Lynne the Blue Cross are most definitely up and running and very worthwhile. We have just rehomed a really pretty shetland/welsh cross who's taken a bit of a beating at her previous home. We paid a £50 donation and in return we get the pony on loan for life, wormers paid for for this year, and all her vaccinations paid for for life. Take a look at the website very informative. We offered a home to a shetland pony from the RSPCA, but we were turned down as we were too far for the inspectors to travel to check us out!
Last year we had a herd of mixed coloured horses left in a field in the next village probably on their way to god knows where. No grass middle of winter no feed or hay, so they started eating their way through the garden hedges. RSPCA