Ms Bridgie Casey:

Horses have been a part of Traveller rights for decades. It means a lot to Travellers to keep their horses and culture. We agree it is difficult in many areas in the city to keep horses. What Cena does when we are working with and talking to Travellers face to face on the ground and trying to identify Traveller accommodation needs for them is ask if they want to live in a house. If they do, we say that it could be difficult and they cannot keep their horses. It is not allowed and is against the regulations. We are trying to build this capacity to have Travellers keep horses but it will take time. Travellers who will be housed in the countryside may have more options to embrace and hold onto their culture than those who are housed in the cities.

The employment rate is very low in the Traveller community. The horse means a lot to Travellers because it occupies their minds on a daily basis. It is also good for mental health. Research in the Netherlands shows that having children with ADHD or learning difficulties work with horses helps a lot. As a result of the lack of employment, horses have been involved in our life for generations.

As to losing that, the suicide rate is not all about drugs or alcohol because mental health is a big issue, so it is important that we can hold onto our horses and our culture. Not every Traveller man or woman likes horses or wants them, but there are many who do want them. They feel threatened if they have to give up their way of life to become a settled person and that they cannot be a Traveller.