Activity: Therapeutic Riding Coach

What we offer

Hairy Henry Therapeutic Riding is based on a secluded small farm in the rural setting of West Cork near Bantry town, just within one hour's drive from Cork and Killarney.
In our educational and therapeutic work, we focus on two areas in particular: Therapeutic Riding & Care Farming.

Therapeutic Riding is an activity which uses the horse as a partner in the therapeutic process. The focus lies on gaining benefits from the unique neuromuscular stimulation whilst riding and handling the horse, and from building a relationship with the horse as part of the therapeutic team.

Therapeutic Riding promotes strength, balance, good posture, confidence, coordination and flexibility. It offers physical, psychological and educational benefits to children and adults of a wide range of abilities and conditions.
Learning how to ride is not the main focus of our Therapeutic Riding sessions but participants may gain basic riding skills whilst participating, opening further opportunities to individuals to continue riding as a sport.

Care Farming is the therapeutic use of farming activities, including horse care and stable management. The purpose of care farming is to promote mental and physical health and emotional well-being by giving people the opportunity to spend time with and work with our farm animals such as horses, sheep, donkeys, pet rabbits, dogs, hens, ducks and geese and by exploring and experiencing the natural environment on the farm.

We offer individual as well as group sessions, and also cater for family groups. In addition, we run courses in Horse Care and Farming Skills for persons with additional needs.
We also offer tailor-made one-day Trail Rides to individuals who want to explore our beautiful West Cork area on horseback.
Our session takes place in our all-weather outdoor arenas as well as a 1.5km bridleway around our 12 acres of land.

Kilkieran Equestrian Farm is a small family run riding school just 5 miles outside Kilkenny City.
We provide mainstream Horse Riding Lessons in small groups for children from the age of 4 in our 25 x 40 outdoor sand arena.
We organise camps packed with funfilled activities in every school holiday.

We specialise in Therapeutic Horse riding, riding for people with special abilities on a one to one basis from as young as 2 years of age.
The benefits of riding on a bareback pad with a roler are fascinating!  We have a sensory woodland trail and farm tracks where you can enjoy the stunning views of Kilkenny.

You are welcome to have a look and enjoy the tranquility of our lovely farm. 

Derryham Stables is a Riding School based in the heart of Killinkere in County Cavan, based on 40 acres of farmland. The stables provides many services such as riding lessons, therapeutic coaching sessions, livery, pony camps and pony parties. The aim of the stables is to provide horseriding for people of all abilities in a relaxed, fun setting. Lessons are taught by fully qualified BHSAI instructors who hold current first aid, garda vetting & child protection certificates. Therapeutic coaching sessions are also taught by a qualified therapeutic riding coach.
Facilities include;
• 19 stables in an american barn
• Secure tack room
• Olympic size outdoor sand arena 60 x 80 metre
• 20 x 60 metre outdoor sand arena
• Four large outdoor surfaced winter paddocks, which provide a natural herd environment for our horses with 24/7 turnout 365 days of the year
• 450 metre purpose built sand surfaced therapeutic sensory trail
• Miles of beautiful hacking on quiet countryside roads.

Rag Tree Equine Assisted Learning Centre provides a range of services which involve horses.  We offer Therapeutic Horse Riding, Equine Assisted Learning, Recreational Horse Riding and Fetac accredited programmes.  We are based in Kilmuckridge (30 mins from Wexford, Gorey and Enniscorthy). 

We believe our setting is key to the success of our programmes. Our centre is dedicated to therapeutic interactions with horses and this means that the participants experience is central to everything.  Up to this point we have worked with a variety of groups and age profiles including at risk youths and young people deemed to have fewer opportunities (socio economic disadvantage, family breakdown, risk of early school leaving etc) ASD and people with a variety of additional needs.

Childvision is an AIRE approved centre providing specialist Equine Assisted Occupational Therapy.

This unique service includes a full time occupational therapist working with a team of riding instructors to provide highly tailored therapeutic sessions to children and adults.
All our therapy clients are assessed by the OT and individual goals are set for each client.

We also see a small number of mainstream clients for lessons with our BSHII, and BSHAI Instructors.
We run a 48 week AIRE/ETB traineeship which offers training of the BHSAI schedule, as well as training in equine therapy.

Facilities include a specially designed sensory trail, extra wide mounting blocks, outdoor arena, café and pet farm on site.

Festina Lente Equestrian Centre offers equine centred activities to people of all ages, backgrounds, learning abilities and interests. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced rider Festina Lente Equestrian Centre has something for everybody! We are located just off Junction 5 of the N11 (Bray/Shankill exit) and are approximately a 25 minutes drive from Dublin.

Festina Lente Equestrian Centre provides an inclusive environment which fosters each person’s learning and well-being in a supportive, nurturing and fun manner. From as young as two years of age, children, teenagers and adults can enjoy learning experiences through a variety of our Equestrian Centre lessons, camps & clinics.

Our Equestrian Centre has developed a strong reputation for excellence in high level coaching and a place to have fun as well as inclusion of children and persons with special needs through therapeutic riding and learning programmes and provides an integrated working and learning environment to hundreds of people every year!

Our excellent facilities include a very large all-weather floodlit indoor arena, a large outdoor arena, outdoor paddocks and sensory trails. Excellent Horse Welfare also plays a key role in Festina Lente Equestrian Centre.

In addition to the more traditional equestrian activities we also provide a variety of other programmes to facilitate, educate and encourage children and adults with special needs.

We also offer two different QQI accredited courses, our Therapeutic Riding Coaching Programme and our Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator Training Programme, to anyone interested in upskilling their equestrian knowledge and range of activities they currently offer their clients.

More details on our website http://festinalente.ie

Standing on 10 acres of land in the heart of Meath and with access to a further 150 acres, Kells Equestrian Centre accommodates competitive and pleasure riding with indoor and outdoor facilities.

We are at the centre of hunting territory, close to five first rate packs and their associated Pony Clubs.  For a more leisurely ride there are hacks along quiet country roads in this heritage-rich area.

Kells Equestrian Centre is owned and operated by Rita and Marita Dunne, both having an extensive equestrian knowledge and background.

All-weather arena, indoor arena, qualified instructors.  Riding Instruction by BHSAI, Livery, Special Olympics, RDA.

Indoor Arena :   Size 160 X 82 feet with a wood chip surface.

Outdoor Arena:   Size 135 X 180 feet with a silica sand surface.  Both arenas have lighting, full set of show jumping fences and PA system.