Overview During 2025, NEWC operated as a member-led Community Interest Company providing coordination, information-sharing and sector support across equine welfare organisations in the UK. The Board oversaw strategic delivery and organisational development throughout the year. The 2025 AGM, held as a hybrid meeting in September, was attended by 68 representatives from 31 member and associate organisations, demonstrating strong engagement across the network and enabling inclusive participation from across the sector. The AGM also included the presentation of the Annual Member Awards, recognising outstanding contributions from individuals and teams and highlighting the strength of cross-sector collaboration, including multi-agency operational work at major welfare events. The awards recognised excellence across categories including Team of the Year, Employee of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and the President's Award, celebrating innovation, leadership and collaboration in equine welfare. NEWC maintained a stable and engaged membership base throughout 2025 and welcomed two new Member organisations into the network. A new Board Director, Dawn Vincent (The Mare and Foal Sanctuary), was appointed, bringing experience in fundraising, communications and equine welfare to support NEWC’s strategic development. The AGM represented a significant milestone in NEWC’s organisational development, with members approving a series of constitutional and structural reforms. Governance and organisational development At the AGM, members approved amendments to the Articles of Association, strengthening and modernising NEWC’s governance framework to ensure it remains fit for purpose and aligned with the evolving equine welfare landscape. Key changes included: - strengthened and updated governance arrangements - clarification of membership criteria and introduction of a defined Associate category - formalisation of operational principles and accreditation arrangements - replacement of the previous Code of Practice with the NEWC Standards framework Members also approved a revised income-based subscription model. This restructure supports long-term financial sustainability, improves fairness and consistency across member and associate categories, and ensures NEWC continues to deliver value as a subscription-based membership organisation. Throughout 2025, NEWC continued to strengthen its role as the UK's umbrella organisation for equine welfare, providing a trusted forum through which member and associate organisations could collaborate, share expertise and develop consistent approaches to emerging welfare challenges. Yard and Operations Managers’ Network The Yard and Operations Managers’ Network delivered two facilitated virtual workshops in 2025 for operational staff from member organisations, supporting peer learning and consistent welfare practice. Sessions were chaired by Hannah Bryer (The Donkey Sanctuary / NEWC Director) and combined presentations, breakout discussions and facilitated dialogue. Workshops focused on: - strangles management, biosecurity, vaccination and testing (May 2025) - end-of-life decision-making in equine care (November 2025) Key themes included consistent biosecurity protocols, practical disease risk management in yard environments, and shared approaches to end-of-life welfare decision-making. Rehoming Network The Rehoming Network provided a workshop-based forum for member organisations involved in equine rehoming, supporting collaboration and exchange of operational practice. Two workshops were held in 2025. The July session focused on rehoming pressures, veterinary information sharing, PPE requirements for ridden assessments and partnership working. The November session focused on rehoming mares and foals. The network supported consistency of approach and shared learning across rehoming operations. Operational Regional Partnership Groups NEWC’s Operational Regional Partnership Groups (RPG) supported coordinated multi-agency engagement across the UK, bringing together welfare organisations, statutory agencies and NEWC members and associates. Regional chairs met in spring and autumn 2025 under the coordination of Hannah Bryer (The Donkey Sanctuary / NEWC Director). Leadership changes included the appointment of Bryony Lancaster (University of Edinburgh) as Chair for Scotland’s RPG, supported by Nicola Liddell (The Donkey Sanctuary). Communications and Advocacy Group The Communications and Advocacy Group provides a forum for coordinated communication, policy engagement and sector messaging across member and associate organisations. The group met twice in 2025 (May and October), chaired by Nicola Knight (Redwings), with representation from communications, policy and welfare teams across the sector. Across both meetings, the group focused on coordinated, evidence-led advocacy to improve equine welfare across the sector. Discussions highlighted the growing impact of external pressures including rising costs of ownership, workforce challenges, climate-related conditions, and changing patterns in horse ownership and end-of-life decisions, all contributing to increased strain on welfare organisations and services. A strong emphasis was placed on shared learning and behaviour change, including development