Kildare Co Council & gardaí plan crackdown on illegally kept horses
Four horses and two foals were found at a property in Athy, which were being kept there in contravention of local bylaws
GARDAÍ and Kildare County Council have launched a coordinated operation to tackle the growing problem of illegally kept horses and sulky racing in the town of Athy.
Athy public representative Mark Leigh said the issue has been escalating throughout the summer, prompting authorities to take action after a sharp rise in reports of horses being kept on public and private land without permission.
“There are about 32 horses around Athy that shouldn’t have been there,” cllr Leigh said.
He added that the council and gardaí have committed to maintaining an ongoing enforcement effort on the issue.
“The council has to pay to take the horses into the pound system, so it’s a big commitment. But both the council and gardaí are determined to stay on top of this for the foreseeable future to stop the circulation of illegal horses around town,” said cllr Leigh.
A recent operation saw four horses and two foals seized from one property, which came about through a joint investigation and operation carried out by Athy gardaí and the council.
This operation identified a location where horses were being kept in contravention of local bylaws.
Under local bylaws, horses are not permitted to be kept on land in Athy except for agricultural use, a measure originally introduced about 20 years ago to control the problem. However, cllr Leigh confirmed that there will be stricter enforcement of the law over the coming weeks.
“This has been an ongoing issue, even before my time as a councillor,” he said.
Concerns have also been raised about safety following reports of sulky racing on public roads and along the town’s Blueway.
“They’re up and down the Blueway all the time,” said cllr Leigh, recalling a tragic incident in 2023 when a horse and sulky fell into the canal. “The young lad riding the sulky managed to escape, thankfully, but the horse was pinned down and drowned. It was awful.”
In an online statement on the recent removal of horses from the Athy property, Kildare gardaí said: “An Garda Síochana Kildare comment the collaborative efforts of all involved in achieving this positive outcome, which contributes to the continued safety and enjoyment of the Blueway for all users.”
