A former racehorse found tied to a fence in an “emaciated condition” months after his last race has made good progress with his rescuers.

Dash, an eight-year-old thoroughbred, was taken in by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) after being found covered in sores at Ballinasloe Fair in October 2024.

“Through his microchip, it was established that Dash was on the racecourse as recently as last July and had won over €20,000 in his racing career,” said ISPCA head of animal welfare, Denise McCausland.

“Sadly, for Dash, he passed through several hands, and it is believed that he was used for trotting, before being rescued by the ISPCA.”

He has since made good progress in the charity’s care and will be looking for a new home “in the coming months”.

“With several equines that are ready to go to new homes now, we are trying to find suitable homes, where our horses, ponies and donkeys can continue their ongoing rehabilitation,” Ms McCausland said.

“We have more equines undergoing intensive veterinary treatment, so they will need to remain in our care for some time yet, but we urgently need to make room to help more emaciated, injured and cruelly treated equines that will need to be brought in by our animal welfare inspectors.

“Finding space is always a challenge as we have limited isolation units, and a lot of our wooden fencing was damaged during Storm Éowyn, making it extra difficult when separating our equines, as we are in the process of repair work.”

• For more information, visit: https://ispca.ie/adoptions/?animal=horse

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A mare has been rescued after being found with “horrific” lesions to her face.

The coloured pony was found recently alongside her three-week-old foal in a field in East Cork.

The pair were removed by ISPCA inspector Lisa O’Donovan.

“The mare was found to have been suffering from severe photosensitivity, with horrific lesions where the skin was falling away from her body and face,” said an ISPCA spokesman.

“Photosensitisation is a serious skin condition characterized by ‘sunburnt’ crusty skin that dies and sloughs away.”

The pony was not microchipped and enquires are being made by the ISPCA to trace her owner.

The mare and foal are said to be doing well and are being kept at the ISPCA’s equine rescue centre in Mallow, Co. Cork.

“The mare is comfortable at present, but she has to be stabled and her skin kept soothed” said Ms O’Donovan.

“We are still unsure of the severity of the damage to her body, but we are thankful that she and her foal are safe and kept in a cool UV free environment.”

This is the second serious case of this condition that Ms O’Donovan has seen.

“It highlights the need to monitor [horses and ponies] daily to check for any ailments or abrasions,” she added.

“It is usually caused by a reaction to something the horse has eaten, but the skin problem does not appear until the animal is exposed to sunlight.

“It is presumed that this condition was activated by something that she had eaten in the past, that had caused issues to her liver.”

Blood tests are being carried out on the mare to assess the status of her liver.

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Fibre-based horse feed company Dengie has donated feed to two of Ireland’s animal charities, as the number of neglected horses and ponies continues to rise.

The Ireland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) and the Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT) have been given bales of Hi-Fi Lite and Hi-Fi Original to provide quality fibre diets to the equines in their care.

“We heard about the work of these two charities, as they struggle to rehome abandoned and neglected horses, and we wanted to do something to help,” said Dengie’s Lisa Wilson.

“I am so pleased that the feed donations will make life easier during these cold winter months.”

Claire Owens of the IHWT added: “The cost of looking after the horses is considerable, so the donation of feed is greatly appreciated during these tough times.”

For more information visit www.ispca.ie, www.ihwt.ie and www.dengie.com

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) has called for a ban on sulky racing in Ireland.

Sulky racing is a popular pastime in the traveller community. Horses are harnessed to lightweight traps and trotted in races at official tracks and in illegal races on public roads.

The ISPCA does not oppose the official races, but wants more action taken over sulkies being raced on the roads.

Barbara Bent, chairman of the ISPCA, said: “The lives of innocent road users and those involved in sulky road racing – some as young as 10 years old – are at grave risk if this activity, which is motivated by gambling, is permitted to keep going.

“We maintain that a serious accident, injury or fatality is imminent, she added.”

In May, footage of young men racing ponies and traps along the N20 Cork-Mallow road went viral on the internet.

The drivers could be seen weaving in and out of heavy oncoming traffic on the road, with police vehicles in pursuit.

The men involved were arrested but were not charged with any offence.

“The welfare of animals used to engage in this practice is blatantly ignored,” said Ms Bent, who added that the ISPCA regularly treats horses and ponies abandoned and injured from road racing.

