'Someone will die' without crackdown on sulky races
Races, Often Dog For Warned To Horses, Tarmac That Horses Especially John On Roads Are Damaging Ireland The Races O’callaghan Are Sulky Younger Advocacy To Used Of
Stricter policing of illegal sulky races has been called for by an animal rights activist who has warned that “someone will die” unless urgent action is taken.
Videos on social media in recent weeks have shown sulkies — horse-drawn carts — racing down motorways and major national roads, causing busy traffic to pull over to avoid head-on collisions.
John O’Callaghan of Dog Advocacy Ireland said that the races pose a risk to both human and animal welfare.
“Three or four of these are happening every weekend on major public roads.
“It’s a miracle no one has been killed yet.
“The risk to road users is enormous," Mr O'Callaghan said.
“These races are advertised on Facebook beforehand, so there is no reason why they cannot be policed properly, it is not rocket science."
Videos have shown three and four vehicles abreast coming down major roadways with the races causing traffic chaos, he said.
"It’s frightening for other road users and they force other road users to pull into the hard shoulder and off the road to avoid crashing into them.
“Sulky supporters are hanging out of windows of moving vehicles shouting."
The races on tarmac roads are damaging to horses, especially to younger horses that are often used for these races, he said.
Chaotic scenes were filmed at sulky races on the M3 in Meath on Sunday morning.
Gardaí attended the scene of incidents of sulky racing on the M3 near Dunboyne, Co Meath at approximately 8am on Sunday.
Those involved dispersed on the arrival of gardaí. Inquiries are ongoing and gardaí are currently investigating these incidents, a statement said.
On the previous Sunday, another illegal sulky race was filmed on the N20 Limerick to Cork dual carriageway near Croom, when racers and supporters took over the major road.
A garda statement said that gardaí in Croom were alerted to alleged incidents of sulky racing on the N20 in Croom, Limerick on Sunday, November 12.
"Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses or those with camera footage to come forward.
"People who observed any unusual activity on the N20 in Croom are also asked to come forward.
"Anyone with any information is asked to contact Newcastle West Garda station on 069 20650, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station."
One video from a sulky race on social media appears to show two sulkies refusing to stop for a garda car, driving along beside it despite oncoming traffic.
Martina Kenny from My Lovely Horse animal rescue said that her team has rescued injured horses abandoned at the side of the road after they were used as sulkies.
Horses and ponies are started in sulky racing very young, she said. But because a horse is still growing until they are five, racing them on very hard ground when they are young causes long term damage to their growing limbs.
"Usually they're [age] two or three out pounding really fast on hard ground," Ms Kenny said.
"We have a few ex-sulkies, one was only six months old when she came to us, and she was used as a sulky and her legs are destroyed forever. She goes lame really easy because her legs were never allowed to develop and grow.
"We've had many horses that have been on traps or sulkies that have had broken legs. We've had some that have died."
"It's sad. This is going on constantly."