Horse tethering

That this House notes the cruel treatment of horses, ponies and donkeys left tethered by roadsides or in dangerous locations around towns often without food or water; recognises the severity of this issue in the Harlow constituency; understands the distress that the practice causes to the animals; notes the need to protect these gentle sensitive creatures; acknowledges that local authorities have chosen not to intervene to rescue tethered horses on the basis that the Animal Welfare Act 2006 does not provide strong enough grounds to do so; further acknowledges that this inaction is in spite of clear infringements of the five freedoms set out in the 2006 Act, including the need for a suitable environment and to exhibit normal behaviour patterns; and therefore calls on the Government to reform the 2006 Act to impose stronger measures that require local authorities to intervene and rescue tethered horses in order to prevent their long-term suffering.