Control of Horses (Wales) Act 2014

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Control of Horses (Wales) Act 2014
Act of the National Assembly for Wales
Royal Badge of Wales (2008).svg
National Assembly for Wales
Long title An Act of the National Assembly for Wales to make provision for and in connection with the taking of action in relation to horses which are in public places without lawful authority or which are on other land without consent.
Citation 2014 anaw 3
Introduced by Alun Davies AM, Minister for Natural Resources and Food
Dates
Royal assent 27 January 2014
Status: Current legislation
History of passage through the Assembly
Text of the Control of Horses (Wales) Act 2014 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Control of Horses (Wales) Act 2014 is an act of the National Assembly for Wales which prohibits "fly grazing".

Contents

Background

In 2012, Alun Davies, the Deputy Minister for Agriculture said that most of the horses found fly grazing were of the gypsy cob type. [1]

Provisions

The act allows local authorities the powers to seize, impound and dispose of horses. [2]

Implementation

In the first year after the act was passed, roughly half of councils in Wales made use of it. [3] Approximately half of the incidents in the first year of operation were in the area of Swansea Council. [4] In the area of South Wales Police, there was an 83% reduction in incidents between 2012 and 2016. [2]

Criticism

The act was criticised by Travellers Times for possibly targeting gypsy cobs. [5]

Further developments

The Control of Horses Act 2015 made similar provision for England. [6]

References

  1. ↑ "'Fly grazing' review by government after equine summit". BBC News . 7 November 2012. Archived from the original on 27 August 2025. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 Forgrave, Andrew (2 February 2018) [2018-02-01]. "Fly-grazing and horse dumping plummets as Welsh councils adopt a 'zero tolerance' approach". North Wales Live . Archived from the original on 27 August 2025. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  3. ↑ "Fly-grazing law only used by half of Welsh councils". BBC News . 31 January 2015. Archived from the original on 27 August 2025. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "Swansea council spends £75k seizing 225 horses left on its land". BBC News . 12 June 2015. Archived from the original on 27 August 2025. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  5. ↑ "Horse breeders sing praises of Gypsy cob as Wales brings in new law to tackle strays". Travellers Times. 4 November 2014. Archived from the original on 27 August 2025. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  6. ↑ Mathieson, Amy (10 December 2015). "Fly-grazing act is working, says welfare charity". Horse & Hound . Archived from the original on 27 August 2025. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
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