We, the undersigned, respectfully call on the Government of Ireland to prohibit sulky racing and sulky training involving horses, and to ensure that the forthcoming Animal Welfare Strategy 2026-2030 commits to the development of the necessary legislation to provide a clear statutory basis for such prohibition.

Sulky racing involves horses pulling lightweight two-wheeled vehicles at speed, often under competitive conditions. Evidence from repeated incidents across the State demonstrates that this activity presents a high and foreseeable risk of injury, distress, and death to horses, regardless of whether it takes place on public roads or other locations.

It is acknowledged that certain forms of sulky racing on public roads are already unlawful under existing legislation, including road traffic law. However, the continued occurrence of sulky racing, together with repeated reports of serious injury and fatalities, demonstrates that reliance on enforcement of existing provisions has not been sufficient to prevent harm, nor does it address sulky racing and training conducted outside public road settings.

While general animal welfare obligations exist under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, these provisions are standards-based and enforcement-dependent. In practice, they have not prevented recurring and severe welfare outcomes associated with sulky racing. Where regulatory and enforcement measures have consistently failed to prevent serious animal welfare harm, legislative prohibition is an appropriate and proportionate response.

Moreover, repeated reports of horses suffering catastrophic injuries, collapsing from exhaustion, or requiring destruction following sulky racing incidents indicate that the risk of suffering is intrinsic to the activity itself, rather than arising solely from isolated breaches or inadequate enforcement. This demonstrates that enhanced enforcement alone would be insufficient to safeguard animal welfare.

This petition is not concerned with cultural identity, tradition, or individual communities. It is concerned solely with whether an activity involving animals can be carried out in a manner consistent with modern animal welfare standards.

We therefore call on the Government to:

• Provide for a statutory prohibition on sulky racing and sulky training involving horses, regardless of location, through the development of appropriate legislation;
• 
  Recognise in policy and legislation that certain activities pose inherent and unavoidable welfare risks that cannot be mitigated through enforcement or regulation alone;
• 
  Provide clear statutory definitions to prevent circumvention of such prohibition;
• 
  Ensure that enforcement powers and penalties are sufficient to give effect to the prohibition;
• 
  Ensure that the implementation of any prohibition is accompanied by appropriate transitional animal welfare supports, including funding and capacity-building for recognised animal welfare organisations and sanctuaries, to prevent abandonment, neglect, or inhumane disposal of horses.

Ireland has already recognised, through legislation, that some uses of animals are incompatible with acceptable welfare standards. We urge the Government to apply the same principle to sulky racing, in the interest of animal welfare, public confidence, and legislative clarity.