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Good to see the Irish Times’ Brian O’Connor’s pertinent and timely response to the story in the the Irish Field last week about an equine welfare scenario at Dover Port. We have seen in recent years that there are unfortunately some elements in the the racing and broader equestrian industry who haven’t a compassionate bone in their body when it comes to animal suffering. This particular Dover Port story mentions the presence of Connemara Ponies. I thought these lovely horses were almost pets!
There’s no excuse for not having full traceability, not for TBs anyway. We’ve been going through the charade of the census in Ireland for three (? maybe four) years now. It was supposed to set the scene for an AIM type system, but nobody wants to record this information, for obvious reasons. I also read that people are getting around the UK ban on sending TBs for slaughter by sending them via Ireland to the continent. No idea if that is true.
It looks as though some plans are afoot. I haven’t read the reports properly yet, and there is still mention of the census. Tracing of movement needs to be continuous and mandatory, not an annual return that is never verified.
https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/c63d9-launch-of-professor-paddy-walls-report-on-equine-identification-registration-and-traceability-in-ireland/
https://www.farmersjournal.ie/news/news/new-horse-slaughter-plant-to-open-following-shannonside-foods-expose-861175Strong column by Richard Forristal on this subject in the Post today warning that the Racing industry may pay for its inertia on this matter!
There’s not enough homes for the horses bred , it’s simple as that . Some horses are too dangerous or uneconomical to rehomed due to ongoing injury or illness . There needs to be a compassionate approach to putting them down , not a filthy dirty abattoir . Needs to be a properly regulated place or subsidised euthanasia for registered thoroughbreds .
What happens to old broodmares or ones that produce duffers and cast off , that’s another load of horses needing homes .
It’s no good sending horse to someone who has no real experience with 500 kg of thoroughbred . On plus side with right temperament and traing thoroughbreds do well in all activities post career .
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