The Shire Horse Society

Analysis

The Shire Horse Society is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Market Harborough. It was registered in May 1964, 62 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, animals and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under animals. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00012383). It says it makes grants to individuals, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending September 2025, The Shire Horse Society reported income of £595k and spending of £537k, spending 90% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from September 2021 to September 2025, income grew from £238k to £595k (+150%), an average of +26% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to September 2022, when income rose by 208%. Over the whole period it spent 73% of the income it received.

Among 2,161 England and Wales charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, The Shire Horse Society sits at the 88th percentile: it is larger than about 88% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 91st percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals North Somerset Branch (£591k), The World Parrot Trust (£601k) and Animals in Need Northamptonshire (£586k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 53%, charitable activities 28%, investments 7.5% and trading 4.0%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £228k. Charitable activities took 87% of spending and raising funds 8.4%. Reserves of £1.3m would cover about 29 months of spending at that rate. It employed 5 people.