“Driving young horses or ponies flat out at high speed on busy roads and motorways is not only dangerous, but is also blatant animal abuse.

“Severe damage to joints at such a young age can leave the animal in chronic pain, with permanent immobility.”

A spokesman for Cork City Council and County Council said it was working with the gardai to investigate whether by-laws can be tightened up to stop the racers.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (13 September 2012)

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An Irish farmer, who was sentenced to 23 months in prison and banned from owning animals for life in February 2010, has been found guilty of further cruelty.

Simon O’Dwyer of Garue, Mullinvat, Co Kilkenny was found guilty of animal cruelty, permitting carcasses to remain unburied and a breach of the peace, at Kilkenny District Court on 18 May.

The offences date back to 24 April 2009.

O’Dwyer received a two-month jail sentence and was fined €3,500, with a three-week suspended prison sentence for a breach of the peace.

Sixty-one horses and 46 cattle were seized from his farms by the Department of Agriculture in December 2009.

It was one of the worst equine cruelty and neglect cases ever seen in Ireland.

The horses, many of them heavily in foal, were found without food, knee deep in mud, and some were severely emaciated.

They were taken in by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Irish Horse Welfare.

O’Dwyer was also prosecuted in 2007 for similar offences in 2006.

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Irish showjumper Denis Lynch visited an equine rescue centre in Mallow, Co Cork yesterday (6 December) to see how the money he collected for the charity is being put to use.

The rider, who is based in Germany, raised €190,000 ( £163,000) for the the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) through his contacts on the Global Champions Tour to help the charity tackle Ireland’s equine crisis.

Last year H&H highlighted the suffering in Ireland, where where ponies and horses have have become terribly undervalued as a result of over-breeding and the economic downturn (news feature, 19 August 2010).

And the charity says that through Denis’s support, its centres in Longford and Mallow, many more horses have been helped since last February.

ISPCA Honorary Secretary, Barbara Bent said, “Denis’s enthusiasm and belief in helping to raise these funds has made a real difference.

“Horses from many different sad and cruel situations; emaciated TB older mares, weak and injured trotting ponies and foals, starved and neglected young horses, are all benefiting from Denis’s commitment to make a difference.”

And Denis said, “I am impressed by the great work being done by the ISPCA. It’s very distressing when you read and see reports of any animal being mistreated or neglected but the care and attention they receive from the staff here does give you great hope. I hope to be able to continue supporting the society.”

Last week the ISPCA launched a virtual ‘Hay Drive’ to highlight the issue of the many horses who are left to starve over the winter months, and to raise funds to feed the animals in its care.

The appeal asks people to donate €3 ( £2.58)to help fill the ISPCA barn. Donations can be made by texting the word Hay to 57802 or via the ISPCA website.

Denis also visited ‘Bert’, a pony who suffered horrific burn injuries over Halloween, and who was rescued in Cork by ISPCA Inspector, Lisa O’Donovan.

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Irish welfare organisations recently held a “constructive” meeting with Brendan Smith, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to discuss horse welfare.

Horse Sport Ireland chairman Joe Walsh led a delegation including representatives from Irish Horse Welfare and The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to meet with Brendan Smith on Wednesday 14 October.

Mr Walsh said the large number of horses in the country coupled with the economic downturn could result in problems as winter approaches.

Problems identified included a lack of a proper traceability system for horses and too many agencies trying to deal with equine issues.

Currently, as well as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the local authorities are responsible for implementing the Control of Horses Act, while welfare problems are legally a problem for the Gardai.

“There is no doubt we have too many horses in the country and as we head into the winter we want to ensure that we have plans in place to deal with any welfare problems that may arise,” said Mr Walsh. “The meeting was very constructive and the minister agreed to set up a meeting involving the relevant agencies to ensure we have the correct protocols in place.”

He also stressed a traceability system, similar to the ones already in place for cattle and sheep, is required for horses.

“People are not obliged to register a change in the ownership of a horse and this means that it can be difficult to hold people to account for the condition of their horses, or in cases of abandoned horses. This needs to be looked at urgently, as it would also have major implications if there was a disease outbreak,” said Mr Walsh.

He added that Ireland needs to improve its breeding industry to ensure more valuable horses are bred and that more horse slaughtering facilities should be opened.

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