If you are concerned in relation to the well being of a horse, or wish to report a stray horse please contact Dublin City Council at (01) 2223201, Monday to Friday between 9am – 5pm.
Control of Horses Service
Dublin City council provides a control of horses service in order to address the problems arising from practice of irresponsible horse ownership in the City area. These problems associated with keeping such horses in the city include neglect and cruelty suffered by horses, damage to public property including parks, sports pitches and grass verges, danger posed to public safety and general nuisance posed by presence of horses in public places. In 2010 Dublin City Council seized and impounded 445 horses in the City Area.
The main reasons for seizure are as follows:
Under the Control of Horses Act 1996 a horse may be seized and impounded if it is:
a) A Stray Horse, or
b) Causing a nuisance, or
c) Not under adequate control, or
d) Posing a danger to persons or property, or
e) Posing a threat to the health and welfare of persons or other animals, or
f) Being kept in a control area, without a horse licence in respect of it entitling the horse to be kept in that area, or
g) Not identifiable or capable of identification as may be required by Section 28, or
h) In or being kept or ridden or driven in an area contrary to any bye laws made under section 47.
Control of Horses Bye laws
Dublin Council adopted new Control of Horses Bye-Laws under the Control of Horses Act 1996, at its meeting of 1st February 2010. The new Bye Laws take effect from 1st March 2010. The new Bye-Laws provide for the control and licensing of horses in Dublin City Council’s administrative area and also provide for the seizure and disposal of horses in breach of the bye laws. To read the Control of Horses Bye Laws 2010 please click here
Process Of Horse Seizure:
Horses that have been seized are transported to the pound in Co. Wicklow, where upon arrival they are subject to a veterinary inspection. A detailed description of the horse is taken and it is also scanned for a microchip. The vet issues any treatment deemed necessary. If the horse does not have a microchip, one is inserted.
Horse Reclaim Conditions:
Individuals, who want to reclaim their horse, must produce a horse passport and all the relevant documentation that is required before their horse will be released. Under Dublin City Council’s Control of Horses Bye Laws 2010 ‘The City Council may recover from the owner or the keeper of the horse all fees payable in respect of the horse, including fees for keep, veterinary fees and transportation fees incurred by the Council.’ Fees are based on the per horse cost to the City Council of providing the service annually and are reviewed on a yearly basis.
The current cost of reclaiming a horse is €900 per horse plus an additional €20 per night per horse for horses held over and above the statutory 7 day period.
Horse Ownership Responsibilities:
Individuals may only have ownership of a horse in the Dublin City Council area, if the individual is in possession of a horse licence. This ensures adequate facilities and permission from a landowner for the safe keeping of the horse, which is passed by inspection from our Veterinary Section. A licence can be obtained from Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Block 4 Ground Floor, Wood Quay, D8 phone (01) 2223201. The licence costs €31.74.
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 your animal including the microchip number. This can be obtained from the Irish Horse Board. Phone (01) 5053584.