A GARDA investigation is under way following the discovery of the decomposing carcasses of four abandoned horses on a disused golf course at Blarney, Co Cork.
Ten horses in a malnourished and grossly neglected state were also found roaming the former golf course, which covers an estimated 200 acres, without access to food or shelter.
Lisa O’Donovan, Mallow-based agent of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA), conducted a search of part of the golf course, which she deemed “poor quality” land as it offered the horses no food or shelter. The carcasses were in varying stages of decomposition, with one skeletal remains likely to have been there for a number of weeks.
The three other carcasses were deemed to be of animals that died between two and five days before the find, but Ms O’Donovan was not sure whether cold weather had slowed the decomposition process.
A cursory search of the site revealed the live horses, which were malnourished and desperately in need of food and shelter, in two groups of four. A mare and her young foal were found separate from the other two groups.
“The horses that were alive were not exactly emaciated, though they were neglected and had no access to food or shelter.It’s so important for them to have shelter at this time of year, especially with the cold temperatures over the last few weeks – they badly need food and shelter to keep their body heat up,” Ms O’Donovan said.
The find came to light following a tip-off from a local resident, who contacted the ISPCA last week.
The size of the area meant the society was unable to look for other animals, but Ms O’Donovan expects there could be many more horses abandoned there. The Garda and the ISPCA have been unable to identify the horses’ owners.
“The gardaí have been very co-operative and helpful, but we have been unable to trace the owners, so we will have to treat them as abandoned animals. It’s very frustrating when we can’t hold anyone accountable,” Ms O’Donovan said.
While a decision was made to remove the animals from the golf course, the ISPCA will be unable to house them, as its equine rescue centres at Longford and Mallow – which cater for a maximum of 80 horses – are almost at capacity. The number of abandoned and neglected horses and ponies is set to rise this year, but the problem has “skyrocketed” recently.
“People bought horses during the boom but now find they cannot afford to keep them. But since the value and price has declined, people have begun to abandon them,” Ms O’Donovan said.