A demographic survey of unwanted horses in Ireland 2005-2010

Abstract

BackgroundThe Irish Horse Industry expanded during the Celtic Tiger boom years, then contracted in the current economic recession. High value horses were traditionally controlled through sale at public auction, private sales and sales to dealers; these are now also being reduced by decreases in production (> 40%), and increases in retirement, re-homing, euthanasia and disposal through Category 2 plants and abattoirs. The absence or banning of horse abattoirs has been shown to have very significant welfare social and economic consequences in the USA. This study described the currently available data on the demographics of unwanted horses in Ireland from 2005 to 2010.ResultsThe majority of horses euthanised by practicing veterinarians are destroyed on medical grounds but the number euthanised at the request of welfare groups and the state, as well as welfare related calls and the number of horses involved in these calls and subsequent visits is increasing reflecting the increasing involvement of the veterinary profession in equine welfare. Welfare groups have limited resources and do not have a tradition of recording data, but they too have reported increasing calls, visits and numbers of horses per visit. Welfare groups provide significant service to equine welfare and the community. Local Authorities report similar trends. Over 300 horses were found dead or required immediate or subsequent euthanasia following welfare group and local authority visits in 2010, which is of national concern. The majority of local authority interfaces with unwanted horses are with urban (60%) rather than rural (40%) horses. Mortality figures are poor indicators of non-fatal neglect. More horses were admitted into the care of local authorities than welfare groups, reflecting significant state and taxpayer investment in the control of low value horses. Category 2 plants and abattoirs represent a significant state investment in licensing and control in the national interest. Abattoirs provide an increasingly important and essential service for the disposal of unwanted horses. Despite the increase in unwanted horses, Ireland is a minority contributor to the EU slaughter total.ConclusionsThere is a need for annual demographic data compilation and review of the numbers of unwanted horses and ponies within the horse industry to assist policy makers and legislators.

Rôle professionnel et sociétal d'un organisme technique vétérinaire: exemple de l'association vétérinaire équine française

“…Néanmoins, le débat est loin d'être clos car la fin de vie des équidés devient problématique quand l'interdiction de l'abattage empêche, comme aux USA, l'issue bouchère ; toutefois il semblerait que le Président Obama soit revenu sur cette interdiction (Wallis 2011). Dans certains pays de l'Europe où la filière équine est éga-lement importante, comme l'Irlande, la crise économique est responsable d'une augmentation de la maltraitance d'une population d'équidés dénommés les Unwanted horses (Leadon et al 2012). Ainsi l'Académie Vétérinaire de France et la Fédération Vétérinaire Européenne (FVE) ont rendu un avis favorable au maintien du cheval comme animal de production, l'abattage pour la consommation restant un moyen digne de fin de vie sans souffrance et permettant de satisfaire la demande croissante mondiale de consommation en protéine d'origine animale (Académie Vétérinaire de France 2011 ; FVE 2011).…”

Horse impoundments under Control of Horses legislation in the Munster region of Ireland: factors affecting euthanasia

“…A range of factors have been attributed to a sharp increase in the number of unwanted horses in the USA, including the closure of US horse slaughter facilities in 2007 coincident with a general economic downturn (North and others 2005, Whiting 2007, Unwanted Horse Coalition 2009, Holcomb and others 2010, Lenz 2011). In Europe, the recent economic recession also resulted in an increase in numbers of unwanted horses (Leadon and others 2012, 2013), although with the option for horses to be sent to slaughter within national boundaries (Leadon and others 2012). In Ireland, there was a substantial increase in the numbers of unwanted horses between 2005 and 2010 (Leadon and others 2012).…”

“…In Europe, the recent economic recession also resulted in an increase in numbers of unwanted horses (Leadon and others 2012, 2013), although with the option for horses to be sent to slaughter within national boundaries (Leadon and others 2012). In Ireland, there was a substantial increase in the numbers of unwanted horses between 2005 and 2010 (Leadon and others 2012). In England and Wales, a similar increase since 2006 was observed by equine charities (RSPCA and others 2012), primarily attributed to indiscriminate and excess breeding and to the recession.…”

Significant milestone for the Irish Veterinary Journal

“…Many articles have been highly accessed online including a demographic survey of unwanted horses in Ireland [6] as well as important reviews of IBR infection [7] and the use of bulk milk in the diagnosis of parasite infections [8]. We would like to thank all the authors who have contributed to the Irish Veterinary Journal and all of those colleagues who have provided invaluable editorial support and we look forward to increased numbers of manuscript submissions in the future.…”