Ireland now has a National Equine Health and Welfare Council, to promote and improve horse welfare in the country.
Welfare groups decided to join forces after a meeting hosted by the Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT) and UK equine charity Redwings on 4 November.
A website will be launched shortly and a further meeting held in the new year.
Anyone wishing to be part of the group, or to learn more, should contact info@ihwt.ie.
This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (8 December 2011)