Countrywide horse amnesty launched in Ireland
Two Irish charities have unveiled separate initiatives to deal with the country’s unwanted horses.
The Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) has launched a countrywide horse amnesty, inviting owners to hand in unwanted horses.
And the Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT) plans to roll out its education and castration scheme across the Republic.
Jimmy Cahill of the DSPCA said its amnesty scheme is to encourage horse owners to seek advice and support.
“This represents a major shift for the DSPCA, from fire-fighting to working with horse owners before it’s too late,” he said.
The charity’s helpline was launched on 4 April and a team of foster homes is sought to rehome unwanted animals.
But the IHWT feels the best approach is to work with and educate owners to enable them to keep their animals.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Earlier this year the charity rounded up all the horses on the Dunsink tip in Dublin (news, 3 February), had them checked over by a vet, microchipped and wormed then gelded the stallions, with the permission of their owners.
They plan to expand this programme across Ireland with the help of local councils.
Sharon Newsome of the charity said: “We must begin with tackling indiscriminate breeding and lack of education.”
In the past, Horse Sport Ireland has criticised the charities for blowing equine welfare issues out of proportion.
But a spokesman said: “We welcome any measure that will help to alleviate the suffering of even one horse.”
This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (14 April, 2011)
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
A self-confessed newshound, farmer’s daughter and journalist of many years' experience, Charlotte worked on regional papers before joining H&H in 2007. A regular rider, she visited Ireland in 2010 to investigate the fate of Irish horses through the recession, to much acclaim, and reported from the FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro in 2011. She left Horse & Hound in March 2013.