FORMER LEADING National Hunt horse Moscow Flyer was there for the official opening of the Irish Horse Welfare Trust’s new premises in Woodenbridge, Co Wicklow, yesterday.
The country’s leading equine welfare charity both retrains retired racehorses for new roles in show jumping, hacking or dressage and also rescues and finds new homes for abandoned horses.
Moscow Flyer is one retrained former racehorse. It is now resident at the welfare trust, where it makes public appearances to promote the charity’s work.
The charity currently houses 60 horses which have been saved from neglect throughout the country. “We are actually fairly full up at the moment, which is unusual for this time of year,” said Sharon Newsome of the trust.
The recession has contributed to the increasing number of horses abandoned by owners who cannot afford their upkeep.