Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
VOLUNTEERS FROM THE My Lovely Horse charity in south Dublin are among a select group of people in the country who are hoping for a bit of rain in the coming weeks.
Anna Dolan and her fellow-volunteers in Clondalkin have been visiting a group of abandoned horses in local fields every evening to ensure they are keeping hydrated during the heatwave.
The drains in the fields usually provide a source of drinking water for the horses but they have dried up due to the recent warm weather and without the volunteers they would have nothing to drink.
“All the drains are all totally dry and there’s no other access to water. Tonight we put in 120 litres and that’s usually the amount, 120 or 130 litres,” Dolan explained.
This is the thirstiest they have been, this is the worst night they have been, which is surprising and our bath was broken so we had to fix the bath.
Dolan has been caring for horses in these fields for a number of years. The longest resident is a strong-willed mare she has named Mary – she has been living there for more than three years.
Other horses have been abandoned in the fields and then taken out again, only to be replaced by more unwanted horses. It is a cycle that repeats itself volunteers said, though Mary has managed to avoid capture.
“It’s upsetting when they’re taken, you come in and they’re just gone,” Dolan told TheJournal.ie.
These fields were a more dangerous place for volunteers last year, when they were being used for joyriding by local youths who left burnt-out cars behind them.
All of the cars have been cleared out of the fields now and trenches have been dug to stop people getting vehicles in.
But these trenches have not stopped people coming into the fields to either try to catch one of the horses – sometimes seriously injuring the animals – or to discard a horse they no long want to care for.
“We assume [it is local youths] but now some of them aren’t youths, they’re adults and they’re trading, swapping them for bikes and watches, and they’ve no love for the animals.
“The owners know where here coming…they know we’re in because if you meet any of the youngfellas on the street they’ll say ‘Are you up with the horses?’”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Every every horse should be tagged and registered….cost payable by so called owners…no tag and horse should be removed to a more caring home
@Dan: and you should provide evidence you have land to provide for the animals needs. same during the snow , animal welfare were feeding the animals and not just abandoned animals and to add insult to injury stealing winter jackets from horses who’s owners actually look after them.
@Dan: Dept seem to afraid to enforce welfare rules here regarding horses..
@ianglen: animal welfare full stop.
@DaisyMay: heard a story where wardens were verbally abused,stones thrown when they approached some horses on a green in a well known area to inspect them..
@Dan: The law requires every horse to be passported and microchipped, and the owners property registered as an equine premises. The laws are there, they simply aren’t enforced.
@Rosemarie F Martin: We wonder why a 13 yr old caused serious damage to a hospital. There are kids & adults out there who have no respect for any animal, person, property regardless of who owns it. They just need a hug & a cuddle.
@Rosemarie F Martin: when gardaí are informed of horses in public places, they pass the info on to whatever company the local authority engages to corral them; once they’re ready, gardaí & the horse wranglers go up to take them. It’s a regular occurance, but gardaí are dependent on private companies & there’s not too many of them operating so they’re not available at the drop of a hat.
@Rosemarie F Martin: well said Rosemarie. I called the DSPCA recently about the horses on the grand canal. One lying there dead. They told me they are regularly going down to check. But it sounds like those kids and young adults are running the place. DSPCA and the Garda are scared to go into these places….which really is not acceptable. They told me those places are like war zones…well in that case ramp up the armour, bring a frickin tank …just get the job done. Animal cruelty is never acceptable. But also thanks to my lovely horse and the DSPCA for the work they do.
@ianglen: These horses are not abandoned and look to be very saleable when broken and ridden-they should be checked for micro chips .
For a pet like a horse, you should have to attend a training course, prove you have stables and the horses have to micro chipped. And stick your culture where the sun don’t shine.
@DaisyMay: I think these are feral horses for feral youth in these areas. Although travellers shouldn’t get a bye on any law, especially cruelty to animals.
@Gulliver Foyle: they’re not feral horses. The look pretty tame to me. If you drive along the N32, it’s the travelers with these horses. Abandoned on private land.
@Rosemarie F Martin: like sulky racing? The tradition of racing horses on smooth motorways. The “tradition” must be about ten years old. Utter Rubbish. Should be totally banned
My Lovely Horse does such good work. My heart breaks for these beautiful animals..it’s hard enough surviving with no proper shelter, regular good & care, without being thirsty aswell. Fair play to all those volunteers.
@Emma: yes well said. Fair play to them
@Emma: I just sent them a few quid. Anyone else who’d like to support them can do so easily here – https://www.mylovelyhorserescue.com/pages/donate
Shameful what these horses and many more in Ireland are treated like just so the fantasy of “traveller culture” can be pandered to
Horse’s are supposed to be registered and tagged like dog’s and cat’s. The problem is the law is not enforced regarding horses because they are afraid of the owner’s as to who they might be.But they have no problems going after dog owners to check if their tagged or have a license if not they are fines. Always easier to get the responsible owner than the other shytes.
@Mick12: exactly, the more you adhere to the law, the more it applies to you.
These particular horses are not Traveller horses. Some locals from Bawnogue/Adamstown/Clondalkin are using these fields illegally for free grazing and turnout. We often have seen sick horses dumped here originating from nearby stables. Horse welfare issues and illegal flygrazing in urban areas in Dublin is a cross community issue.
Great work to the volunteers
One injection for these horses would save a lot of people’s time, diesel and water. Major cull needed nationwide.
Fair point, or at least round them all up and export to a nation that might look after them, work them or eat them.
@mcgoo: You could save a lot of “time, water and diesel” in many ways…starting resource management with a cull of innocent animals wouldn’t be my first choice.
Is this weather still classed as at heatwave? The temperature the past few days has only been in the early 20′s.. Its dry but there’s not heatwave
@Travis: 20 degrees at 9 am in Dublin this morning. If that’s not a heatwave then I don’t know what is.
@Travis: Would you like to be outdoors with absolutely nothing to drink…see how you woulx feel about it then..even as you say it’s not a heatwave….water is essential, don’t forget they’ve no food either.
@DaisyMay: I’d call it a normal summers day..
@Travis: you can’t be Irish. You just cant
@Michael Carty: http://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-weather-heatwave-met-eireann-1000294-Jul2013/
Straight from the journal themselves.. Temperature would have to be 26 degrees to be classed as a heatwave.. The temperature hasn’t been 26 degrees since last week.. So the weather at the moment is not classed as a heatwave which my original comment pointed out..
@Travis:I think your missing the point. This is an article about abandoned horses that need to be looked after. Not a weather story
@Travis: you are completely missing the point of the article! The horses are without water I don’t think they care to argue whether it’s a warm day or a heat wave! The fact is they have no water either way and the article is to highlight this and the good work of the volunteers out their helping them!
@Travis: it’s not just peak temperatures. It’s the consistent heat, lack of rain, wind and shade. It’s abnormal weather whichever way you twist it and to be stuck out in it all day with no shade or water must be torture.
We need to start marching and protesting again in this country. There is no justice system in place for human or animal. Unless we all unite and demand it , nothing will change
Delighted to see something like that it’s made my day !
To prepare for climate change maybe the locals could be encouraged to keep camels?
Fantastic work, well done to all
We all know the authorities are afraid of upsetting the loony left by tackling this problem head on. And never mind this “its our culture” shit
have your say