- Horse Welfare and Associated Issues

1. Background Issues

o Large scale abandonment in rural areas (post celtic tiger)o Little analysis/research carried out on the fundamental reasonso Scale of the problem has dramatically increased

No. Seizures and Disposals

2011 2,936

2012 2,969

2013 4,727

2014 4,923

o Resource-intensive activity; manpower, equipment, holding facilities, health and safety etc.o Animal welfare concernso Recent strengthening of legislation i.e. equine ID, change of ownership, registration of equine

premises - little evidence of compliance however in relation to this category of horseo Very costly (much of the cost now being borne by local authorities)o Good co-operation between Departments/Agencieso Many stakeholders involved

2. Cost Implications

o Local authority costs not now fully recoupedo Some limited scope for efficiencies (e.g. regional tendering)o Service Legal Agreement with DAFM is required

3. Challenges in Implementation

o A range of ‘technical’ issues associated with current legislation (refer to appendix to submission of 25.2.2015)

o Distinction between ‘nuisance’ and actual ‘danger to the public’o Limited number of impounding contractorso Culture of carelessness on the part of some ownerso Most horses seized are in poor condition, few micro-chippedo Large scale grazing on commonages (environmental issues)o Also on undeveloped zoned lands (NAMA)o Very few re-homed (circa 2%)o Sulkie racingo Local authorities being used as an expensive disposal service?

4. Urban Areaso Problems of the ‘urban horse’o Links with criminality

5. Effectiveness of Implementationo 878 equines seized in the first quarter of 2015

o Problem is likely to be greater though as many local authorities are now only impounding if there is a clear danger to the public

o No sign of problem abating at local level despite all the effort and expenditure incurred.o Current Control of Horses Act not fully fit for purposeo Need to identify and deal with the root causes (N/B)

6. Animal Welfareo Very labour intensiveo Local authorities have limited professional resources

7. Other Issues

o Targeted cull (ruled out), castration (not really feasible), impact of new regulations to be fully assessed, transport of seized horses, establishment of pounds, euthanasia, knackery approval etc.

o Some signs of market returning though mainly at upper and middle ends

8. Voluntary/Community Initiatives

o Local initiatives (e.g. Dunsink Project); animal charities etc as part of the solutiono Welcomed by the local government sectoro A range of educational initiatives also required to address current social moreso Also needs to be considered from a cost benefit perspectiveo Should not supplant existing funding arrangements

9. Need for a Collaborative Approach

o Involving key stakeholders, DAFM, DECLG, LAs, Gardaí, animal welfare groups (i.e. post seizure), representatives of horse owners, farming community and possibly NAMA (?)

o Need for rigorous and collaborative enforcemento Bye-laws/exclusion zones as part of the solutiono Move to full traceability of all horses through effective enforcement (similar to cattle, though

far more complex as it is largely ‘outside the gate’)o All owners to be fully accountableo Review of Control of Horses Act welcomedo Inter-Agency approach – all agencies on the same page!o Perhaps too much focus on the symptoms rather than the fundamental causes of the problem

(N/B)