‘Without enough volunteers the workload is doubled and people get burnt out’

“Being set alight, attacked with hammers and tied to ESB poles are just some horrendous examples of abuse endured by equines taken into care by a local horse welfare and rescue charity that is fighting to keep its doors open.

The Leinster Horse and Pony Rescue (LHPR) a registered charity based in two locations in Trim and Dunboyne fear closure could be imminent if they do not get more people on board to help run their centres.

Since being established, the charity has come to the aid of approx 130 equines. This excludes the many horses they help on the road each year by offering owners practical advice.

“We are tight on the ground and winter is coming and it’s the busiest time of the year,” said founder Joseph Quinn.

“We are trying to build a core base of volunteers at the moment,” he added.

“We have 60 volunteers right now but if we had a team of 80 to 90 people it would allow for absenteeism through sickness or holidays or whatever the case may be.

“Many of our volunteers have been with us from the very start when we opened the yard in 2014.”

What about all those millions given to the horse industry who claim they’re all treated like royalty