LAST UPDATE | 14 Aug

THE DSPCA HAS said it is “deeply shocked and horrified” by an incident where a horse drawing a trap collided with a car on a Dublin road earlier this week. 

The charity said the shocking incident raises “urgent concerns about public safety and animal welfare” and called for a multi-agency task force to address “the growing equine welfare crisis in Dublin”. 

Footage of the incident in Clondalkin, west Dublin shows a number of people riding horses, while others are driving traps led by horses as part of a funeral procession.

One horse crashes head first into a car, after the trap driver loses control. The horse survived the incident, which is being investigated by gardaí. 

The incident has been condemned by leading animal rescue charity My Lovely Horse. Martina Kenny, who co-founded the charity, has called for a dedicated animal welfare policing unit to be established.

She said that such a large number of horses and traps shouldn’t be allowed on main roads and that a crackdown is needed to effectively enforce laws around the treatment of animals.

In a statement today, the DSPCA described the footage of the incident as “disturbing” and said it has left the local community “shaken”. 

“The DSPCA is treating this matter with the utmost seriousness. The video clearly shows a complete lack of care and responsibility on the part of the individual in control of the horse and sulky cart,” it said.

“This reckless behaviour not only endangered the horse’s welfare but also posed a serious risk to public safety, including to the grieving family and community members attending the funeral.”

‘Rise in equine welfare cases’

The animal welfare organisation also said the incident highlights “repeated breaches of several key pieces of legislation” that is “too often ignored in Dublin and beyond”, including the Road Traffic Act, the Control of Horses Act 1996 and the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. 

The DSPCA continued: “Sadly, this is not an isolated case.

The presence of horses on city streets has increased significantly in the past year, and the DSPCA has seen a rise in equine welfare cases as a result.

The organisation said that many of these animals suffer due to inadequate care, training, and oversight, adding that “it is the horses that continue to pay the price”.

“DSPCA is calling for a multi-agency task force to address the growing equine welfare crisis in Dublin. A strategic, coordinated response is needed to prevent more incidents like this taking place.”

The DSPCA said it is actively investigating this incident in collaboration with Gardaí.

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A garda spokesperson told The Journal that they received a report of the incident involving a car and a sulky at around 1.45pm on Monday. 

The spokesperson said that no injuries to persons were reported and a vet attended the scene and treated the horse, which survived the collision.

“Gardaí in Ronanstown are investigating this incident and are liaising with the relevant animal welfare organisations.”

The DSPCA urged anyone who witnessed it or who may have further video footage or information to come forward. 

“Please contact the DSPCA Inspectorate in confidence at 01 499 4727 or email inspectors@dspca.ie or the Garda Confidential Line, freephone 1800 666 111.”