Lockwood Centre For Horses & Donkeys

Lockwood Centre for Horses and Donkeys was left to the RSPCA in 2006.

The Lockwood's started the Lockwood Home of Rest for old and sick donkeys in the early 1950’s. A local riding school closed down and all the horses were sold – all except a donkey called Crackers. 

John Lockwood witnessed the donkey being treated roughly and stepped in to prevent any further harm being done. Afraid that Crackers might fall into the hands of unscrupulous dealers, the Lockwood's decided to buy and look after him. 

John and Kay then set out to rescue as many donkeys as they could. And gradually the number of donkeys on the 10-acre farm in Selsey, West Sussex grew.

Many of the donkeys they rescued were Irish working donkeys who were shipped to England after being deemed unable to work, to be slaughtered. Thankfully this cruel traffic became illegal in Eire in 1965.

The Lockwood's move to Surrey

In the early 1960’s the Lockwood’s decided to move to a 35 acre site in Wormley, Surrey, where the present centre is located. This gave them more room to continue their rescue work and horses, pigs, goats, sheep, cats and dogs were also taken in if they were unwanted or had been ill-treated.

 

The number of animals grew and grew and in 1982 the Lockwood newsletter reported they had over 700 animals, including 500 donkeys.
 

Sadly John Lockwood passed away in the early 1980’s aged 79. His wife Kay continued the running of the Sanctuary until she herself passed away in August 2005, leaving the RSPCA as the beneficiary of the estate.

Unfortunately by the time the RSPCA took over Lockwood Centre for Horses and Donkeys in 2006, most of the animals were living in difficult cramped conditions, in run-down accommodation and dangerous shelters.

In an effort to ensure as many animals could be rescued as possible, the centre had become dangerously overcrowded and there were insufficient funds available to be able to replace the dilapidated buildings.

Re-building Lockwood Centre for Horses and Donkeys

Luckily the RSPCA were able to raise the necessary funds to start a program of re-build projects, ripping down the dangerous old stable blocks and replacing with new ones.

Whilst the re-building has taken place it has not been possible to open up the centre to the general public, for health and safety reasons, except for special 'open days'.

There is still much to be done, but we are delighted that the equines now have some new barns, stables and field shelters. We are now trying to raise funds so that more field shelters and proper fencing can be erected on the site.

The future at Lockwood

We believe that it is in the best interests of the donkeys at Lockwood that they are all kept in their familiar surroundings for the rest of their lives, especially as some of them are elderly, and it is possible that moving them could cause unnecessary stress in their advanced years.

Whilst we maintain our status as a sanctuary for the donkeys, we are also very excited to have expanded to become an RSPCA equine rescue and rehabilitation centre helping to rehome horses and ponies.

Help us to continue our work with equines, make an online donation today. Thankyou.