Presentation

to

Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture

Re: Equine Welfare14/7/15

Backround to IHWT• Largest and leading equine welfare charity

Set up in 1999• Operating from 68 acre farm centre in

Woodenbridge• Recognised & supported by Horse Industries

and also supported by Dept Agriculture with ex-gratia funding

• Caring for around 80 horses/ponies• Involved in

Rescue, Rehabilitation and Re-homing & Education in equine welfare & horse projects

IHWT Education & Horse Projects

• IHWT has been involved in successful educational projects over the past 10 years in ;

• Mainly 15 -22 age group • Limerick – Moyross 84 young people achieved FETAC qualifications

and 3 went on to be jockeys • Dublin – Finglas, Darndale & Clondalkin• The project in Finglas is the Dunsink project has been referred to as

a model of best practice by Minister Coveney.• Fingal Co Council have significantly decreased annual costs

associated with stray/wandering horses and have been commended for their progressive approach.

• Department of Agriculture provided funding to provide 5 microchiping clinics in 2015 : Wicklow, Cork, Offaly, Tipperary

• Local authorities need to be more proactive to address the problems around urban horse ownership.

Responsibility• Local Councils have responsibility for enforcement of the Control of Horses

Act 1996• There are significant costs involved in the seizure, detention and destruction

of hundreds of horses annually.• It is a non ending circle of production of poor quality stock which are often

those mistreated and neglected and picked up by IHWT and other charities.• Seizure and destruction of equines incurs huge costs year after year• Managed Horse Projects and education have proven to reduce the numbers

of stray and unwanted equines and increase welfare standards.• IHWT is prepared to engage with local authorities to find solutions.• IHWT plans to roll out a NATIONAL EQUINE WELFARE EDUCATION

PROGRAMME to work with local authorities to provide education and training to young people in equine care & welfare. But Buy-in is needed from the local authorities.

• This project will be need financial support from the Department of Agriculture as funding will be required to provide a training facility at the IHWT centre and also to help fund courses which can also be part funded by other stakeholders in Education, Health and community agencies.

April 2015

July 2015

Education & Training• IHWT currently runs its own course : Equine Care & Welfare • FETAC Stable & Yard Routines (Levels 3 & 4)• FETAC Sport Horse Riding • Links established with RACE, Irish Racehorse Trainers Assoc.• Further links on education can be build with Horse Sport Ireland.• IHWT Farm is ideal for training sessions from outreach education

programmes but no classroom facility and currently the Hay barn has to be used..

• Farm house renovation plans include classroom and 2 units for students and work experience placements.

• Cost of renovation is estimated at approximately 90,000 – 100,000 euro and was previously considered eligable for Leader funding but IHWT could not raise the additional funding.

• Submission is now being prepared for submission to the Department of Agriculture under funding set aside for urban education projects to assist with funding the project.

Dunsink Horse Project• Worldwide negative publicity including an article carried on front page of

New York times of an injured horse at Dunsink lead to IHWT engaging with Fingal Co Council and horse owners to develop a managed project to promote good horsemanship /management / care of equines

• Members must follow the Membership Rules and Code of Conduct • Each equine is micro-chipped and passported. Premises registered.• Stallions are prohibited. 13 Stallions castrated. Breeding is prohibited.• Each member has access to grazing, water and fodder storage.• Access to a stables• A facility is provided in the stabling area for a sick/lame equine• Manure is removed regularly• Each member pays a weekly sub of 10 euro for hay.• Educational courses held on site and at the IHWT Farm in Woodenbridge

where exams were also held for 22 young men completing FETAC qualifications.

• Ongoing management by IHWT on a weekly basis.

Benefits of Education, Training and Horse Projects

• Provide sustainable solutions to the issues around horses kept in urban areas

• Reduction in number of illegally kept equines• Promotion of compliance with legislation• Reduction in number of horses seized and destroyed• Increased welfare standards• Reduced costs for Local Authority• Education and training of young people for careers

within the horse industry

In Conclusion

• As a Co Wicklow based equine welfare charity working across Ireland, the IHWT is actively trying to establish a National Education and Training Programme aimed primarily at educating and training young people within urban horse owning communities.

• IHWT needs to refurbish a farmhouse at the IHWT farm for classroom courses and for training and work experience placements.

• Plans have been drawn up but IHWT does not have the funds to complete this project and will be requesting support from Department of Agriculture….

• We would ask that the committee support this project