'Horrific' death of pregnant horse prompts call for crackdown on sulky racing

Senator Chris Andrews said neglect is particularly prevalent in Dublin among horse owners who claim to love their animals

Senator Chris Andrews said: 'There’s no evidence they're committed to their horses — from young children using small ponies like bicycles and playgrounds, showing zero respect for them, to people riding sulkies down the wrong side of the road during rush hour traffic, narrowly avoiding buses and cars and terrifying people.'

The Government needs to clamp down on sulky racing, and gardaí need to go after cruel horse owners, following "persistent neglect of animals in urban areas", the Seanad has heard.

Senator Chris Andrews said it is particularly prevalent in Dublin among horse owners who claim to love their animals.

He pointed to the recent “horrific” death of a pregnant horse after sulky races — which are currently illegal on public roads — on both the Dollymount Strand and at a stretch near the N4 in Ballyfermot.

Witnesses claim the horse was repeatedly kicked to get her to get up off the ground when she stumbled and fell during one of the sulky races. They also said she was "left to die" and was covered in blood and cuts by the time she was rescued after the race on February 2.

The horse, named Anne by University College Dublin (UCD) vets who treated her, later died from her injuries, as did her unborn foal.

“The images were horrific,” Mr Andrews said. “Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Abuse of horses is a regular occurrence on our streets. Owners say they love their horses, but when you see the conditions they're living in, you have to wonder if that's true.

“There’s no evidence they're committed to their horses — from young children using small ponies like bicycles and playgrounds, showing zero respect for them, to people riding sulkies down the wrong side of the road during rush hour traffic, narrowly avoiding buses and cars and terrifying people.” 

He also referenced — as other examples of neglect — “horses left tied to poles during the height of the summer with no water, where many have died of dehydration and neglect”.

“It's absolutely disgraceful how horses are being treated by their owners and supposed guardians, and the State has completely failed to stand up for their welfare,” he said.

“The gardaí are constantly saying they don't have the resources to address these issues and can only sit by as animal cruelty takes place on a massive scale.

“We desperately need dedicated garda units in each division dedicated to ending animal cruelty and abuse, so that these issues, such as what occurred for Anne and her foal, are taken seriously and investigated properly."

Minister of state for agriculture, Timmy Dooley, said policy is a matter for the transport minister, and that he would "certainly raise concerns" with him.