There was more bad luck for a woman who spends her life caring for rescued ponies.

A horse sanctuary was trashed in June leaving its founder pondering whether she can continue with her work.

Julie Blake turned up at Cecil’s Horse Sanctuary in Elstree on June 4 to a scene of chaos.

Two horses had been shut into stables with no food or water, ponies had been let out of a pen, storage sheds and caravans had been trashed, the electric fence had been turned off, and a

number of the horses had been mixed up.

Although it is believed nothing was taken, the break-in has left Julie “distressed”.

After revealing what had happened on Facebook, dozens of people shared messages in support of the sanctuary and more than £1,000 has been raised through donations.

In the past, animals at the sanctuary have been targeted and equipment has been stolen.

In July last year, an aerosol can was sprayed into the face of three-year-old horse Roxy, while the sanctuary suffered an outbreak of strangles when all the horses were mixed up when a

gate was left open.