Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In 2016 alone the total amount of horses that were seized, reclaimed, re-homed or indeed euthanised in the State was an astonishing 1,741. There were 129 horses seized in Tipperary and 122 of them had to be put down. I have it from one constituent who works in animal rescue that they paid €1,000 to treat a horse after it was seized, and there are many cases such as this. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is now insisting that the horse be returned to the owner because he has produced the horse's passport. The issue of sulky racing and the abuse of animals and horses in Tipperary, and other areas, is appalling. Last Sunday the county was overrun with gangs. The gardaí were trying to keep up with them on roads that are unsafe-----

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