My Lovely Horse Rescue has said that they feel ‘complete disgust’ after a horse on a sulky died at a LUAS stop.

The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon, at Cheeverstown LUAS station’s car park in West Dublin.

The horse, who was only around two years old and named Maria by the rescue organisation, was being driven in a sulky/trap when she lost control and crashed into a parked car.

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My Lovely Horse Rescue has said that they felt ‘complete disgust’ after a horse on a sulky died at a LUAS stop. Pic: Getty Images

Emergency services, Gardaí, members of My Lovely Horse Rescue and a vet attended the scene, where members of My Lovely Horse put a rug over the horse’s head. The driver of the sulky had removed the tack and sulky before fleeing the scene.

Despite the best efforts of the vet and My Lovely Horse, they determined that the best course of action was to sadly euthanise the horse.

In an appeal for information about the incident, My Lovely Horse slammed the person driving the sulky, saying the horse was left behind like rubbish while the sulky/trap was worth more than her life.

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The horse, whom My Lovely Horse Rescue named Maria, was being driven on a sulky. Pic: My Lovely Horse Rescue/Facebook

‘Everyone fought with everything they had to try to save this little girl’s life,’ My Lovely Horse wrote on Facebook. ‘She couldn’t stand. She was desperately struggling, and despite everyone’s efforts, this beautiful baby girl had to be put to sleep; she was dying on the ground.

‘We have named her Maria. She was just a baby. She deserved a life filled with kindness, safety and love. Instead, her life ended in tragedy, and we are left asking why.

‘What makes this even more upsetting is the human who was driving the sulky removed the tack and sulky from her and ran away, COWARD. A man about 35/40 ran in the direction of Tallaght.’

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The incident occurred at the Cheeverstown LUAS stop car park. Pic: My Lovely Horse Rescue/Facebook

My Lovely Horse Rescue said they would treat anyone who came forward with information in confidence, and appealed for change around sulky racing and driving.

‘How many more horses have to suffer before real action is taken? How many more innocent animals must die on our roads before the dangers associated with sulky carts are properly addressed?

‘WE NEED CHANGE. WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY. WE NEED JUSTICE FOR MARIA.

‘She was only a baby. She had her whole life ahead of her. She mattered. Her life mattered. And we will not let her death be forgotten.’