Hilda Florence Holmes Trust

The Hilda Florence Holmes Trust, established under the will of Mrs Hilda Florence Holmes following her death in 1985 (with its Trust Deed executed in 1989 and amended in 2017), is a dedicated grant-making charity solely focused on relieving the suffering of ponies and horses in need of care, protection, rescue, or rehabilitation across England and Wales. Rooted in its founder's compassion, the Trust upholds values of practical animal welfare, responsible stewardship, and evidence-based impact, channeling investment income—typically £130,000–£140,000 annually—exclusively to registered charities delivering direct interventions like neglect prevention, sanctuary provision, veterinary care, and rehabilitation for equines facing hardship or distress.

It prioritizes thematic areas such as rescue operations, shelter, and specialist care for ponies and horses, supporting project and operational costs for verifiable initiatives with proven outcomes, as seen in grants to organizations like Bodmin Moorland Pony Rehabilitation.

Eligible applicants are strictly UK-registered charities and not-for-profit voluntary bodies operating equine welfare projects in England and Wales, with a preference for small to medium-sized specialist providers (no fixed income thresholds). Unsolicited applications are not accepted; grants are awarded invite-only at trustees' discretion, reviewed annually after the April financial year-end, with no published deadlines or forms.

Distinctively narrow in scope, the Trust excludes individuals, non-equine causes, activities outside its remit, capital projects, or capacity building, differentiating it as a purposeful steward for equine-specific welfare without broader animal or community funding.