IT LOOKS magnificent: fields of snow, not a blade of grass to be seen – white as far as the eye can see. But the winter wonderland postcard scenes bring serious hazards for animals.
Horses, already one of the more obvious victims of the recession, are encountering desperate hardship in frozen fields with no grazing, shelter or water.
According to Carmel Murray of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) the situation is desperate. “We can’t cope with the number of abandoned and neglected animals and are desperate for donations, particularly for hay, haylage and horse feeds, or cash donations to help purchase these supplies.”
During the cold spell ISPCA inspectors have been called out on cases varying from people unable to help their horses, to calls from concerned citizens who have seen horses distressed in fields.
ISPCA chief inspector Conor Dowling has confirmed an increase in distress calls. “This year’s figures are currently standing at 13,890, compared with 9,496 from last year.”
He has also confirmed a sharp rise in abandoned horses. “It’s one thing if you have a pony who has never worn a rug before,” says Mr Murray, “but many of the horses who are now standing out in fields, without feed, water and a rug, were previously living in stables, getting fed and wearing one or more rugs.”
John Floody – one of Ireland’s leading riders and winner of this year’s Kingsland Autumn Grand Prix on the Irish-bred Larkhill Cruiser – owns Newgrange Stud, outside Slane, Co Meath. Most of his showjumpers are stabled, but at present he has 10 horses living out. “I check them twice a day. There is no grass, so they need extra haylage . . . and I keep an eye on the water troughs as they freeze over. Horses have to have water . . . any horse living out in a field, especially in this weather, needs a good quality waterproof rug on. It is essential.”
But if the well-tended horse housed in dry stables regards the snow as hardship, the horse in the field – aside from the food situation – faces the additional problem of sliding and falling. Even the simple activity of rolling can be dangerous if the animal becomes stuck in the snow. An older horse wearing one or two rugs could become restricted by them when attempting to get up. The message is simple: in these conditions horses must be checked at least every hour.
Abandoning a horse is cowardly and cruel; an abandoned dog has a better chance of finding a proper owner. According to Mr Floody, horses are being left to fend for themselves. “It is happening all over. People can no longer afford to feed their horses . . . I’m telling people to give their horses bran mashes but many horses have nothing, not even grass.”
Welfare agencies and charities are being overwhelmed by reports of abandoned horses. “The ISPCA is concerned about the welfare of all animals and we are again reminding people that buying a Christmas puppy is a serious undertaking and that it is not a good time to bring a new animal into any household,” says Mr Murray. “But the current weather conditions are really hitting horses, innocent victims of the Celtic Tiger, with a vengeance.”
The ISPCA urgent appeal helpline is 043-3325933
