A horse sanctuary keen to loan out animals during the winter is appealing to potential new owners as temperatures drop and a shortage of stables will leave some out in the cold.

Roleystone Horse and Pony Sanctuary currently looks after 36 horse and ponies has 13 listed on its website which volunteers are hoping people will help look after.

Joanne Metcalfe, a trustee of the sanctuary in Wrose, Shipley, said: “Ideally we were wanting to have a stable for every horse, but we haven’t got that.”

Miss Metcalfe said because horses were cheaply available in the district, some reportedly being sold for as little as £5, it was easy for people to take on animals only for them to end up in sanctuaries.

She said loaning a horse from the sanctuary, for £10 a month, was a good way for people to test whether they had the finances and time to look after a horse before buying one.

“Some people are buying a horse and they just don’t realise what’s involved. It’s cheap to buy horses now, but it’s the upkeep – some people just don’t realise the cost,” Miss Metcalfe said.

One horse the sanctuary is keen to have looked after is a three-year-old gelding called Xerxes. He is un-schooled but a good jumper and could be developed with the right one-to-one attention.

“He’d make a beautiful show pony,” Miss Metcalfe said.

Others include 19-year-old Tariq, a Bay Caspian gelding, who has previously worked with Riding For The Disabled, and Samson, a bay miniature Shetland pony.

A home checker from the charity will visit anyone who wants to adopt a horse or pony to check they have suitable conditions. The sanctuary is also appealing for volunteers to spare a few hours to help sort through bric-a-brac to sell.

Anyone who can help can see the horses at roleystonesanctuary.org.uk or call (01274) 631 328.