A Moray woman whose charity trek with her horses was temporarily halted by a mountain rescue drama says she would do it all over again – to save the life of just one more animal.
Leanne McDonald, of Drybridge, Buckie, undertook a 300-mile journey on foot from Spey Bay to Edinburgh, with ponies Candy and Tinkerbell and dog Foxy in tow.
Mrs McDonald, 46, set off on May 23 but just ten days into the challenge she got lost in the Cairngorms and had to walk her animals to a height of 2,500ft so she could use her mobile phone to raise the alarm.
Both Braemar and Tayside mountain rescue teams were called out to help find the group, locating them just north of Pitlochry.
Mrs McDonald and her menagerie have now finished their journey to the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies at Edinburgh University.
The mission raised more than £3,250 for the Equine Grass Sickness Fund.
Now resting at home, Mrs McDonald is still feeling the effects of the trek.
She said: “I don’t think I really went in with any expectations, but the days were longer than I thought they would be.
“Some days we were walking for 10 hours.
“However, it was just an incredible experience and in chatting with people along the route I was able to tell them about grass sickness and help raise awareness.
“I have to say a big thank you to everyone who supported us, especially the mountain rescue teams.”
Last month, six-year-old Dales-cob cross, Candy – who developed the sickness in July 2013 – was given a clean bill of health to take part in the event.
The disease causes damage to horses’ nervous system and affects the gut, which becomes paralysed.