Crowe disputes ‘God-given right’ to keep horses

A CLARE TD has hit out at “do-gooders,” who claim people have the right to keep horses, regardless of their capacity to give them adequate care.
Deputy Cathal Crowe made his remarks at a recent meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC), where he disputed social media claims that people have a cultural right to horse ownership.
“There was a situation where a horse died in the south of Clare in the last 14 days,” he said. “That horse was not being cared for in accordance with the Animal Health and Welfare Act or the Control of Horses Act.”
Citing his own personal experience, Deputy Crowe disputed the belief that people should be allowed to keep horses, if that is their culture. “You can say it’s a culture to keep horses,” he said, “but I don’t agree. My grandparents had horses. My father didn’t, because he hadn’t the space. He didn’t think he had the God-given right to keep horses.”
The Meelick-based TD added that the tone of recent discussion of the issue on social media had not helped matters.
“We then had a situation where some do-gooders on Facebook chimed in to say that it’s people’s right to keep horses,” he said. “Well, my view is that it’s not your right unless you can look after them properly. These animals are crudely tied, left without fodder and they’re dying.”
Responding to Deputy Crowe’s concerns, Chief Superintendent Seán Colleran noted that the Gardaí are not the main authority with responsibility for horses.
“I fully appreciate the concerns raised,” he said. “We are not the lead agency, but we will action all complaints that we receive.”