THERE have been calls for stricter laws and enforcement of equine welfare after a horse was killed in a sulky race in Co Kilkenny. The incident, which caused a storm on social media, took place in front of McDonalds on the Hebron Road on June 16th last shortly after 11pm.

In January last year, Kilkenny became the first city and county to officially outlaw sulky racing on public roads, following the passing of a new set of bylaws. The new laws included a number of measures to help improve horse welfare in the area.

Local Councillor Andrew McGuinness raised the matter at local authority level. He told The Irish Field: “Firstly, I want to see our existing laws, including our new by laws banning sulky racing on public roads, enforced with a zero tolerance approach. The following is a proposal that I put before Kilkenny County Council and I would like the Minister to take this approach at national level. That Kilkenny County Council would work with Kilkenny Gardai to create a system of licensing and regulating the use of horse drawn vehicles in the City and County and that that system should include:

  • 1. An age restriction on those who operate horse drawn vehicles
  • 2. A roadworthy test similar to an NCT that prioritises road safety and animal welfare
  • 3. A license/registration requirement
  • 4. Full compliance with existing laws including horse license, micro chipping and our own sulky racing bye laws.

    • “If this is a national issue then Kilkenny County Council should write to the Minister requesting same. And that a special meeting be set up with Kilkenny Gardai to assess the impact of the sulky racing bye laws created by us in 2015.”