IRHB investigating video of a man sitting on a dead horse
over 4 years in The Irish Times
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has confirmed it is investigating “further social media content” after a video, which shows an individual appearing to sit on a dead horse, was posted on Monday night.
The footage follows just two days after trainer Gordon Elliott confirmed an image of him taking a phone call while sitting on a dead horse was genuine.
The trainer is “fully cooperating” with an IHRB investigation into the incident after the photograph on his gallops appeared on Twitter on Saturday night.
On Tuesday morning, the IHRB posted on its own Twitter account that a further investigation is under way. The statement read: “The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board are aware of further social media content circulating and the matter is under investigation.”
Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers has said that he was “absolutely shocked, appalled and horrified” by the photo and would not be comfortable seeing the trainer taking part in the Cheltenham racing festival later this month.
Chambers told Newstalk Breakfast that “any and every sanction” should be on the table for the trainer.
“I think he needs to be held fully accountable. I think anyone who saw it was shocked by it and we need to uphold the highest animal welfare standards in Ireland.
“Any and every sanction should be on the table. It is important. We have a significant amount of equestrian activity in Ireland and we need to set a really high bar when it comes to welfare standards.”