58 horses seized across Cork in 2023; Councils confirm none were euthanised

SOME 58 horses were seized across Cork city and county in 2023, at a total cost of just under €177,000.

In Cork city, 16 horses were seized in 2023, with 15 of these being rehomed and one being reclaimed by the owner.

During this period, costs of €81,549 were incurred by the local authority in relation to horse seizing.

Far more horses were seized in Cork county, however, with 42 animals seized.

The county’s total expenses for the control of horses service as submitted to the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine was €95,305.72.

No horses were euthanised by Cork City Council or Cork County Council in 2023.

The co-founder of My Lovely Horse Rescue, Martina Kenny, said that the organisation is seeing an increase in horse welfare issues.

“Animal welfare in general has gotten worse — there’s a huge dog crisis in Ireland as well as a horse crisis,” said Ms Kenny.

“There’s always a horse problem coming up to the summer, the kids are off school, they get a cheap horse, tie it up wherever they can — every year it’s the same. It’s also foaling season, and we’ve already seen foals dumped.”

Her organisation works with councils across Ireland, taking in as many of the horses as they can, and also assists the gardaí with horse seizures for welfare reasons where the horse needs medical attention.

“If they are trying to prosecute, we put everything together for gardaí — a vet report, dental report, farrier’s report, [and] information about the health of the horse so they can get a prosecution.”

Both Kilkenny County Council and Dublin City Council “are taking horse welfare very seriously, and other councils should really look at that,” Ms Kenny said, explaining that a horse project in Kilkenny has been hugely successful, and “they have noticed a huge fall in horse welfare issues”.

A spokesperson for the Cork County Council told The Echo: “[The Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine] contribute to a local authority of up to €375 for each horse that is seized and later euthanised.

“A contribution of up to €200 is made for each horse that is rehomed, and €125 is payable for equines other than horses that are rehomed.

“No contribution is paid to a local authority if a horse or other equine is reclaimed,” adding that they recoup this from the department on a quarterly basis.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould told The Echo that “horse welfare in Cork must be taken more seriously”.

“It is very clear that the funding provided by the Department of Agriculture is leaving a serious deficit for local authorities to fill,” he said.

“In 2023, Cork City Council paid over €80,000 for the control of horses but, according to department figures, would have received only €3,000. This funding deficit cannot continue to act as a barrier to properly reinforcing animal welfare in the city and county.

“Alongside this, we must see the progression of a horse project. Young people should be given the opportunity to learn how to care for horses in a safe environment.

“We know that the number of horses seized is only a small proportion of those mistreated in Cork, and every possible action should be taken to reduce this.”