Breeding & Racing Magazine

Irish Animal Welfare Concerns For Unwanted Horses

Also in Ireland overnight, the country's largest animal welfare organisation "has called on racing authorities to do more to prevent unwanted racehorses becoming the victims of cruelty & neglect," reported racingpost.com. The Dublin Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals reported "a worrying increase in the number of horses found in a distressed state as the economic downturn has bitten". DSPCA spokeswoman Orla Aungier said: "To date we have collected 90 horses who are sick & injured compared to a total number of 56 animals in 2008, which reflects the seriousness of the current situation. We are concerned about retired racehorses. Of the 90 so far, 44 have been euthanased but our big concern is given the number of hungry animals we've had during June, July & August what will it be like when winter kicks in during November, December & January. We have a very serious equine crisis & we need the likes of Horse Racing Ireland & the various breeders' associations to sit down & be more creative & come up with a solution to stop this situation escalating further. We are estimating that 20,000 horses are in danger here."