Waterford City and County Council has called for a ban on horse and sulky racing on public roads.
The local authority is to write to the Minister for Transport to lobby for the change.
If successful, racing would only be allowed if it is licensed, regulated and covered by insurance.
It would also apply to horse-drawn carts and sulkies.
Sinn Féin councillor John Hearne says the change is needed:
"It boils down to three very simple issues; child safety, road safety and animal cruelty. No sport would allow a child to take part without any protection; we don't hurl without helmets, we don't box without gum shields. We should never allow a child to career down a busy road without no protection being pulled by a half tonne animal, which he has no hope of controlling if the animal is frightened. There's also no place on the road for horses with the huge increase in traffic volume. Horses are nervous animals and when frightened by traffic often bolt and can cause massive damage to themselves and other vehicles."
