COUNTY Wicklow therapeutic riding centre Equisteps is on the hunt for a new home for its horses and clients from this October.

Housed on the old Spruce Lodge estate (now Ballyrogan Stud) since its inception 10 years ago, Equisteps was recently given formal notice to vacate.

The estate recently changed hands and, according to manager Karen Samuel, the insurance aspect of high level competition horses sharing a space with a therapeutic riding operation was no longer feasible.

Equisteps serves around 60 clients weekly, including those with physical disabilities as well as mental and emotional challenges. It also offers mainstream riding lessons and has a separate vaulting arm.

Its five horses live out and are brought in for work in the on-site facilities including riding trails and arenas.

Owner and operator Essie Mooney said her journey at Spruce began 15 years ago, when she and the late Joan Keogh set up the vaulting club. Five years later, Equisteps was born and the operation has gone from strength to strength.

“We’re a therapeutic riding centre primarily, working with children and adults with lots of varying needs and challenges; some emotional, some intellectual disabilities, some physical disabilities or even just people that don’t want to go to a mainstream riding school.

“We provide a vast range of equine activities for them, whether it’s grooming, ground work, therapeutic rides or riding lessons.

“We also have about eight schools on board per academic year who have ASD units who would come out to us as well.

“It’s a really sort of safe place, a very inclusive space for people, and is hugely beneficial to their education and their wellbeing.

“It’s been a bit of a bolt from the blue, but I’m determined to keep it going and I’m determined to stay within the locality.

“Finding a new home, unfortunately, will be quite difficult because traditionally-built yards would set a lot of challenges for the majority of my clients. Obviously, for the clients that have physical disabilities, yards that are on a slope or have cobbles or aren’t surfaced wouldn’t work and narrow or dark stables are not ideal. Yards that are close to roads or are not enclosed are also out as some clients might lack awareness around safety.”

Mooney continued: “We are in a position to pay rent, we are a small business rather than a charity at present, but we are not in a position to purchase a property and there isn’t enough money in the funds at the moment to be able to put a lot of work into adapting a space.

“So, what we are searching for is a flat yard removed from the side of a road closed off and with an enclosed, lit arena. An indoor would be phenomenal, and then space to ride on the property too. I’d say 80% of the lessons are actually done on a lead rope where people are mounted, so space to be able to set up trails and nature-based activities would be brilliant too.”

Anyone who knows of a property suitable for Equisteps can contact Essie directly on 086 2256138 and those interested in finding out more about Equisteps can visit equisteps.ie

Mooney still plans to celebrate the centre’s upcoming 10th anniversary on September 20th.