How horses at a care farm in West Cork help children with additional support needs

At a small care farm in Bantry, children with additional support needs learn about communication through therapeutic riding, which also helps to relieve stress and build social connection 

Sandra Schmid of Hairy Henry with six-year-old Ava Green, who has been diagnosed as autistic, having fun with Daisy at the Hairy Henry Therapeutic Riding and Care Farm, Ballylickey, Bantry, West Cork. Pictures: Dan Linehan

Orla Green’s six-year-old daughter, Ava, couldn’t wait to sit up on the white pony, Daisy. But no sooner was she up than she wanted down again.

“The sensation of being up there was so different. It was so high, and the horse was moving under her. She was only sitting there for five minutes,” says the Glengarriff-based mother of two, who also has two-year-old Ellen.