The Experience lasts for one hour

Cost. A donation of 35.00 per person is required

Booking. In advance Via our online platform.

Please contact us via the contact form to check for available dates.

All funds raised from our walking with Shetland Ponies Experience go directly to help support the rescued ponies in our care...Registered Charity 1093364.