Clonshire Equestrian Centre

It’s started!

The building work on the new Therapeutic riding has started!

While the centre already offers special needs riding, we have been limited in what we could offer.

It has long been a dream of Sue’s to expand the existing therapeutic riding program offered at the centre. At present this is very limited and while we have been asked to do more we are restricted due to the lack of facilities.

The major problems we are encountering are the lack of a suitable arena and lifting facilities. The existing arenas are too large and the small arena we are presently using is open to the elements. We are planning to cover this arena and install a hoist to enable the less mobile riders to ride among other things. The pathway and road way around the existing school will be upgraded to enable people with limited mobility and wheelchairs better access and additional stabling will be built to house the horses required for this work.

Currently the Brothers of Charity in Bawnmore, Rehab Care Limerick, Enable Ireland, the Brothers of Charity in Newcastlewest, Red House Hill Project in Patrickswell are riding with us and this summer we are hoping (if we have the hoist in place) to host the Downes Syndrome Summer camp – this was a great success the year before last. There are also a number of parents with autistic children who use the centre.

The other advantage to the riders is that they can also use the roadways in the park to walk in after their ride; they like this as it is a private roadway and are very safe.

West Limerick Resources have agreed to give us a grant towards this expansion and we need to find some additional funds to bridge the gap between the grant funds and the total cost of the development.

In our opinion this is a very worthwhile venture and especially this year as we hosted the national Special Olympics competition here at the centre it would be great to be able to offer the best possible facilities to the competitors on their next visit to us.