MY LOVELY HORSE Animal Rescue has called for urgent Government action after two incidents involving sulky racing on public roads last week.

The charity said widely shared footage from Co Dublin and Co Tipperary highlights escalating risks to both animal welfare and public safety.

A video recorded on Friday 17 April, shows horses pulling sulkies at speed on the N7 near Citywest, accompanied by a convoy of cars.

Separate footage from Sunday 19 April shows a horse collapsing at a roundabout near Clonmel.

The video appears to show the horse being forced back to its feet.

My Lovely Horse says that both incidents point to a “persistent and escalating problem that endangers both animal welfare and public safety”.

A spokesperson for the charity said that they regularly take in horses that have been involved in sulky racing, and that the condition they arrive in can be “quite concerning”.

The spokesperson said that they frequently see injuries to the mouth caused by ill-fitting bits, as well as wounds and sores from harnesses that have not been properly adjusted.

Some of the animals are underweight or have injuries consistent with excessive or inappropriate whip use, they said. 

Beyond physical issues, many horses show “signs of stress, fear, and difficulty with handling, indicating they have not had positive or appropriate human handling”.

The charity is also calling for a dedicated animal crime unit within An Garda Síochána, and are urging an immediate ban on the use of horses in unsafe conditions on public roads.