Raise the roof on Happy Trails

Hello, my name is Olive Barrett, Proprietor and QQI Therapeutic Riding Coach and Equine Assisted Facilitator at Happy Trails Therapeutic Riding School. In 2018 Happy Trails began with myself, my family, my sister in law and my faithful horses. I have worked with children for over thirty years and enjoyed every minute of it.  My passion to work with horses started for me at an incredibly young age and I have been lucky enough to continue working and riding horses ever since.  I have trained in Children’s Horsemanship, First Aid, Mental Health, and I am Happy Trails Schools Child Protection Officer.

 

Happy Trails have welcomed many children, teenagers, and adults over the years, that have come to experience our therapeutic riding sessions and many of them are still with us.   Our moto here at Happy Trails is that we cater for all abilities, disabilities and ensure no barrier prevents anyone from using our services.  With my training in horsemanship and therapeutic coaching my intention is to provide a specialised service specifically for children and adults with disabilities that find it hard to find a hobby or interest to suit their needs.   What we see when we first meet and greet our clients is their ability not their disability labels.  We encourage their ability to become independent, make new friends, find their riding equipment, meet their faithful equine friend, and experience therapeutic riding and take part in many activities during their session. The trust and bond that occurs between our clients and horse is utterly amazing. 

One quote from one of our mothers Sinead, who is with us for years now.

“Happy Trails was the missing piece of my son’s jigsaw, Tiernan would run the opposite way when he saw a horse or an animal really.  Tiernan found his inner self, he found his voice, his confidence, his awareness of people and animals and most importantly a hobby he absolutely loves.   Tiernan’s connection with people and animals grew through the loving relationship he made with his best equine friends Earl, Ashley, and Jackson. I have witnessed first-hand the amazing work that happens at Happy Trails, both coaches and horses are fantastic, and I cannot recommend them enough, come and experience the magic for yourselves”

Now I want to introduce you to our amazing horses, Earl, Ashley, Ted, Jackson, Winny and Oreo, whom were all adopted from sanctuaries all around Ireland.  We work extremely hard on their specialised training, so they would be suitable therapeutic riding horses.  Our little farm has grown, we have adopted three dogs, five cats, two adorable pigs, six hens, four ducks and one fluffy rabbit.   Of course, we did not stop there, we have adopted more horses that are used for grooming and are only too delighted to be walked and make new friends with our clients that do not want to ride. 

Now down to business, I am raising money to build a sensory indoor arena.  Due to our very unpredictable horrible weather, we have had to cancel many of our sessions in the past.   By raising funds to build this sensory indoor arena we will never have to cancel sessions again due to storms or heavy rain.   Cancelling sessions has an extremely negative effect on our children and adults who look forward each week coming to see us and their horses.   The building will be steel framed with corrugated sheeting and perspex roof sheeting to allow natural light in.   The size of the building will be 60 x 40, on a concrete surface which will make a nice sound while the horses walk into the different sensory surface boxes.  Inside the building is where the magic will happen, natural lighting from the roof, we will have bright colours with natural sensory equipment.   We would love to have the sensory indoor arena built and completed by October 2020 and ensure we can continue our much-needed therapeutic horse-riding sessions all year round.

Happy Trails Therapeutic Riding School is growing, we have been so lucky to have the love and support from our clients, their parents and families, our family, and friends.   Before Covid-19 which hit us hard, we had a cake sale and received donations amounting to €1,286.45 which is a great start to our fundraising campaign.  Help us to grow our dream to guarantee our services for our amazing clients who finally have found a hobby with no rules, no disabilities, no labels,  no barriers, just a welcoming smile and a magical experience. Please donate to our cause all amounts are very much appreciated. Please help us raise the roof at Happy Trails.  Thank you most sincerely  Olive Barrett.