ABOUT THE FARM HOLDING
Set within the Slieve Felim region The Horse Farm has been in the Ryan family for over 200 years. There is a beautiful river meadow walk which leads down to a stream which is surrounded by fauna and flora.
Liz and her sister Sue run the stable yard and sand arena in the former equestrian centre where they look after many retired riding school ponies. Sue is BHS Qualified and has as many years experience in the horse industry, many of which were working within the Thoroughbred Horse Racing Industry. She has recently completed an Equine Assisted Learning Course.
The farm also has a Simmental suckler herd with a Simmental Bull. The cows calve in October and November, and we sell most of the calves as weanlings.
A SOCIAL FARMING DAY
- Animal care: grooming and exercising ponies, cleaning out stables, feed and water buckets, raking sand arena. Love & Attention!
- General maintenance: checking fencing in grazing fields, trimming and maintaining hedges.
- Autumn collection of apples from orchard for farm shop and making preserves from fresh grown fruit.
- Learning a new skill in the Craft Barn such as wood craft.
- Each participant has their own pony grooming kit bag, which they can keep at the end of the placement.
LOAL & COMMUNITY INTERESTS
Liz and Sue have always enjoyed working within the community have been involved in running the local toddler group in the village hall, organising “Bark in the Park” for Mental Health Ireland and summer camps for local community groups at the family equestrian centre.
SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THE FARM
The farm has three ancient ring forts, and we hope to further research the significance of their alignment to the fort of Brian Boru in Killaloe.
The village was the location for ‘Killinaskully’ where the family and locals had great fun as extras.