The operators of the State's only racehorse rehabilitation programme have blamed insufficient support from the racing industry for a decision to terminate the scheme.
The Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT) said it would be unable to run the programme, under which at least seven former racehorses were due to be retrained this year, on a "disappointing" €10,000 annual grant promised by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), the sport's governing body.
The funding allocation follows eight months of talks between the two organisations amid apparent growing recognition within the industry of the problem of discarded thoroughbreds. Some fall into a downward spiral of abuse and neglect, sometimes resulting in export for slaughter in harsh conditions, according to welfare agencies.
The IHWT, which has operated as a rescue centre for maltreated horses since 1998, has already taken in three horses for the rehabilitation programme. These would have to be re-homed as quickly as possible with "minimum training", Ms Sharon Newsome, secretary of the Wicklow-based charity, said.
A further two former racehorses, due to be referred by trainers in the coming weeks, would not now be accepted.
Another two fillies bred for racing who were found abandoned in the midlands in emaciated and diseased conditions would, however, be kept as the trust planned to continue its rescue work.
"We will accept the €10,000 as a contribution to the rescue of horses and ponies, including thoroughbreds.
"But it is insufficient to cover the cost of the rehabilitation programme as planned," Ms Newsome said.
"We're very sad about this. For the size of the industry it's a very small price to put on the welfare of these horses.
Defending the allocation of €30,000 over three years, HRI chief executive Mr Brian Kavanagh said it "very much supports" the work the trust was doing. "But we are never going to rehabilitate every horse in the country. Ultimately, responsibility for each horse rests with the owner, not Horse Racing Ireland."
The IHWT, which re-homed two former racehorses last year using its own funds, raised through donations, said it had budgeted for €30,000 annually from HRI to cover the costs of a trainer - who would not now be employed - and other basic expenses.
Some of the thoroughbreds have special needs, including Ruby, one of the two rescued fillies, who was found badly emaciated with strangles and ringworm.
HRI, which had a turnover of €49 million in 2001, has a specific remit in supporting the health and welfare of the thoroughbred. This, it says, it performs through the funding of racecourse veterinary services and the Irish Equine Centre, which performs laboratory work.
Its British counterpart, the British Horseracing Board, also funds such services but in addition spent €313,000 on three separate rehabilitation programmes last year, as well as funding promotional campaigns aimed at getting ex-racehorses used for other sports.
