Redwings Horse Sanctuary

Ernest Shackleton enjoys his morning gallop in one of Redwings’s large community pastures.

Services: Sanctuary, Rehabilitation, Adoption

Location: Lockwood, CA

Founded: 1991

Website: redwingshorsesanctuary.org

Social: 

Average Number of Thoroughbreds: 15

Redwings Horse Sanctuary rescued its first horse in spring of 1991 after the Fresno Humane Society reported finding a young Thoroughbred with a fractured shoulder in an auction yard. His registered name was Island Fighter, but the staff renamed him Sam, and after a long rehabilitation he made a full and successful recovery.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary is now home to 78 equines, including 13 Thoroughbreds, with 21 other horses in foster homes. Redwings accepts all breeds, from the smallest mini to the largest draft horse; it also accepts mules and burros. The mission of Redwings is to rescue abused or neglected horses, provide permanent sanctuary or suitable foster/adoptive homes for those animals, and to eliminate the causes of equine suffering through education and community outreach.

Redwings has a foster-to-adopt program to ensure that all of its horses go to approved and loving homes. Prospective owners must fill out a foster applications and have a home inspection before being allowed to foster a Redwings horse. A mandatory one-year foster period enables Redwings staff to keep a close eye on the foster horses to ensure they are happy, healthy, and a good fit in their new homes. After 12 months of successful fostering, a horse will become available for adoption by its foster family.

Redwings does not charge adoption fees and is always willing to take back a horse for any reason. Those horses that are unadoptable due to age, illness, or injury are given a permanent home at the sanctuary in Lockwood, Calif.

Redwings recently began a retraining program for off-track Thoroughbreds to prepare them for second careers and also offers rehabilitation to horses retired from racing due to injuries.

Redwings is excited to be moving to its new permanent home in the spring of 2021. We are currently wrapping up construction and getting ready to move all the horses to Paso Robles. The new address will be 6875 Union Road, Paso Robles, Calif.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary Success Stories

Mountain Yodler – Mountain Yodler raced 23 times in the claiming ranks in California, only reaching the winner’s circle once and earning three other placings. Read more >>