Ireland: tens of thousands of abandoned and starving horses

Tens of thousands of horses abandoned in rural areas of Ireland, while the country falls apart economically.According to a report in the Daily Mail, the competent authorities were forced to kill some of the sick animals as their condition was irreversible.Since the cost of feeding and caring for horses in the stables are too high, most rural families are no longer able to keep their beautiful animals.While many Irish already have difficulty meeting basic needs, the Prime Minister announced new austerity measures will worsen the situation for middle and low incomes.Tens of thousands of people invested in horses and ponies over the years that Ireland flourished economically, but now their owners are unable to look after them so leave them.The unfortunate animals roam looking for food, but exhausted by the hardships, disease and starvation.The number of abandoned horses has not been announced officially, however, estimated to exceed the 20,000. Most of them are in rural areas just outside Dublin.