Animal welfare chiefs have blasted a dangerous sulky race which blocked a busy motorway and warned the practice could lead to the deaths of people and horses.
The ISPCA hit out after a shocking video showed two sulkies racing down the N7 at Citywest in Dublin while other vehicles blocked the rest of the road.
Gardai are also carrying out enquiries into the footage which sparked outrage online.
A convoy of horse sulkies and vehicles can be seen in the viral video, which was described by the ISPCA as “shocking and appalling”.
The footage was taken from a bridge on the busy N7 near Brownsbarn in Citywest and the race was directed between a large number of cars.
Cheers can be heard for a horse that appears to be named Starlight, while dozens of passengers clambered halfway out of the vehicles’ windows to watch.
ISPCA chief Dr Andrew Kelly, who spoke about the footage that emerged on Wednesday, added: “Driving young horses and ponies flat out at excessive speed on Ireland’s busy roads, often by children as young as 10 years old, is an accident waiting to happen.
“All it takes is a trip or stumble which can be fatal for horse and sulky driver.
“It is also a risk for other road users and another serious accident or fatality is inevitable.
“In 2018, a 12 year-old boy was killed near Dublin when he was thrown from a sulky into the path of an oncoming truck after the horse which was pulling the sulky bolted across a busy road.
“Action should have been taken then to take sulkies off public roads.”
The road passes by the exit that leads to the Circle K Citywest, before making its way toward the Naas Road and Newland’s Cross.
The evening traffic can be seen slowly moving behind the race, which took up all lanes of the busy route as more than 20 cars and vans followed closely.
Mr Kelly said horses are often seriously injured or killed and left at the side of the road after sulky races.
He continued: “It really is time sulkies were taken off the road by a system of licensing and registration and the provision of a safe off-road alternative.
“A zero-tolerance approach by An Garda Siochana and local authorities to take sulkies off public roads is required along with the provision of safe, off-road alternatives.” The ISPCA has called on the Government to deal with the public safety and the serious animal welfare concerns caused by the events.
It also believes the Department of Agriculture should work with local authorities to identify safe, off-road areas “where the activity can be regulated appropriately”.
Meanwhile a Garda spokeswoman said: “Gardai in Rathcoole are aware of the video being circulated on social media and enquires are ongoing.
“If any persons are aware or have information in relation to the incident, please contact your local Garda station.”
Meanwhile, Traveller and stand-up comedian Martin “Beanz” Warde hit out on Twitter at the sulky race.
He posted: “I’m sorry, but this ain’t our culture and I challenge every Traveller organisation in the country to call this crap out.
“Yes, sulkies are part of a tradition held by some, but animal welfare and road user safety must supersede everything else. I don’t care who it offends, this is wrong.”
