Mr. Bartley Conroy, manager, is leaving CTR to take up a new position of employment. Bartley joined the CTR team as manager in March 2021 and was instrumental in securing the company’s new location at Cleggan. Together with the Head Coach, Bartley oversaw the smooth transfer of all its services and equipment from its former premises at Ardagh to Cleggan Farm in November 2021 and the full resumption of its therapeutic programme. The board, members of staff and volunteers thank Bartley for his support at a critical time and wish him every success in his new career

We have moved!  CTR is delighted to announce that it has moved to a new, secure home at Cleggan Farm.

Following our time at Errislannan Manor, courtesy of the Brooks family, and at Ardagh, courtesy of the Heanue family, we have located a secure home for our therapeutic riding activities at Cleggan Farm, which lies on the northern shore of Cleggan Bay opposite the village. This is a well-developed and active commercial farm with plenty of facilities for us to use, including yard and stables, a small sand arena, dedicated parking, indoor and outdoor wintering for ponies, WC (wheelchair accessible), shed space for use as a common room, land in abundance and plenty more. With sheep lambing in the Springtime (orphans always looking for a bottle), ponies in the fields, and Alpacas occasionally giving inquiring glances there will be plenty of attractions to entertain both young and old. There are lovely walks on the farm (come and see the megalithic tomb) for those wanting to while away the time, and Cleggan village is less than 3km away and offers a small shop and several pubs.

We look forward to welcoming you to Cleggan Farm and hope that you will all enjoy the future with us as we continue to grow our facilities and attractions. Do feel free to come and visit and to get to know the new location.

For further inquiries. or to make a booking, please contact:

Bartley Conroy     mobile    –      087 – 737 7886

Manager                e-mail       –     b.conroy@connemaratherapeuticriding.com

€8.00 in retailers

€10 online includes postage

Connemara Therapeutic Riding is in the process of an exciting new project, to develop a new, specially designed center to provide our much-needed service to the community. The center will include an accessible arena, stables, sensory room, multi-functional room and accessible bathroom.

This of course, is a huge financial undertaking for our voluntary committee. We have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help raise funds for this project.

Our goal of €30,000 will cover the accessible arena and a sensory room, both extremely important in allowing us to provide the services.

Any donation, big or small is greatly appreciated. Your support enables us to provide this essential service to the community.

Please click here to find more information.

Connemara Therapeutic Riding is holding a fundraiser Saturday August 22nd at Supervalu, Clifden.

Our talented Fairy Door creator is now creating these beautiful, handmade cotton Face-masks. As seen modeled by the beautiful Ciara and Belle

The masks come in a variety of designs and themes. Each mask is machine washable and can be re-used. 

Investing in a reusable Face mask is good for the environment and for your pocket!

The masks can be purchased in businesses throughout Connemara

• Connemara Horse and Country
• Kylemore Abbey
• Veldons, Letterfrack
• Inishbofin Ferry Tickets
• Dolphin Hotel Inishbofin

All proceeds go directly to Connemara Therapeutic Riding.

Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages for new designs!

We value your continued support, thank you.

Connemara Therapeutic Riding CLG welcomes the announcement by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring TD that it is to be granted funding under the Community Services Program. Minister Ring announced the news on Friday 25^th October during his visit to Forum Connemara in Letterfrack, Co. Galway and said he was “delighted to be able to support the wonderful work being carried out by Connemara Therapeutic Riding” while also speaking of the importance of having services and a community to support people especially those in a rural area. Clients and volunteers from Connemara Therapeutic Riding were in Letterfrack along with a Therapeutic Riding Connemara pony to welcome Minister Ring.

The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports community companies and co-operatives to deliver local social, economic and environmental services that tackle disadvantage by providing a co-funding contribution towards the cost of employing a manager and full-time equivalent (FTE) positions.

