News – Northcote Heavy Horse Centre

News & Blog

Full to the brim with our latest news, inspirational stories and educational lessons on caring for animals. Please feel free to sign up to our regular newsletters by email below.

Two harnessed horses stand side by side, facing forward. A banner reads Celebrating 35 years. Text below says Northcote Heavy Horse Centre Est. 17 July 1989. Green trees can be seen in the background.

Celebrating 35 Years of the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre

17 July 2024

Today marks our 35th anniversary, with our centre officially opening on July 17th, 1989. Our journey has never been easy, but we’re proud to have helped hundreds of animals live

Two small ponies, including a spotted miniature horse, stand side by side in front of a wooden stable wall. One is tan with a red headcollar; the other, black and white with spots, wears blue. Both have fluffy coats and shaggy manes.

About the Falabella Miniature Horse

27 February 2024

Falabella Miniature Horses at Our Animal Sanctuary Imagine a horse that fits comfortably in your living room — a miniature marvel with all the grace and elegance of its larger

A large brown draught horse with a black mane and tail stands on green grass in a field, wearing a purple headcollar. Behind it, Nutty's Equine Hospital’s white trailer and trees are visible under a blue sky, ready for any emergency.

Nutty’s Equine Hospital Emergency

1 February 2024

2024 hasn’t had the best of starts for us. As many of you know, last year we lost access to part of our sanctuary where our stables were located. We are

A woman walks a small horse near the stables, their quiet bond offering comfort after a devastating loss.

Devastating Loss of our Stables

24 October 2023

Dear supporter, We wanted to let you know about some important changes happening at our sanctuary. 😢 Our centre has always been divided into two parts, the first being our

Two goats with curved horns stand on a wooden structure outdoors. One goat is mostly black with white patches, whilst the other has a mix of brown, black, and white fur. A wooden fence is in the background.

A Beginners Guide To Caring For Goats

4 June 2023

Goats at Our Animal Sanctuary At our animal sanctuary, our goats are much-loved residents who have found a safe and permanent home with us. Each goat has their own personality.

A ferret with dark fur is sniffing the floor, standing in a patch of sunlight surrounded by shadow on a textured surface—perfect for a beginners' guide to observing animal behaviour, much like caring for goats.

A Beginners Guide To Caring For Ferrets

28 February 2023

Ferrets at Our Animal Sanctuary At our animal sanctuary, our ferrets are much-loved residents who have found a safe and permanent home with us. Each ferret has their own personality.

Two large black and white Shire horses with feathered hooves stand side by side in harnesses on grass. A man in a red jacket holds their reins, whilst a young boy leans on a wooden fence nearby. Trees and fields are in the background.

Wandle Goliath

16 May 2022

Shire Horse – 19.1/4hh – Died July 19th 2001Formally the tallest shire horse in the world. More information about Wandle Goliath (Golly) will be published here shortly. Read about Goliath’s

A large, muscular black horse stands on grass in a fenced outdoor area with trees and a bench in the background. The horse’s coat is glossy and its mane and tail are long and flowing.

Dante

5 May 2022

Friesian Horse – Died April 5th 2022 Today has been another devastating blow to the centre. As you know yesterday our beautiful Friesian horse, Dante came down with colic. Sadly

A brown horse with a long mane stands in a grassy field dotted with yellow flowers, surrounded by green trees and a wooden fence on a sunny day.

The Sad Loss of Rosie

27 March 2022

March 27 2022 We are totally devastated as today we unexpectedly lost Rosie our very beautiful Suffolk Punch. Rosie had a condition called wobblers syndrome, which is a condition that

A person wearing a helmet stands on grass, gently kissing the nose of a large black horse with a white saddle—perhaps sharing a moment after cricket practice—in an outdoor paddock with trees in the background.

Cricket Cracker

16 January 2022

Shire Horse – 19.2hh – Died July 2007 Cracker as he was known to hundreds of friends, adopters and supporters, first came to Lincolnshire In 1992. He was born at

A kookaburra with a brown and white body and blue wing feathers perches on a green, grass-covered bar inside a wire cage, its beak open as if calling. The background reveals a blurry outdoor scene.

About the Laughing Kookaburra

11 March 2019

Kookaburras at Our Animal Sanctuary The kookaburra is a bird species native to Australia and belongs to the kingfisher family. There are four recognised species of kookaburra, with the Laughing