KILDARE county council has proposed to introduce new bylaws that would create horse ‘exclusion zones’ in two pilot areas – Athy town and Newbridge town.

These bylaws, if approved, would see both towns have exclusion areas where people would be prohibited from having, keeping, riding or driving a horse in specified areas.

The move is linked to current legislation on equine registered premises and equine passports.

Figures from the Department of Agriculture show that in 2014, Co Kildare recorded the second highest number of seizures under the Control of Horses Act.

Some 465 horses were seized by authorities in the country that year, the majority of which were subsequently euthanised. The draft bylaw states that:

a) No person shall keep or have charge or control of a horse unless:

They have knowledge of the name and address of the owner of the horse;

They own or lease a premises which is registered under the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, or its subsequent manifestations, as a registered horse premises;

The horse, if born after 1st July 2009, is micro chipped within six months of, or in the same calendar year as, birth whichever is the longer period;

The horse has a valid passport, issued in the current owner’s name, by an authorised horse passport issuing agency;

The horse can be identified by its UELN (unique equine life number) and

b) This proposed bylaw shall not apply to authorised officers, members of the Garda Siochana or members of the Defence Forces in the execution of their duties.

There are nine categories of ‘exempted persons’ for the purposes of the bylaws and they include Gardai, pound keepers, veterinary surgeons and anyone accepting, detaining or disposing of a horse under an arrangement with the Council or the Garda Síochana.

Also exempt are landowners in the area who are registered as equine premises with the Department of Agriculture, registered training premises and anyone bringing a horse into the area to compete in an event organised by a recognised equestrian organisation.

A map of the proposed exclusion area is available on www.kildare.ie/countycouncil and includes the built up urban area, as wells as fields on the outskirts of the town.

Following public consultation, written submissions and observations can be made to Senior Executive Officer, Kildare County Council, Environment Section by email to environ@kildarecoco.ie or post to Head Office, Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co Kildare on or before 4pm on Wednesday, April 13th, 2016.