Horse Welfare Within Racing Ireland

10/09/2024

I wonder when will we have National Racehorse Week in Ireland???

Kicking off a five-part series to mark National Racehorse Week, Lewis Porteous explains why a horse's life after racing is so important – and what... Read More

10/09/2024

Plunkett, dual winner for Paul Flynn Racing boarding the EquiTrans express for Solway Racehorses in Scotland where he will be expertly assessed for his new career. Thank you to his owner and to Paul.

10/09/2024

Apologies for the lack of posts in recent days. Busy collecting the latest horses destined for their new homes. As always, a thank you to the owners/trainers for ensuring that there is a good outcome for their horses after racing.

06/09/2024

If we ever do achieve having an EU Comissioner for animal welfare they will have their work cut out for them in Ireland, dealing with live cattle exports, wildlife crime, unwanted and abused pets, discarded horses, bad farming practices....the list could go on.
Just thinking, didn't former jockey Nina Carberry get elected to the European Parliament recently. Let her know that you want a European Commissioner for animal welfare right now. Email [email protected]

09/08/2024

The beautiful chestnut mare Lakewood has fallen on all four feet having just been rehomed by Kevin and his team at Solway Racehorses. We wish her new partner the best of luck.

06/08/2024

John Joe and Aaron Fitzpatrick of Shannonside foods infamy. This is what awaits!

Father and sons jailed over horrific neglect of 23 dogs are brutally beaten behind bars https://tinyurl.com/2cbmcb3c

02/08/2024

AL, a lovely 2 year old gelding that I picked up in extremely bad condition from a midlands "livery yard" in April has just been rehomed thanks to the expertise of Solway Racehorses . He only made the trip to Scotland 12 days ago.
We're not a rescue service, it's usually horses just out of training I collect but occasionally one like AL comes along and it's very rewarding to see the progress they make in the right conditions.

01/08/2024

Potential Broodmare? Think again!

All too often in the horse racing industry, a decision has to be made about a mare that has not shown enough ability for the track.
Right decision is to rehome. This mare could excel in another discipline and have a life worth living.

Wrong decision is to breed. Unless the mare has an excellent pedigree/race record/physical conformation etc, chances are, you are going to breed an equally worthless offspring regardless of what stallion the mare visits. Low cost horses rarely win races. Fact.

This creates that never-ending cycle of discarded and unwanted horses.

Pictured is the beautiful Ena Baie who possibly would fit the category of potential broodmare but her forward- thinking trainer decided rehoming would be the sensible option

Please, think again about breeding.

31/07/2024

Trainers and owners! Please remember that horses retiring from racing can be permanently excluded from ever racing again through the RAS system when returning a horse out of training.
So the excuse for not rehoming in case your horse shows up winning in the UK or elsewhere is not valid anymore. Stable-staff, please remind your boss of this.

30/07/2024

This is what they're all capable of, given a chance.

SO PROUD 💖💖💖💖💖

Jensen came to us from the pound in July 2019, a baby.
He was one of four we rescued that day, he was so tiny and so skinny, his belly full of worms 🤬

In December 2019 Kelsie came to view Jensen as a potential adopter. Immediately she said “he's mine, I’m in love, what do I need to do”🫠

The work and love Kelsie has put into beautiful Jensen shows testimony to his multiple wins, in multiple shows and the fact he’s enjoying every moment with his best friend by his side❤️

Jensen or Sebastian as Kelsie fondly calls him now have an amazing bond.

We are so proud that he will be the first MLHR horse in the RDS Dublin Horse Show on Friday 16th of August 💖💖💖

Please show your support if you are there that day 💖

30/07/2024

Lisamaria(near) and Lakewood (small, I mean far away) getting the carbs in before heading off on the Equitrans express to Scotland for rehoming with Solway racehorses later today.
Both are stable companions from the red-hot yard of trainer Paul Flynn Racing and we're very grateful to Paul and his generous owners in ensuring that these two beautiful mares will have a life worth living after racing.

30/07/2024

French Toast, one of 20 resident goats here, up to his old tricks stealing hay from the horses again.

28/07/2024

Racehorse owner's prizemoney in 2023 totalled €48,990,000. This is after dividends to trainers, jockeys etc.
I was useless at maths in school but I think that 1% of this figure is €489,000, almost half a million.
Wouldn't that go a long way towards the aftercare of the hundreds of horses discarded from racing each year?

27/07/2024

Well done to My Lovely Horse Rescue and everyone who supported them outside Shannonside foods today. It's these fantastic people who continue to ensure that all of the horses who met their brutal end at John Joe and Aaron Fitzpatrick's Straffan hellhole are not forgotten.
We sadly live in an era of instant news and quickly move on to whatever the algorithms feed us next. Please don't let the plight of these fantastic animals become just a soundbite on your news feed.

