THE Smithfield Horse Fair Protest Committee is planning another protest at the Dublin site after hundreds of horse owners gathered there last week to protest restrictions and bylaws impacting the decades-old horse fair.

The protest was a family affair with grandparents, parents and children turning up to protest with their horses, ponies, carts and even musical instruments.

Garda and Revenue checkpoints were set up and animal welfare representatives were in attendance.

The protest was against bylaws, which limit the event to two days per year and a requirement for traders to supply PPS numbers.

They also state that a horse cannot trot, canter or gallop at the fair and must be under the control of someone over 16. The bylaws also require sellers to have a casual trading licence costing €10.

A man and his impressive steed take a stand at the Smithfield Horse Fair last week \ Patrick Tyrell Photography

The laws were introduced in 2013 after Dublin City Council attempted to shut the fair after investing in the redevelopment of Smithfield Plaza.

The twice-yearly fairs have gone ahead since then, although some unscheduled fairs have also been held. Protest organiser Rachid Beldi, in a post on Facebook after the event last week, thanked all who attended and said: “Due to it being such a success, the Smithfield Horse Fair Protest Committee have decided to have another protest on April 7th. I hope everyone can make it and it’s bigger than the last one. Keep everybody coming and show council and anybody that needs to know that Dublin horse owners, as well as all horse owners, are going nowhere. We are there to support our heritage and our history of the Smithfield Horse Fair, so I hope to see everybody on April 7th.”