'Shocked and appalled' - Horse Racing Ireland reacts to cruel horse abuse shown in RTÉ Investigates

Horse Racing Ireland has stated it is “deeply shocked and appalled” by the findings of an RTÉ documentary investigating the abuse horses can suffer after they leave the racing spotlight.

Whilst defending overall standards of equine welfare within the industry, the governing body insisted it “has zero tolerance for mistreatment of horses in any circumstance”.

A full statement reads: “The Board, management and staff of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) are deeply shocked and appalled by the content of the RTÉ Investigates documentary broadcast on RTÉ 1 tonight.

“The criminal behaviour depicted in the RTÉ documentary is disgusting and is not the experience of the vast majority of the 30,000 people who make their livelihood in the horse racing and breeding industry in Ireland.

“HRI has zero tolerance for mistreatment of horses in any circumstance and criminal and regulatory sanction must be imposed on anyone found to have behaved in an illegal way towards horses.

“Equine safety and care is HRI’s top priority, and this year HRI will invest €16.1 million in welfare and integrity services. The thoroughbred horse is enshrined in Irish and EU law. Significant legal and regulatory checks and balances are in place for thoroughbred horses from birth through their racing career and life cycle.

“HRI will review the issues raised in the RTÉ documentary and will actively support any Department of Agriculture or Garda investigation, and urge anyone with information about mistreatment of horses to report it to An Garda Síochána.”

The programme was described by RTÉ as a major new investigation examining the Irish and European horse industries.

It said: “The team went inside the equine industry to show how some of these horses are slaughtered in Ireland, while others are given new identities and traded in deals across Europe.”