Our Team
Therapeutic Riding Coach - Sandra Schmid
Sandra enjoys working with people, and her great passion are horses, animals in general, and nature. At Hairy Henry's she is bringing one of her dreams to life - to create a safe therapeutic space where people can engage with animals and nature, learn from them, grow with them.
Sandra learned horseback riding when she was 9 years old, and has been around horses ever since. She has owned horses for the last 18 years. She holds certificates in horse handling skills and horse riding and is a passionate long-distance rider. She also uses her horses for ploughing and carriage driving and runs courses in working with horses in farming and forestry.
Sandra qualified as a Therapeutic Riding Coach with Festina Lente/Co. Wicklow (www.festinalente.ie). She has been working in this area for 8 years.
Sandra is a certified independent 2 Star Horse Boy Practitioner, according to Rupert Isaacson's 'Horse Boy Method' (www.horseboyworld.com).
Sandra is trained up to BHS (British Horse Society) Stage 2 as Ride Leader and also hold BHS Stage 2 Award in Horse Care, Ride and Lunge.
Sandra also holds FETAC qualifications in Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning. She was trained in this area by Dr. Allan and Jane Hamilton of Rancho Bosque Equine Assisted Therapy. She has been working in this area for the last 8 years.
Sandra also holds a Degree in Social Work and Pedagogy and is a professionally qualified social work practitioner with 15 years experience in various fields of social work, social care and community work. She also holds a Postrgradutate Diploma in Advanced Fieldwork Practice and Supervision (Social Work), and works as part-time tutor for the School of Applied Social Studies in University College Cork.
Sandra is registered as a social worker with CORU (Registration Number SW 000337), and she is also registered with the Teaching Council as a Home Tutor and works part-time with children on the Autism Spectrum.
Sandra is fully trained as an occupational first aider, she has completed Safeguarding 1&2, and she is Garda vetted.
Sandra's premises are registered with AIRE (Association of Irish Riding Establishments) as an Equine Enterprise, and with Tusla Child and Family Agency as a School-Age Service.
Sandra also ocassionally teaches as a heritage specialist in Primary Schools under the 'Heritage in Schools' scheme run by INTO and the Heritage Council Ireland (www.heritageinschools.ie).
Sandra learned horseback riding when she was 9 years old, and has been around horses ever since. She has owned horses for the last 18 years. She holds certificates in horse handling skills and horse riding and is a passionate long-distance rider. She also uses her horses for ploughing and carriage driving and runs courses in working with horses in farming and forestry.
Sandra qualified as a Therapeutic Riding Coach with Festina Lente/Co. Wicklow (www.festinalente.ie). She has been working in this area for 8 years.
Sandra is a certified independent 2 Star Horse Boy Practitioner, according to Rupert Isaacson's 'Horse Boy Method' (www.horseboyworld.com).
Sandra is trained up to BHS (British Horse Society) Stage 2 as Ride Leader and also hold BHS Stage 2 Award in Horse Care, Ride and Lunge.
Sandra also holds FETAC qualifications in Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning. She was trained in this area by Dr. Allan and Jane Hamilton of Rancho Bosque Equine Assisted Therapy. She has been working in this area for the last 8 years.
Sandra also holds a Degree in Social Work and Pedagogy and is a professionally qualified social work practitioner with 15 years experience in various fields of social work, social care and community work. She also holds a Postrgradutate Diploma in Advanced Fieldwork Practice and Supervision (Social Work), and works as part-time tutor for the School of Applied Social Studies in University College Cork.
Sandra is registered as a social worker with CORU (Registration Number SW 000337), and she is also registered with the Teaching Council as a Home Tutor and works part-time with children on the Autism Spectrum.
Sandra is fully trained as an occupational first aider, she has completed Safeguarding 1&2, and she is Garda vetted.
Sandra's premises are registered with AIRE (Association of Irish Riding Establishments) as an Equine Enterprise, and with Tusla Child and Family Agency as a School-Age Service.
Sandra also ocassionally teaches as a heritage specialist in Primary Schools under the 'Heritage in Schools' scheme run by INTO and the Heritage Council Ireland (www.heritageinschools.ie).
Our horses
(Hairy) HENRY
Henry is a 17 year old Irish Cob gelding. He came to live with us when he was only just over a year old.
Henry likes to do things slow and steady. He is friendly and patient, especially with children.
He has been trained for Therapeutic Riding, but he also can do other things like ploughing and pulling the cart.
Henry offers a hairy warm hug to anyone who wants it!
Henry likes to do things slow and steady. He is friendly and patient, especially with children.
He has been trained for Therapeutic Riding, but he also can do other things like ploughing and pulling the cart.
Henry offers a hairy warm hug to anyone who wants it!
WINNIE
Winnie is an 16 year old Irish Cob mare. She was born here.
Winnie is very sociable and generous and enjoys the company of people.
Like Henry, she is trained as a Therapeutic Riding horse, but also works in the field with Henry, and she also pulls the cart.
Winnie had four foals so far. One of her daughters, Flora, still lives with us.
Winnie also is soft and hairy and a wonderful horse to hug!
Winnie is very sociable and generous and enjoys the company of people.
Like Henry, she is trained as a Therapeutic Riding horse, but also works in the field with Henry, and she also pulls the cart.
