The NSPCA said that Dublin is simply unsuitable and unsafe for horses to be on the streets as they work surrounded by dense pedestrian traffic, cars, buses and more
17:14, 09 May 2026Updated 17:25, 09 May 2026
Harnessed horse attached to a traditional carriage a Stephen’s Green in Dublin
The NSPCA has called for a complete ban on horse-drawn carriages and working horses in cities across Ireland.
Ms Clare Owens, Political Affairs Officer with the NSPCA said that Dublin is simply unsuitable and unsafe for horses to be on the streets. The NSPCA is calling for a ban on horse-drawn carriage operations.
Ms Owens said that Ireland can follow in the footsteps of other modern cities by retiring the practice in the city centre.
Speaking on The Hard Shoulder, Ms Owens said that an incident involving a horse on O’Connell Street put both pedestrians and the animal at risk.
“These concerns are becoming more and more regular” she said. “Last year, a silky horse also broke loose on O’Connell Street and that created a significant public risk.
“It ran the whole length of O’Connell Street with the cart behind it, and that was also widely shared on social media.
“There’s a growing recognition internationally that modern urban environments are no longer suitable places for working horses. Dublin city in particular presents serious and unique welfare concerns.
“Some cities including London, Paris, Barcelona and Brussels have already moved away from horse-drawn carriage operations.
“Brussels has actually transitioned to electric carriages as a humane modern alternative. That seems to work very well in that particular city.”
She said that the call to ban working horses is not an attack on traditions or tourism, but that as the understanding of animal welfare has evolved, changes should be made.
“We can’t just stay stuck in the past” she said. “Just because an activity was traditional,it does not automatically make it acceptable indefinitely.
“Society evolves. As society evolves, our understanding of animal welfare evolves with it.”
“We’re looking at working equids and they’re being asked to work in busy and chaotic traffic environments” she explained. “They’re surrounded by buses, taxis, Luas trams, cyclists, motorbikes, delivery vans and then dense pedestrian traffic.”
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