Local authorities in Cork seize 50 stray horses in first six months of this year 

In the first six months of this year, 50 stray horses were seized by local authorities in Cork, and 90% of them have been rehomed since, new data has shown.

Minister for agriculture, food, and the marine Martin Heydon provided figures on the number of horses seized under the Control of Horses Act 2015 and explained: “My department is responsible for all policy and legislation in relation to the Control of Horses Act 1996. Operation of the act comes under the remit of local authorities.

“Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines, including prohibiting horses in certain areas, the issuing of licences, and the seizure of horses in contravention of the act.

“These powers can be used in respect of straying horses, which include horses put on land without the owner’s permission, including public land.”

The figures show that 10 horses were seized by Cork County Council and 40 by Cork City Council.

Seized

Further information provided to The Echo by Cork City Council revealed that 25 horses were seized in the first three months of the year and 15 in the fourth, fifth, and sixth months.

Of those, none have been reclaimed and none have been euthanised. Across the two quarters, 36 of the horses have been rehomed, and four remained in the pound at the end of June.

Cork County Council confirmed to The Echo that 10 stray horses were collected in the Cork county area up to the end of Q2 2025, of which nine were rehomed and one was reclaimed by its owner. It added: “For information, a total of 17 stray horses have been collected to end Q3, with 15 being rehomed and two reclaimed by their owners.

“No horses have been euthanised to date in 2025.”

This marks a significant improvement from the previous decade. In the five-year period from 2012 to 2016, 829 horses were euthanised in Cork by the two councils.

Mr Heydon added that his department provides financial support to help local authorities with the costs of these seizures.