Winnie had four foals so far. One of her daughters, Flora, still lives with us.
Winnie also is soft and hairy and a wonderful horse to hug!
FLORA
Flora is a 10 year old Irish Cob mare. She is Winnie's and Henry's daughter and was born here.
Flora is the most multi-skilled of our horses. She is brilliant at her job as therapy horse, but she also goes out to show jumping and cross country events as well as orienteering and versatility competitions with Trec Ireland. And of course, she helps Henry and Winnie with any field jobs there are on the farm.
Flora is the most multi-skilled of our horses. She is brilliant at her job as therapy horse, but she also goes out to show jumping and cross country events as well as orienteering and versatility competitions with Trec Ireland. And of course, she helps Henry and Winnie with any field jobs there are on the farm.
Flora is a great and generous hugger and never says no to a cuddle!
DAISY
Daisy came to live with us a few years ago. She is in her early Twenties but still young at heart. She is an experienced and extremely sociable pony with a cheerful and friendly attitude.
She loves to be hairstyled, and by rolling in the mud, she makes sure that she always gets a lot of attention through brushing and cleaning her again.
She also is a wonderful show pony who sometimes takes young riders to our local show classes.
She loves to be hairstyled, and by rolling in the mud, she makes sure that she always gets a lot of attention through brushing and cleaning her again.
She also is a wonderful show pony who sometimes takes young riders to our local show classes.
Our miniature donkeys
NELL and EE-ORE
Nell and Ee-ore are mother and daughter donkeys who have come to live here about 4 years ago. Nell is the wise and calm carer, whereas Ee-ore is the cuddly boisterous cheeky young one. They love to have their noses rubbed and alway welcome a treat (or two...).
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Nell also comes with us to outreach visits to hospitals, care homes and schools. She is an expert at navigating around narrow hospital corridors, cramped classrooms and small bedrooms, and has the perfect miniature height to meet people in wheelchairs and beds. She has abundant patience and serenity, and likes meeting new people and places.
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GORDON
Gordon is our young donkey stallion who's come to live here two years ago all the way from Wales.
He is wonderfully fluffy and gentle and loves hugs.
He is wonderfully fluffy and gentle and loves hugs.
Our sheep HARRIET, TILDA and SEAN
Harriet and Marta are gentle and friendly and love it when people come to visit them in the field.
They usually have lambs in spring who stay on the farm until autumn.
Frascati is the ram of the herd, so for most of the year, he hangs out with Sean, his son, doing boy stuff.
All are friendly and like meeting people, especially if we bring a cabbage leaf or carrot with us!
They usually have lambs in spring who stay on the farm until autumn.
Frascati is the ram of the herd, so for most of the year, he hangs out with Sean, his son, doing boy stuff.
All are friendly and like meeting people, especially if we bring a cabbage leaf or carrot with us!
Sean sometimes goes on Outreach Visits, either on his own, or with his aunt Marta - to Family Days, Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Schools.
Our dogs ANNIE, TRUDI and TURNIP
Annie and Trudi are best friends and are our welcome crew in the yard. They are first up to any car arriving - with their tails wagging excitedly, because they love meeting people.
Annie is gentle and quiet and after a first hello she usually blends into the background, observing everything carefully. Trudi likes to get involved, she is curious and loves showing off her tricks.
Annie is gentle and quiet and after a first hello she usually blends into the background, observing everything carefully. Trudi likes to get involved, she is curious and loves showing off her tricks.
Trudi is also trained as a visiting therapy dog. She is three years old now and goes out socialising regularly in preparations for her therapy visits to hospitals, schools and care centres.
Turnip joined us 2 years ago as a puppy. Like Trudi, he is an Airedale Terrier. He loves people and is a confident friendly addition to the yard.
Our rabbits OREO and ALEX
Oreo and Alex are father and son.
They are all extremely soft and fluffy and love to be fed treats. They can be met in our spacious indoor rabbit run.
They are all extremely soft and fluffy and love to be fed treats. They can be met in our spacious indoor rabbit run.
Alex also comes along on any outreach visits we do to hospitals, nursing homes, schools and care centres. He has a special rabbit harness for this so that he can explore and meet new people safely.
Our guinea pigs KIWI, CARROT, BLACKBERRY, FROSTY and VIOLET
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Kiwi and Violet are a couple, and every now and then, they have some more baby guinea pigs!
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Our hens and geese and ducks live on the lawn in front of the house. The geese in particular can be noisy but mean well, they always like visits from people, especially when this involves a treat.
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Volunteer helpers
In some sessions, if necessary, helpers will join us, to assist with mounting and leading and to walk along the side of the horse, to ensure the rider's comfort and safety.
Our helpers are all fully trained and Garda vetted.
We always like to hear from people who are interested to join our volunteer team - please get in touch for more information!
Our helpers are all fully trained and Garda vetted.
We always like to hear from people who are interested to join our volunteer team - please get in touch for more information!
In memory - Bob
Our dear Old English Sheepdog Bob died at the end of 2018. He was with us for many many years and one of the founder members of the Hairy Henry team, with his bubbly, energetic positive nature. He is greatly missed, but we feel very lucky to have had him on our team for so long!
Text and Images: Copyright Sandra Schmid 2016
