Rest In Peace CARA, Our mascot and our golden oldie!

Our hearts are broken, our yard feels empty - yesterday God received a brave fighter. Our golden lady otherwise known as Queen Cara passed away.

On Wednesday morning Cara was found by volunteers listless and in distress. Our veterinarian was immediately called and arrived quickly to treat Cara. She confirmed she had colic and this case of colic was not to be treated in the field, she needed to be treated at a specialist hospital. Cara was rushed to the University Veterinary Hospital in Dublin where her life saving treatment began.

Numerous ultrasounds, stomach tubing, rectal examinations, fluid therapy and maximum pain relief were just some of the treatments administered to Cara.

Cara received top class treatment in Ireland's best equipped equine hospital, we could not have asked for more. She remained stable overnight but on Thursday morning a shocking phonecall was received to say that a major scan of the thoracic cavity revealed a mass (more than likely a tumor) of 12 cm long on her liver and was showing signs of spreading across the diaphragm. This combined with colic and recently diagnosed Cushings syndrome meant she was suffering and was slowly dying.

Unfortunately surgery was not an option for us. Cara was a 20 year old mare, who had a compromised immune system and several health problems. The wonderful team of veterinary surgeons and nurses in UCD were reluctant to put her through surgery 100% due to concerns for her welfare and quality of life.

So it is with a very heavy heart that we bring the news that Cara slipped away peacefully in the care of vets Zanita and Robert and in the loving arms of Joseph and Helen.

Cara was a fantastic character and is, of course, the reason why the doors at Leinster Horse and Pony Rescue are open today. Because of her, countless other sick, injured, forgotten and neglected equines live on.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Centre vet Catherine and the wonderful team at UCD who helped keep Cara comfortable to the very end along with Joseph.

The beginning of her life was met with cruelty but she only knew kindness and love in the end. We will rest easy knowing we could redeem her trust in humans.

She will be sorely missed at the yard but she is why we are here today and we will continue to fight to put right the wrongs facing our horses and ponies of Ireland.

We love you Cara, sleep tight Xx

I urge everyone to speak up and use their voices in our fight against cruelty. YOU can make a difference.