Horseworld open day cancelled after respiratory infection outbreak

10 per cent of the rescued horses there have come down with Strep Zoo.

Author: Harry LongPublished 6th Aug 2025

Horseworld Bristol's had to cancel its open day because of a respiratory infection outbreak.

Ten per cent of the rescued horses there have come down with Strep Zoo - which can cause serious complications.

The organisation says Saturday's event was due to raise 20 thousand pounds - and was an important part of its fundraising programming.

In a statement, Horseworld Bristol said: "Safety comes first - for our horses and our supporters – and so, whilst it is heartbreaking to do so, in line with veterinary guidance we have taken the tough decision to cancel our Open Day. And because so many horses in our herd are higher risk and there is Strangles in the local area, we have taken the additional step of locking our site down to all but essential staff and suppliers.

"Our Open day was set to raise £20,000, which is an essential part of our fundraising programme. We are monitoring the situation and hope to be able to open our gates again soon. In the meantime, we will be launching a virtual fundraising appeal to ensure that the charity can continue to provide the highest levels of care for our rescued horses."

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.