Connemara Therapeutic Riding (CTR) was formed as a CLG in 2017 after operating successfully since 2015 as a voluntary community group. CTR provides a community-based Therapeutic Riding service for adults and children with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities while promoting the Connemara pony as an ideal equine. Therapeutic Riding is a worldwide recognised therapy to improve physical, emotional, social, cognitive, behavioural and educational skills as well as being a healthy and fun activity. To date over seventy people have availed of the service. The service is delivered at Errislannan Manor, Clifden, Co. Galway with fully qualified Therapeutic Riding coaches using specially trained Connemara ponies. Minister Ring’s announcement will enable CTR to employ a full-time manager and three full-time equivalents providing a welcome boost to the local economy. Cathy Keane, Chairperson of CTR says “the Community Services Programme will enable CTR to grow it’s social enterprise and enhance the service it is providing to current clients as well as attracting new clients. This much needed funding will give also CTR the opportunity to develop a tourism offering”. CTR plans, with the aid of CSP funding to promote Connemara as an accessible tourism destination and to develop links with other tourism service providers in the area.

Since its formation Connemara Therapeutic Riding has worked closely with local organisations such as Forum Connemara, the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society, businesses and strategic partners, and also local schools and daycare centres.  Support has also been given to participants from Ability Connemara. The Ability programme provides funding to local, regional and national projects in the Republic of Ireland that focus on bringing young people with disabilities between the ages of 15 and 29 closer to the labour market.

CTR is committed to supporting the objectives of the Community Services Programme and looks forward to embracing the next part of it’s journey.

For more information on Connemara Therapeutic Riding please visit www.connemaratherapeuticriding.com .

Manor Arena, Clifden, Co. Galway was once again the venue for the third annual Connemara Therapeutic Riding Novelty Show. The show took place under blue skies on Sunday 22nd September. Boasting over 140 entries this year the show continues each year to attract more entries.
An exciting schedule of inclusive classes enticed entries from adults and children alike and Judges Eleanor Curran and Padraig Geoghegan had a hard task in selecting winners from the hotly contested classes. One young competitor even travelled the long distance from Dublin to take part. The Mini Handlers and Young Handlers classes started the day off with 21 and 16 competitors respectively enjoying the opportunity to show off their pony handling skills. These young competitors left no doubt in anyone’s mind that they will be the showing superstars of the future. As in every class all competitors received a rosette and a novelty prize with the judges selecting Aoife Gorham and her pony Doonhill Misty Dawn as the winner of the mini handlers class. Kathryn Conneely showing Saoirse na Mara was victorious in the Young Handlers Class.
A new addition to the schedule this year was the Walk Trot class, which proved very popular and was deservedly won by Inishbofin native Kitty Concannon riding her pony Lenny. The lead rein showjumping and cross pole showjumping classes are always well supported and they give future showjumpers the chance to impress the judges and spectators with their bravery and skill. Taking the lead rein showjumping title this year was Tiernan Diamond Carey, while Eliosia Boulger took the title in the cross pole showjumping class.
The jockey and groom showjumping class involved teams of two with the jockey first jumping the course on a pony followed by the groom jumping the course on foot. It was evident that had Philip Duane and his groom Diarmuid Roche had serious practice put in beforehand which led them to jumping clear in the fastest time.
Beautifully and creatively plaited ponies entered the ring for the best mane and tail class. A huge amount of time must have gone into getting ponies ready for this class, with manes and tails decorated in flowers, ribbons, bows and glitter. Sadhbh O’Toole took a break from her busy dressage career to attend the show and her plaiting skills were rewarded when she received first prize for her pony Kayleigh.
An array of colour could be seen in the arena for the Fancy Dress class. Entries included a superhero, Rapunzel, Pocahontas , and Willy Wonka. Following a long deliberation in a class of very creative entries the judges chose Yann and Alex Walch entry ‘On Safari’ as their eventual winner.
Pony most like its owner was awarded to Belle and her owner Ciara Heanue who wowed the judges in their purple ensemble. The obstacle course is always great fun and once again proved challenging for all contestants. Spectators were on the edge of their seats as they cheered on the riders. The appearance of a giant Winnie the Pooh caught out a few people. Ciara Heanue and her pony Lochy scooped the prize in the final class of the day.
A huge thanks goes to the Noonan Family for the use of their fantastic facilities, to the judges, stewards and volunteers without whom the show could not have been run. A very special thank you to all the generous sponsors and most importantly thanks to all the competitors who took part. We look forward to welcoming you all back again next year. Keep an ear out for some exciting news regarding next year’s classes.
All photos from the show can be viewed on the Connemara Therapeutic Riding Facebook page. If you are interested in finding out more about Connemara Therapeutic Riding please contact Marion on 083 8418448.