26/07/2024

Napoleon Blue, Bilbo Bagins, Unnamed and Mick Spadoun ranging in age from 3 to 15.
All heading to Scotland next week to begin a new chapter in their lives.
Thanks to the trainers and owners involved.
Keep an eye on Solway racehorses page to view their progress.

26/07/2024

Once again we're joining My Lovely Horse Rescue tomorrow 11 -2 outside father and son John Joe and Aaron Fitzpatrick's 'factory' in Straffan where countless horses suffered abuse, torture and neglect before meeting a violent end at the hands of their tormentors. Don't forget to show your support by coming along and keeping the plight of unwanted horses firmly in the spotlight.

22/07/2024

Emeric, aka Eric (right) offers Al some friendly advice before leaving with Equitrans for Solway Racehorses, Scotland where they will be expertly rehomed by Kevin and his team.
Keep an eye on Solway Racehorses page for updates.

22/07/2024

Three beautiful mares, suitcases packed for Scotland looking forward to new beginnings.

Thanks, as always to the trainers and owners who are forward thinking and willing to give these fantastic animals a life worth living.

17/07/2024

This statement by Brendan Gleeson tells us all we already new - that animal welfare never was and still isn't an issue that is taken seriously in DAFM. We will be standing with MLHR outside Shannonside foods on the 27th July. Please do so too.

BE THEIR VOICE ….

After the shocking statement by
Mr Brendan Gleeson Secretary General of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine sought to set the record straight.

He said:

“ I think I said in relation to the current Shannonside investigation that it was about animal welfare and identification issues.
In fact it’s JUST about traceability and identification.”

Mr Michael Sheahan previously said before the committee, that a lot of soul searching was done at DAFM in the wake of the Prime Time RTE investigation.
This soul searching has obviously lead them to the conclusion that NO “welfare” investigation is needed.

JOIN IS AT SHANNONSIDE ON Saturday 27th of July. MLHR Team will be there from 11am until 2pm

We ask you to show your support, TD’s, solicitors, barristers…we need everyone, THERE IS A CLEAR WELFARE CASE…these horses deserve justice after the brutal torment and cruelty they endured.

12/07/2024

Just to let you know that we continue to receive lots of support within the racing community by signing our petition for a HRI funded racehorse rehoming/rehabilitation centre.
We collected lots of signatures today at Dundalk racecourse with the very kind help of Michelle Howard, the super-capable stableyard manager.

12/07/2024

The signatures are building!

09/07/2024

Sorry we're unable to attend the protest at government buildings today.
The rain is not the issue, just work commitments unfortunately.
Well done to each and every person who braved the weather to be there in support of MHLR and for bringing the issue of horse welfare to our elected representatives.

Weather is so bad today, we will still be at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine at 12.30 to 2pm.
If you can make it please do 💖

01/07/2024

HWWI are currently drafting a detailed submission outlining guidelines for the racehorse re-homing/rehabilitation centre that we are recommending be established ASAP.
We would be delighted to hear your thoughts, contributions and ideas for any future centre. Please email us at [email protected]

28/06/2024

Thanks to all trainers, stable staff, jockeys, security, veterinary staff and box drivers who took a minute to sign our petition at the Curragh races toda👍

The general feeling from everyone I spoke to today was very positive towards our aim of seeing a HRI/owner funded rehoming and rehabilitation centre being set up in Ireland. A common observation among racing staff today was that a centre of this kind is long overdue.

Along with the signed petition, we will also present a written submission outlining guidelines on how we feel such a centre should operate.

If you would like to make any proposal in this regard, feel free to drop us an email to [email protected]

28/06/2024

City Limits, Vormir, I know I can, The road not taken and Black Irish waiting patiently last Monday at HWWI, Westmeath farm to board a state of the arts Equitrans truck to Solway racehorses in Scotland last where they will be assessed for their new careers and re-homed in the best of homes.

To view their progress please check out:
https://www.facebook.com/kevin.jardine.5?mibextid=ZbWKwL

28/06/2024

Interesting article by Mark Costello from Irish Farmers Journal

The RTÉ Investigates report has led to a lot of talking and finger-pointing. So what needs to be done now, asks Mark Costello.

27/06/2024

HWWR will be offering solidarity to My Lovely Horse Rescue on Saturday 29th June 11am to 1pm outside the gates of Shannonside Foods, Straffan, Co. Kildare in their campaign to urge that welfare notices are issued to Shannonside Foods, with the overall outcome that Shannonside foods should never operate again.