A new £50,000 specialist horse ambulance has been delivered to Redwings Horse Sanctuary.
The Volvo FM truck has been converted by Oakley and will be used for the charity’s rescue operations across the country; transporting horses, ponies, mules and donkeys in need of care.
Currently the sanctuary has more than 1100 animals in their direct care and this truck comes at the end of two years fundraising efforts by the charity.
Adam Joslin, welfare and transport manager at Redwings said: “This is our first Volvo and it’s going to be a vital replacement for one of our 18 tonne HGVs which has frankly seen better days.
“We also operate three 7.5 tonne horse boxes and all these vehicles are absolutely essential for our day to day work.
“We are so pleased and very grateful to everyone who contributed to help us raise the funds we needed.”
The lorry has been created without living area for human carers to ensure maximum space for the specific extras required.
It features air suspension to ensure a smooth ride, red night travelling lights, electric fans to keep airflow in the back of the lorry constant, detachable grilles and floor length partitions.
Other features include CCTV, rubber filler on the ramp to assist in loading and the option of fitting the charity’s specialist pen for use in mass round-ups.
Redwings has eight centres around the country and they are funded solely by donations.
For more information visit www.redwings.org.uk
For more up-to-date news stories, see the current issue of Horse & Hound (17 March, 2011)
