THE Irish Horse Welfare Trust is investigating the possibility of re-homing rescue horses to Germany, it revealed this week.

The charity, which is based in Woodenbridge, Co Wicklow, has already sent a representative, Claire Owens, out to Germany to meet with a group of German volunteers who could help find suitable homes for Irish rescue horses.

Sharon Power, founding member of the Irish Horse Welfare Trust, told The Irish Field that the charity currently has 59 horses at its Wicklow base and all bar one mare and foal are available for re-homing. The organisation has rehomed 22 horses so far this year from its Woodenbridge base. The horses available for re-homing include youngstock, sport horses and ex-racehorses, as well as traditional Irish cobs. It is the latter who are most popular among leisure riders in Germany and who could find themselves in new continental European homes.

Power said: “The team are just looking into the possibility of sending the horses to Germany. There will be a team in Germany who will do home checks and follow-ups as well.

“If it was to go ahead, only a small number of horses would be sent over, with the transportation cost at the expense of the new owner.”

While there is currently no timescale in place for the European re-homing plan, Power added: “It is all just being checked out. It may not even go ahead. But hopefully it’ll take off.”