Horse with broken leg dumped in Kingscourt, later put down

A horse had to be put down after it was discovered, dumped and distressed in a field outside Kingscourt at the weekend.

Gardaí were notified of the neglected horse by locals who came across her in a field late on Saturday afternoon. Volunteers from the animal welfare group ‘My Lovely Horse Rescue’ were contacted and brought the horse, they named Augusta, to their Kildare base.

The horse is described as a sports horse, possibly a showjumping animal, measuring roughly 15-16 hands. The vet estimated her age at between 10-15 years old.

“We tried our very best,” reported a dejected Martina Kenny, co-founder of the charity. “We had vets three different times with her but she was in such a bad way, so she’s been put to sleep.”

An x-ray taken on Monday revealed a major fracture to Augusta’s lower leg.

“It showed that basically her whole hoof was completely out of place,” says Martina.

“The injury looks like it’s been there for quite a while, so she has been left like that, obviously with no veterinary treatment.”

Aside from the hoof being “out of its socket”, the horse had endured severe scalding to her hide. Martina suspects Augusta had been held in a confined area where she had to sit in her own urine for protracted periods.

“She was just in bits. Wherever she was, she has had a miserable existence for a while and then to be just left in a field to die, because they couldn’t be bothered paying for her to be put to sleep in a kind way. She’s been through the wars God love her.”

Owners are required by law to have their horses chipped, however Martina says that the regulations are not adequately enforced by the Department of Agriculture.

“If she was chipped and registered we would have somebody to get for this.”

My Lovely Horse Rescue currently have just over 450 animals, of which about 270 are donkeys mules and horses.

“About 70-80% of those have been abandoned, abused, neglected,” Martina estimates, and notes that due to lack of chipping, the owners are seldom identified.

“They are getting away with it,” says Martina.

Anyone who has any information on the horse is asked to contact Bailieborough Garda Station.

Meanwhile, separately Gardaí are investigating an incident of animal cruelty after a donkey was discovered in a distressed state in a field at Tullygullion, Kilcogy, on the evening of February 2. When rescued, the animal was unable to walk on its hooves because they had grown so long and were curling up.

The donkey was left in this field without the permission of the landowner. Gardaí in Granard are appealing for information, which may assist them in identifying who placed the donkey on this land, and the owners of this animal. Those with information can contact Granard Garda Station on 043-6687660.

The donkey has been taken in by the Hungry Horse Outside charity, who are providing rehabilitative care.

Hilary Robinson of Hungry Horse Outside said: “This was a serious case of neglect and cruelty of this donkey. There are supports available to owners, from surrendering the animal to a sanctuary, to help being made available to those who are genuinely trying to look after the animal.”