WELFARE & CAMPAIGNS

The IHWT Campaigns Brief is to work with existing policy while driving the IHWT agenda forward in key deliverables for the Equine in Ireland and at a European level.

• As an dedicated equine charity IHWT are ensuring that progressive and good law is implemented to underpin a successful Welfare Bill and deliver for equines in terms of ensuring the legislation in its capacity is enforceable and effective.
   
• To date legislation and the current control measures in place for Equine's in Ireland is failing.    The issue of traceability and a lack of accountability rates high as a factor in the majority of all rescue cases.  It is an issue which now needs now to be urgently addressed.

WELFARE AGENDA 2011

IHWT believe the answer for Equine Welfare in Ireland is working together. In order to even begin addressing the issues there is the need for an inter agency approach to Horse Welfare within Ireland.

In April of this year IHWT held the first cross industry conference for Equine Welfare ever to be held in Ireland.  The conference was attended by all relevant government agencies, Stakeholders, and County Councils, as well as  Welfare groups, and DAFF.  

The result of this successful conference, will lead to a new approach being adopted by all agencies working toward the common goal of devising dynamic procedures, which will become a blue print for the future of Equine Traceability.
 

• Retrospectively, the current system in place regarding ownership and traceability of equines in Ireland is not effective or efficient. Stronger procedures and controls are required to ensure transparency within the system .
   
• While the welcomed reduction in breeding is now very evident considering the current market conditions, the long term goal of enforcement and effective management of Equine Welfare needs to be actively addressed.

HWT realizes this is no quick fix to this problem. The key is the need to maintain cooperation amongst all agencies in rolling out a strategic workable solution. There are many considerations and we must strive to achieve a system that delivers for the Equine as opposed to individual agencies.

One campaign which is still ongoing sees us continuing the  lobbying with regard to the Live export of horses for slaughter.