No End to Ireland’s Horse Crisis

The past 12 months have been without a doubt the busiest for the rescue since the start of Ireland’s economic downturn which saw the huge rise in the amount of unwanted, neglected and/or abandoned horses, ponies & donkeys all over the country.

Billy ... discarded racehorse
Billy … discarded racehorse

 

The calls to all rescue groups who assist equines in need have yet to show signs of reducing.  Resources are stretched to limits none of us thought possible.  The frequency of adoption enquiries whereby holding steady are just not meeting the demand for spaces which is leaving rescues with no choice but to start exercising the word “No” more often than before.

Mac was abandoned on waste ground suffering with overgrown hooves
Mac was abandoned on waste ground suffering with overgrown hooves

Rumours are rife about the Department preparing to announce another ‘amnesty’ for horses people no longer want which will allegedly enable them to ‘anonymously’ surrender their unwanted equines (& presumably donkeys) for ‘disposal’.  Whilst we can see the Department’s thinking behind reactivating this type of scheme we are not in favour of it as we feel it will allow irresponsible owners to ‘get rid’ of unsaleable stock thereby creating space for new stock and/or creating a ‘false’ increase in the sale value of horses which could lead to a resumption in unselective uncontrolled breeding.  Of course it goes without saying that whilst we are not in favour of a return to this type of scheme neither do we wish to see horses & donkeys left hungry during the forthcoming winter months ……. it is a real “Catch 22” situation.

 

An inbred foal with her mother who came from a severe neglect case and an unwanted pony behind them
An inbred foal with her mother who came from a severe neglect case and an unwanted pony behind them

 

 

As we approach September and look around we know that we are full …

This will prevent us from assisting more equines for the foreseeable future unless we can reduce our numbers significantly prior to the onslaught of phone calls for assistance during the winter months …

 

Do you like “fixing” things which take patience, gentleness & understanding and have some space …….. we have a few ideal 11.2h and under ‘project ponies’ who would flourish with more regular handling.

Have you experience in preparing equines for backing …….. we have horses/ponies ready for training which will increase their chances of being adopted.