Three horses impounded in Laois await rehoming or disposal

Laois County Council has gathered up three stray horses around Portlaoise, which now await collection or rehoming, or possible disposal.

All three of the horses were taken from roadsides in Portlaoise, on Friday, January 16, 2026, and are available for reclaim by their owners, or rehoming, or disposal, from 5pm, on Thursday, January 22.

One of the horses is described as a "Bay (brown coloured) male" and was collected from the Mountrath Road, Portlaoise.

The second is a "Black male" taken from Green Mill Lane, Portlaoise.

The third is a "Bay female" also rounded up from Green Mill Lane.

Control of stray horses is the responsibility of Laois County Council's housing section.

A spokesperson told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that stray horses are "generally rehomed" through the pound.

Under Laois County Council’s Control of Horses Bye-Laws, animals will be rehomed/disposed of if they remain unclaimed for after a period of 5 working days.

A horse can be impounded for several reasons: if it is stray, causing a nuisance, not under adequate control, or posing a danger to persons / property / health and welfare of persons or other animals. It can also be impounded it it is being kept in a control area, without a horse licence in respect of it entitling the horse to be kept in that area, or is not identifiable, or is in or being kept or ridden or driven in an area contrary to bye-laws.

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The law requires all horses, ponies and donkeys in the Republic of Ireland to have a passport. If the owner wants to reclaim the horse, they will have to pay an animal passport, an equine registration number of the land the horses will be kept on, and all fees must be paid.