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The Irish Special Olympics homepage is here. http://www.specialolympics.ie/HOME.aspx

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.

There was a large entry for the show and three of our regular riders Ainne Downes, Emma Tuohy and Michelle Murnane took part in the competition.  They all looked great dressed up in their show gear and Ainne had her new horse Poker shining.

The Foley girls Alice and Lydia were competing and did very well for themselves with Lydia taking a first.   Other riders were Alice Alexander on Mercury, Sarah McSweeney on Gemini and Clodagh Stapleton on Sienna.

Bethany Quinn was out on her pony Zorro, she won the preliminary championship and came 1^st in both of her tests – so well done to Beth and her team (mum Jan who acts as groom and dad John who is the driver).  Beth keeps Zorro on livery at Clonshire.

Bruce Basheers’ horse TK (also on livery with us) was competing.  Bruce kindly loaned TK to Neringa for the day.  They looked amazing and both of their tests were excellent.

All in all it was a good day for Clonshire with plenty of ribbons and lots of happy faces.

Of course no summer at Clonshire would be the same without Suzie and Bill Adams – they come to visit us every year and this year Suzie was trying out her new hip!  It stood up well to both her schooling sessions and her cross country work on Bruno.  Suzie and Bruno got on very well together, it was a great partnership.  Suzie and Bill also brought the first ipads to Clonshire and we were all very impressed with these sleek machines.  Unfortunately they had to cut their stay with us a bit shorter than usual this year as they were going to the World Equestrian Games to work as stewards this year also.  Nice for some

Another great friend Jennifer Pingeon came not once but twice to ride with us this year to improve here riding – Jennifer loves Augustus and Franklin and spoils them terribly.

Andrew Wiesner

Andrew Wiesner came to visit us early on in the year and was the best house guest one could wish for because when the big freeze damaged the plumbing he just laughed saying it was nothing – he was used to things like that where he was from.  He came out and played with the Foley girls in the snow and was just like a member of the family here.  Andrew went hunting while with us and had a great time – another great thing about Andrew is that he keeps in touch with us during the year sending us photos of his home, family and of course, horses.

L to R  Julia, Liam, Rebecca, Charlene and Elise

L to R  Katie, Luis and Ellen who were with us on camp

Charlene and Beans

There will be further dates will be available in 2011.

Clonshire Equestrian Centre will be holding BHS Stage 1 and 2 examinations in December and will be holding the following courses in preparation for these examinations.  The BHS have allocated a number of places to students who are attending these courses.

Stage 1.

8 week course with three hours one evening each week and two full days €500.00

Wednesdays from 6pm to 9pm (Starting on 15/09/10)

Stage 2.

10 week evening course for three hours one evening each week €500.00

Fridays from 6pm to 9pm (Starting on 17/09/10)

Stage 1 & 2.

1. Full time non residential course Monday to Friday
2. Full time fived day week residential course Monday to Friday
3. Full time seven day week residential course
4. Private lessons available for any aspect of the syllabus
5. Day and week long refresher courses available

Each program is discussed and individually planned, each rider is assessed and a plan mapped out to work towards realistic goals.

Disabled facilities will be available shortly.

Additional costs:         BHS Gold Membership

BHS Exam Fees

BHS Manuals and workbooks

For further information please contact Tess on (061) 396770 or email info@clonshire.com