The Horse Trust

Analysis

The Horse Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Princes Risborough. It was registered in June 1964, 62 years ago. Its declared purposes cover animals, which this site groups under animals. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00347417). It says it makes grants to organisations and provides services.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Horse Trust reported income of £2.3m and spending of £4.0m, spending 172% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £1.9m to £2.3m (+22%), an average of +5.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 33%. Over the whole period it spent 161% of the income it received.

Among 2,161 England and Wales charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, The Horse Trust sits at the 96th percentile: it is larger than about 96% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Oceana UK (£2.3m), Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (£2.3m) and Woodside Animal Welfare Trust (£2.3m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 80%, investments 11%, charitable activities 2.6% and trading 1.2%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1.1m. Charitable activities took 84% of spending and raising funds 14%. Grants to other organisations totalled £102k. Reserves of £3.0m would cover about 9 months of spending at that rate. It employed 60 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.