of practical guidance on management systems such as track-based and hybrid grazing approaches. The group also supported collaborative communications on priority issues including equine overproduction, traceability and illegal transport, disease prevention and biosecurity, and the welfare impacts of fireworks, alongside updates on major initiatives such as the RSPCA Horse Sense Report and multi-agency welfare projects. Research and Education Group The Research and Education Group facilitated knowledge exchange across member and associate organisations and the wider equine welfare sector through specialist sub-groups aligned to key thematic areas. The Group met in May and December 2025, chaired by Dr Carol Hall (Nottingham Trent University / NEWC Director). Discussions included equine welfare research developments, structured welfare assessment approaches, farriery and allied professional engagement, and strengthening links between research and operational practice. The Group also progressed alignment between academic research and sector priorities, including development of student research opportunities. The December meeting agreed further development of structured sub-groups reporting into the R&E Group, including Sustainable Environments, Equine Veterinary and Behaviour, Human Training and Behaviour Change, Academic Engagement, and Farriery/Hoofcare collaboration. Equine Veterinary and Behaviour Subgroup The Equine Veterinary and Behaviour Subgroup was established in 2025 to bring together equine veterinary surgeons and behaviourists from member and associate organisations to strengthen collaboration, knowledge exchange and welfare practice. The group held its first full meeting in September 2025, chaired by Roxanne Kirton (RSPCA) for veterinary sessions and Milly Jones (RSPCA) for behaviourist sessions. Terms of Reference were agreed, alongside a structure of biannual joint meetings with interim discipline-specific sessions. Priority areas included behavioural assessment and triage, evidence-based use of psychopharmaceuticals, trauma-informed handling approaches, welfare considerations for conservation grazing and free-roaming equids, and veterinary decision-making in field contexts. The group also identified opportunities to contribute to policy development, including the Scottish Code of Practice, and to improve cross-sector dissemination of outputs. Work is ongoing to develop behavioural risk assessment frameworks, trauma-informed care principles, and shared approaches to intake assessment for unhandled or fearful equids, alongside collaboration with wider NEWC groups. Policy, legislation and external environment NEWC monitored and disseminated developments in UK and EU policy relevant to equine welfare, providing updates to member and associate organisations to support awareness of regulatory change and operational implications. Key areas included equine identification and traceability reform, welfare in transport legislation, sanitary and phytosanitary discussions affecting equine movement and trade, and proposals relating to licensing of animal welfare establishments in Wales. Wider animal welfare policy, enforcement activity and consultations were also monitored. Updates were shared through member communications to support consistent understanding across the sector. Sector collaboration and engagement Member and associate organisations collaborated on operational welfare activity and public engagement during 2025, demonstrating strong cross-sector partnership working. This included coordinated engagement at major equine events such as Appleby Horse Fair and BFBA Farrier Focus, alongside multi-agency welfare interventions involving welfare organisations, statutory bodies and veterinary partners. These activities supported assessment, treatment, rehoming and transfer of equines in complex welfare situations. At Appleby Horse Fair, NEWC members supported the delivery of the Appleby Horse Project, contributing to veterinary care, welfare advice, owner engagement and promotion of responsible horsemanship. The introduction of the Best at Appleby Awards recognised and celebrated positive examples of horse health, welfare and good practice, reinforcing an educational and partnership-based approach to welfare improvement. Publications and communications NEWC produced two newsletters during 2025 (Spring and Autumn), providing structured updates on policy developments, research activity, welfare initiatives and member and associate organisation work. Digital communications and reach NEWC developed its digital communications presence across 2025. Facebook remained the primary platform, with followers increasing to 6,491 (net growth of 716). The platform achieved 289,274 reach and 454,594 content views during the year. Instagram maintained a supporting presence, achieving 1,081 reach. NEWC also launched its LinkedIn profile in July 2025 to strengthen engagement with policy, academic and professional audiences. By 31 December 2025, the platform had reached 63 followers, achieving 3,244 impressions and 121 engagements. These channels support dissemination of welfare guidance, policy updates and sector-wide communications across member and associate organisations.

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