EMBARKING on a three-year search for a suitable new home is Festina Lente, the hugely successful equestrian training organisation, currently based in Bray, Co Wicklow.

It is the biggest of its type in Ireland, helping over 450 people each week and employing over 60 staff with an additional 60 volunteer helpers. Festina Lente, which means ‘Hasten Slowly’, has built up an international reputation and last year hosted the influential HETI conference (Horses in Education and Theraphy International) with 400 delegates from 44 countries, and is at the forefront of research for use of equine facilitated learning.

Chairman of Festina Lente, John Green, explained: “The results and growth of our charity speak for themselves. Over the last 30 years, we have become an essential part of the equestrian fabric of Ireland. Not only do we give new options for those with mental and physical challenges but we have also become a centre of excellence for training for those who go on to work in this sector. However, we need to find a new home. We have a three-year mountain to climb to find a new location and then fund raise so that there will be no disruption of services.”

Wicklow TD and Junior Minister at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Andrew Doyle, visited Festina Lente, and said, “Festina Lente does excellent work supporting the more vulnerable in our society, through their supported helper and educational programmes.

“I will continue to assist them where I can in finding a suitable alternative site which will best showcase and develop the services they offer.”

Also at Festina Lente to lend support was WEG silver medallist Meath international event rider Sarah Ennis who said, “I can only do what I do as part of a team. Festina Lente plays a hugely important role in Team Ireland because we are all interconnected. Festina Lente’s success is part of the profile of Ireland as the Land of the Horse and thus we all benefit. Seeing some of their students today humbles me. What they achieve individually is without doubt the equal of my silver medal – they are stars and Festina Lente is playing a starring role in giving them this opportunity.”