'We are angry'- Reports of distressing sulky racing incidents emerge not 48 hours apart

My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue is calling for immediate government action following two deeply distressing incidents of horse sulky racing in the last week.

The latest incident has cause huge anger and frustration from My Lovely Horse Rescue who say 'enough is enough'.

On Sunday (19th April) evening at the roundabout near the Bulmers Factory in Clonmel, Tipperary, witnesses reported a horse collapsing on a busy public road while attached to a trap (sulky).

Shockingly, the animal was allegedly forced back to its feet and made to continue, despite clear signs of distress and exhaustion.

Motorists and bystanders looked on in horror, unable to intervene as this unfolded in plain sight.

This was not hidden, it happened openly, on a public road, at a roundabout in modern Ireland, My Lovely Horse Rescue stated.

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This incident comes less than 48 hours after separate and widely circulated footage from Naas, Co. Kildare, showing sulky racing on a busy, high-speed roadway. 

In that incident, horses were seen pulling lightweight carts at speed alongside fast-moving traffic, creating a highly dangerous situation for motorists, other road users, and the animals themselves.

The footage has been widely condemned as reckless and unsafe, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the law. It is entirely unacceptable, highlighting not only the risk of serious collisions but also the intense physical strain placed on the horses involved.

"Taken together, these incidents point to a persistent and escalating problem that endangers both animal welfare and public safety.

“We are angry. We are heartbroken. And we are ashamed that in a country that claims to value animal welfare, this is still allowed to continue despite our repeated pleas to the government to intervene before someone is killed and more animals are left to suffer and die.”

The rescue is calling on the Irish Government to urgently implement:

• The establishment of a dedicated Animal Crime Unit within An Garda Síochána, with the authority and resources to investigate and prosecute animal cruelty cases
• Immediate and consistent enforcement of existing animal welfare legislation
• A clear and enforceable ban on the use of horses in unsafe conditions on public roads, particularly in connection with sulky racing.
• A multi-agency task force set up to tackle the growing issue of Urban Cowboys

"This issue goes beyond animal welfare alone. It is a matter of public safety. Unregulated sulky racing and the visible mistreatment of animals on busy roads pose a serious risk to motorists, pedestrians and the animals themselves.

“This is not tradition. This is not culture. This is suffering,” the spokesperson said. "Enough is enough".

The image below, shared by My Lovely Horse Rescue, may be distressing to some readers. The rescue's petition to be signed can be found here.