Animal welfare society praise ‘angel’ show jumper

WORLD-CLASS show jumper Denis Lynch was yesterday described as “an angel in disguise” by the Irish Society for the Protection of Animals for his work in alleviating the suffering of horses.

The German-based Tipperary rider was at the ISPCA’s Victor Dowling Equine Rescue Centre in Mallow, Co Cork, to see how some of the staggering €190,000 he has raised is being spent on rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing neglected horses.

ISPCA director Barbara Bent said: “Denis is an angel in disguise. He has given us a belief that we can continue our work and he has secured a safe future for the horses in our care.”

The rider undertakes his fundraising at show jumping’s lucrative Global Champions Tour.

“A picture of Irish horses suffering was being painted in the international media, which is how I became aware of it.

“I had to do something and I am delighted to see how the funding is being put to such practical use,” said Mr Lynch, as he was introduced to some of the beneficiaries of his efforts, including Bert, a yearling colt.

Bert is probably the most famous of the Mallow residents and is well on the road to recovery, having made headlines when he was discovered after his back was set alight over Halloween in the northside of Cork city. Vets said an accelerant had been put on his back and, when the ISPCA found him, his shocking wound was covered with maggots.

Mr Lynch was shown the €32,000 barn the ISPCA is constructing as well as the isolation unit, and he vowed to maintain his campaign.

“There is no guarantee I can raise the same amount, but the effort must continue,” said the current world number eight, who praised the ISPCA’s “tremendous work”.

Since 2010, the society has received over 3,500 complaints regarding horses and Barbara said the society currently has approximately 75 horses in Mallow and at its centre in Longford. Annual costs for caring and housing the animals runs to over €180,000, though in many cases it finds homes for horses, including Bert, who is promised to a family in Bandon.

Last week the ISPCA launched a hay drive, asking people to donate €3 by texting the word “hay” to 57802, or on the ISPCA website.