Horse seizures leap in Laois

The number of horses impounded in Laois is climbing back to pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest figures.

Laois County Council figures published in the Dáil show that 27 animals were seized in the first nine months of 2024.

This compares to 25 for all of last year and 15 locally in 2023. It is the highest number of seizures since 2019 when 35 were seized. The figure is some way short of the 111 impounded a decade ago.

The figures were provided to Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan who asked for figures on trespass and for non-compliance with chipping law and regulation by county.

The Department of Agriculture provides financial support to help local authorities with these seizures.

Laois County Council says it seizes stray horses on public land and takes them to an animal pound to be reclaimed or rehomed under the Control of Horses Act 1996.

The local authority says a horse may be seized and impounded if it is: READ MORE BELOW PICTURE.

The local authority says a horse may be seized and impounded if it is:

• A stray horse, or
• Causing a nuisance, or
• Not under adequate control, or
• Posing a danger to persons or property, or
• Posing a threat to the health and welfare of persons or other animals, or
• Being kept in a control area, without a horse licence in respect of it entitling the horse to be kept in that area, or
• Not identifiable or capable of identification as may be required by Section 28, or
• In or being kept or ridden or driven in an area contrary to any bye-laws made under section 47

Once horses are impounded, a notice will be posted onto www.Laois.ie and a public notice placed at a reception at County Hall.

READ ALSO: GARDAÍ ALERTED TO MOTORBIKES IN SLIEVE BLOOMS

EU legislation dictates that all horse owners must be in possession of a horse passport to identify themselves as the owner of the animal and to have a detailed description of the animal, including the microchip number.