5,000 signatures reached
To: Minister for Transport, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Keep Sulky Horse Activity Off Irish Public Roads
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The National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals believes urgent action is needed to prevent further avoidable tragedies and ensure stronger protections for horses and the public.
We are calling on the Departments of Transport & Agriculture to:
- Introduce a legal prohibition on sulky horse activity on public roads, including racing, training, and high-speed driving.
- Develop a coordinated multi-agency approach involving the Departments of Justice, Agriculture, Transport and Rural & Community Development, together with local authorities, An Garda Síochána and the NSPCA.
- Strengthen enforcement powers and provide Gardaí with additional resources and training.
- Develop a Digital Evidence Management System and an online reporting portal for video evidence submissions to An Garda Síochána relating to incidents involving horses and sulkies on public roads.
- Provide adequate animal welfare supports, facilities, and resources for the safe handling, rehabilitation, rehoming, or seizure of horses where necessary, including support measures for situations where owners may no longer wish or be able to keep their horses.
Why is this important?
Public roads are simply not safe environments for horses pulling sulkies at high speeds. Recent incidents across Ireland have highlighted the serious dangers associated with horses and sulkies on public roads, including collisions causing severe injuries and fatalities. Horses can become easily distressed by traffic, noise, and crowds, creating significant risks for the animals involved, road users, and local communities.
Horses are sensitive animals, and forcing them to race or train on hard roads surrounded by traffic puts enormous strain on their bodies and creates risks that can end in tragedy within seconds. The NSPCA believes urgent action is needed to prevent further avoidable tragedies and ensure stronger protections for horses and the public.
How it will be delivered
The petition will be supported by elected representatives and delivered to relevant Ministers to help drive political discussion and legislative action on the issue.