Republic Of Ireland Initiates Training Programme To Improve Standards Of Horse Welfare
11 years ago
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23rd October, 2012 14h08
The Horse Trust recently held a training course in County Cork, Republic of Ireland, for Veterinary Inspectors and other staff involved in implementing the Control of Horses Act (1996).
Ireland has the most dense horse population in Europe and the impact of the recession has dramatically increased the number of neglected and abandoned horses. As a result, the horse pounds now see more and more horses with welfare problems.
The course was organised in conjunction with the Cork County Local Authority and the Department for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Eighteen people attended the course including Veterinary Inspectors from the DAFM and local authorities, staff from the horse pound that collect and care for horses seized under the Act, the
Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the private veterinary practitioners that attend the pound.
Liane Preshaw, Welfare Development Manager at
The Horse Trust, said “we were approached about putting on the training at a horse welfare conference organised by the Irish Horse Welfare Trust last year. The recession has had a big impact on horse welfare standards in Ireland and it is imperative that people involved with enforcement of the Act can accurately assess the welfare state of seized horses and provide appropriate care for horses experiencing poor welfare”.
She added “The training was provided free of charge by The Horse Trust as we feel it important that these agencies have access to equine welfare training, which may otherwise be unavailable to them due to funding constraints”.
The training included sessions by Peter Green MRCVS on assessing welfare and fitness to travel, caring for horses with poor welfare, and evidence gathering for prosecution cases. Gemma Pearson MRCVS provided training on using equine learning theory to handle horses humanely during potentially stressful procedures such as a clinical examination or loading. Pieter den Boon MRCVS also provided an overview of conditions that can cause severe welfare compromise in donkeys.
Pat O’Connor, Manager of the horse pound said “it is the best and most practical course I have attended”.
Pat Noonan MRCVS, a private veterinary surgeon who attends the pound, said the course was “very practical, useful and right on target for the situations covered by the Control of Horses Act”.
It is hoped that the training course will help to improve the assessment of the welfare status of horses entering the local authority pound system and ensure that the horses are fed and cared for appropriate to their specific needs. The course should also ensure that the Control of Horses Act is implemented to its full potential.
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