A UNIQUE and multi-faceted celebration of equine-related song, dance, comedy and story-telling will be presented to those lucky enough to get tickets to Ride A Cock Horse at the Mermaid County Wicklow Arts Centre next week.

The show is directed and scripted by William Micklem, the renowned speaker, author, coach, and horse breeder who has spent a lifetime celebrating the empowering role of the horse in human life, particularly as a founding director of the charitable organisation Festina Lente.

Festina Lente helps over 400 students each week using equine therapy to empower their progress.

It also provides a range of equestrian, horticultural, training and employment services.

According to Micklem, the organisation has outgrown its current Bray premises and despite securing an ideal greenfield site and in-principle planning to build on it, much help is needed with funding the build - and that is where the show comes in.

“Horses touch a much wider proportion of us than people are even aware, they are present in every aspect of life, whether in language, art, song, sport - their influence crosses generations and changes lives,” he said.

“My own father’s post-war PTSD was assisted greatly by his involvement with horses and that is the same background as we have at Festina Lente - we see the mental change of people who engage in equine therapy as far greater than the physical.

“This event is a celebration of those positive interactions and we use song, dance, poetry and story-telling to bring the audience on a journey that will make them laugh, and perhaps cry, and all thanks to the horse.”

Some of the songs attendees can expect to hear from a variety of talented singers include Jimmy McCarthy’s A Hard Man to Follow and Ride On as well as America’s A Horse With No Name, and the classic hits Rhinestone Cowboy and Don’t Fence Me In.

Jimmy, as Micklem pointed out, has equine connections of his own having started his career as a stable boy to Vincent O’Brien.

VIP interviews with Ted Walsh and Rachael Blackmore will also be a huge drawcard.

“You don’t need to be an expert by any means to enjoy the show,” said Micklem.

The event is being staged on September 15th and 16th from 8pm and tickets (€20) can be purchased via www.mermaidartscentre.ie