Hairy Henry offers Therapeutic Riding, Care Farming and Animal-assisted Therapy to children and adul All have been trained specifically for this job.
We offer Therapeutic Riding sessions and Care Farm activities on our small farm in West Cork. Our team consists of Sandra, a fully qualified Therapeutic Riding Coach with 28 years experience of working with horses and 24 years of working in the health and social sector, and our extremely friendly and experienced therapy horses, Henry, Winnie, Flora, Daisy and Dolly, and lots of other farm animals - our two dogs Trudi and Turnip, the flock of sheep - Sean, Otto, Tilda, Harriet and Mr. Lammy, the donkeys Nell, Eeyore, Gordon and Gulliver the geese and ducks and chicken and the rabbits Alex and Oreo and their families. We also offer animal-assisted therapeutic outreach visitis with our team of dogs, rabbits, sheep and donkey to nursing homes and hospitals - please get in touch for more information! Animal-assisted Therapy, Therapeutic Riding and Care Farming promote well-being, social confidence, sense of purpose and achievement - and offer long-lasting physical, psychological, social and educational benefits. Please, see our website www.hairyhenry.com for more details!
16/02/2026
A job well done 💪👍👏
Care Farming means trying a new task, learning a new skill, stepping out of the comfort zone for a new experience and encounter - with the support of a dedicated team of farm residents and in a calm natural environment - and it results in friendship, joy, satisfaction, confidence, achievement and meaning and pride.
And when the donkey smiles at you because he's happy for his clean shed and full trough, it all makes even more sense 🫏😊
15/02/2026
I have such good buddies for another great day out at Hillcrest Equestrian Centre 🐶🐶🐴
We managed to ride just when the weather shone bright, with the snow covered mountains and blue skies surrounding us!
Our flatwork piece was ok but we know how to improve it. It's mostly me struggling with nerves who spoils it for both of us! One little dip in confidence from Skye - or was it me getting tired? - which meant full breaks for her in front of the second last show jump. She is just being careful, if it looks odd to her, and I don't give her 110% giddy up, she tells me that way that she's not sure, but she always jumps it at our second attempt. Clear cross country round which I am very pleased about, her energy was of a wonderfully different quality today, it was great to see her use her regained fitness to swish around the course, not hectic or frantic, just refreshingly powerful!
Definitely had my refill of adrenaline and excitement, ready to start into a new work week 😃
15/02/2026
Valentine's vibes at our Farm Fun Morning yesterday 💓
Next upcoming groups are:
🦄 2-day mid-term Camp 19/20 February - still a few spaces available!!!!
🦄 Farm Fun Morning 14th March - just opened booking on www.itsplainsailing.com/org/hairyhenry
14/02/2026
Happy Valentine's Day to you all 💝
Thanks for all the lovely cards and treats today, here's a selection of the best 😍
13/02/2026
Little chick got into rabbit cage but found the way out again eventually back to mammy hen 😅
12/02/2026
Little chick learning how to drink 🍼
11/02/2026
Nothing beats a good chat over the fence 🐴🐐🦆
10/02/2026
More learning at the weekend at another 3 phase event at Kilguilkey House . This is where we put all that practise during the week into action, and Skye is trying hard to overcome her self-doubt and be more brave!
These outings are great after a long week's intense work with clients young and old - to digest the input, flush the system and reset all settings for the next week. Riding with Skye requires all my focus and enthusiasm - it is almost like returning from another planet afterwards, with mind, body and heart refreshed.
And doesn't she just look beautiful, you'd be missing out if I didn't share all those endless photos of her 😉🤣
09/02/2026
MID-TERM CAMP for 3-8 year olds
A great way for children to start into springtime😃💐🌞🌈
Lots of fun outdoor activities, animal care, horseback riding, picnic, arts and crafts, games. Access to indoor space for all weathers.
Please book via www.itsplainsailing.com/org/hairyhenry
For more information, contact Sandra 087 938 9867
08/02/2026
A wonderful display of trust, connection and team work. Of course, horse experts could find a lot wrong, but before anyone judges - if you knew this young girl a little, you would be as impressed and amazed of this as I was. Great communication and engagement on a meaningful level with Flora, confident gentle assertiveness, perseverance, tuning in and reading Flora's body language..all skills that are so important to have in everyday life, and this is such a great way to practise them. Flora is the best teacher, always patient, always gentle. And of course, I was ready to run, in case they needed me....
07/02/2026
Smiles all around, that's what keeps us going on a long day 😊
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We offer Therapeutic Riding sessions and Care Farm activities on our small farm in West Cork. Our team consists of a fully qualified Therapeutic Riding Coach with 30 years experience of working with horses and 20 years of working in the health and social sector, and our extremely friendly and experienced therapy horses, Henry, Winnie, Flora and Daisy, and lots of other farm animals - our two dogs Trudi and Annie, the flock of sheep, the donkeys Gordon, Nell and Ee-ore, the geese and chicken, and the rabbits and pigs. All have been trained specifically for this job.
Therapeutic Riding and Care Farming promotes confidence, communication, independence, coordination and balance, muscle tone and flexibility, cognitive functioning and emotional well-being - and offers long-lasting physical, psychological and educational benefits.
All animals, but especially the horses - and more particularly Hairy Henry - offer big hugs for comfort and support, which can help hugely in times of challenge.
Hairy Henry’s is holistic, inclusive and non judgemental and offers a quality professional service to people from 2 years of age onwards. More particularly, our services may be beneficial to those who deal with ASD, anxiety, dyspraxia, ADHD, learning difficulties, communication and emotional difficulties.
In 2018, Hairy Henry was short-listed with two other finalists for the West Cork Business and Tourism Awards in the category ‘Best Customer Service’.
