Control of Horses Bill, 1996

Public bill · Government · Presented

The Control of Horses Bill, 1996 would allow local authorities to designate control areas, especially in towns and cities, where horses could only be kept with a licence. Owners would have to identify and properly care for their horses, while authorities and the Gardaí could inspect, remove and detain stray, dangerous, unlicensed or unidentified animals. It would ban selling horses to anyone under 16, make owners responsible for reckless behaviour causing injury or damage, and allow fines, imprisonment, disqualification from keeping horses and, where necessary, disposal of animals. The measure also strengthens animal-welfare and horse-pound laws, aiming to reduce nuisance, accidents, property damage and neglect.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to provide for the control of horses and to make provision for the licensing of horses in urban and other areas where horses cause a danger to persons or property or nuisance and to amend certain other enactments relating to animals and to provide for related matters

Last updated 13 October 2020