Distressing footage of horses dumped in Clondalkin shared to help raise awareness of cruelty

By Aura McMenamin

An animal welfare group has released shocking footage of two emaciated ponies that were dumped near Fonthill Road in Clondalkin earlier this month.

A volunteer from My Lovely Horse Rescue came across the sick cobs after seeing two men remove horses from a trailer near the Fonthill Road roundabout.

One horse managed to make its way into the nearby field while the other two horses were severely malnourished and had difficulty walking.

One of the horses eventually had to be euthanised while the other was taken into care by the DSPCA.

Writing on Facebook, My Lovely Horse Rescue posted a video of the appalling conditions the horses were left in.

They said: “We are so sorry to have to show this but this is what the amazing volunteers of My Lovely Horse Rescue have to deal with.

“Three poor ponies had been seen being dragged out of a horse box and left on the road to die, the third horse made it into the field, the two left were in a shocking state. Thrown out like rubbish, left to die a painful death.”

The video shows one horse lying on its side amidst an overturned bin and rubbish on the field. The second horse had difficulty standing and frequently fell back down but was eventually led into the DSPCA’s trailer.

Speaking to Echo.ie last week, Gillian Bird of the DSPCA said that the young, female horse was taken into DSPCA care where it will be kept at its rehoming centre in Rathfarnham under a strict diet.

This week, a DSPCA spokesperson confirmed that the mare is doing well.

When contacted by Echo.ie, Gardai confirmed that investigations are ongoing and no arrests have been made at this time.