As is common with most people, I often get bogged down in my own personal little troubles. Small worries quickly become big ones and you think that you are the only one in the world with a problem.

Working here at the Trust doesn't mean that we just deal with the animals that come into our care, we usually meet the people behind the animals. As you know equines come here for a variety of reasons, neglect, abuse, cruelty or an inability for the owner to cope due to chronic or terminal illness. That particular situation is close to the hearts of many here as the founder of the Trust died of cancer herself at the very young age of thirty eight, still with so much to do.

An animal came to us early last year, his owner unable to care for him any more because his partner was dying of cancer, the horse was several miles away and the owner openly admitted he was neglecting his beloved gelding as he just couldn't cope. It was a huge wrench for him, the gelding was 11 months old when bought and we took him at the age of 18. All I could do as the back of the truck went up was to wish him the very best of luck though we both knew what the outcome was going to be. I felt useless.

Late last year we took in three animals with the same situation, owner had cancer, her parents had cancer. The woman couldn't be there when we collected the animals as she was just too distraught at losing what she considered to be part of her family, a large part of her life. The people who were there knew the horses well and were just as upset I think as the owner was. There were many tears shed.

Today we took in the last we can take in for a while, at least until the flu is finished with and we can rehome some that are waiting to go out. We had hoped to put off the intake till after the flu but we couldn't, we already have a home for the animal but that will have to wait now.

The owner is suffering from ME, a debilitating illness that meant she could no longer care for her beloved horse. She was distraught when we left, knows it is the best thing for the animal but she just can't do it any more.

I have hugged more people in the last two and a half years I think than in the previous fifty four years of my life. I have seen more tears and shed some myself as well, it isn't always easy to be efficient and I am certainly not cold hearted. At least I am able to reassure the owners that their animals will be well cared for and often we are able to put ex-owners in contact with new owners so there can be some contact.

We can't always help them but we try to when we can. I feel so very sad for them, their lives are falling apart and then they lose just that little bit more often the one being that they have been able to share all their thoughts and fears with.

And that is when I suddenly realise I don't really have any worries at all.

One of our volunteers is starting chemo therapy today. All of us here wish her the very best.