Happy Hooves Therapeutic Riding

Happy Hooves Therapeutic Riding At Happy Hooves, we cater for children and adults of any age and abilities. Over time, we’ve seen how much more horses can offer beyond the saddle.

Therapeutic riding is at the heart of what we do—plus fun, horse-based services that support emotional and physical well-being. At Happy Hooves, we offer a range of equine-assisted services designed to support emotional, physical, and social well-being. Our primary focus is therapeutic horse riding, a tailored experience where each session is built around the individual needs of the rider. Whether it’s supporting motor skills, boosting confidence, or simply creating a joyful connection, therapeutic riding offers a gentle yet powerful way to grow, explore, and regulate—especially for children and young people with additional needs. That’s why we’ve developed our equine outreach school programme, which we have been delivering to local special needs schools and units, over the last 2 years with the help of our therapy pony, Teddy. More recently, we've expanded our services to include horse mediation—a ground-based, reflective practice where the horse becomes a mirror for self-awareness, emotional regulation, and connection. Rooted in the principles of equine-assisted therapy, horse mediation offers a unique space to slow down, ground yourself, and explore your inner world with the support of a sensitive and intuitive animal companion. We also offer mindful grooming and individualised stable management sessions. These practices offer accessible, body-based ways to build confidence, presence, and connection without the need to ride. Participants can engage in hands-on learning, calm their nervous systems, and develop meaningful relationships with the horses through grooming, yard work, and horse care. Whether in the saddle or on the ground, each session at Happy Hooves is shaped with care, compassion, and curiosity. We meet each person where they are—offering space, support, and the magic of the horse-human connection.

01/04/2026

We're just horsing around. Promise we'll rein it in! 🐴✨
Drop a 🦄 if you think Tonnta suits his new role 👇
Happy April Fools from all of us at Happy Hooves — riders, ponies, and newly appointed unicorns included.🦄 🐴✨

Horses don't lie......Last week we focused on the physical benefits of therapeutic riding — the balance, the core streng...
30/03/2026

Horses don't lie......
Last week we focused on the physical benefits of therapeutic riding — the balance, the core strength, the motor skills.
But some of the most profound changes we see in our riders happen on the inside. 🧠🧡
Horses have an extraordinary ability to create trust. They respond to how a rider feels — their energy, their tension, their calm. That feedback is immediate and honest in a way that's unlike almost any other therapeutic relationship.
The rhythmic motion of riding also does something remarkable to the nervous system. For many of our riders — particularly those with sensory processing differences, anxiety, or emotional regulation difficulties — that steady, predictable movement is deeply regulating. It's not unusual for parents to tell us their child is calmer and sleeps better on riding days.
The stables themselves matter too. Many of our riders find real comfort in the predictability of their sessions — the same ponies, the same routine, the same smells and sounds each week. For children who find an unpredictable world difficult to navigate, that consistency builds a foundation of safety that over time translates into better emotional regulation, reduced anxiety, and improved focus.
And then there's what happens when a child realises they can communicate with an animal ten times their size. That moment of connection — of being understood without words — builds something that no amount of coaching can manufacture. Self-belief.
Every session at Happy Hooves is individually tailored. Because the right environment for growth looks different for every single rider. 🐴⭐

27/03/2026

Teddy made another wonderful visit to St. Michael’s!
Room 11 students had a great morning with their favourite pony, grooming and dressing him up to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day ☘️

From feeding, handling, and navigating interactive obstacle courses together, it was a morning full of laughter, learning, and connection.

Our Schools Outreach Program offers something truly unique — a chance to build confidence, practice communication and develop sensory tolerance.
Working with a pony encourages turn-taking, emotional regulation, and purposeful movement, all within a joyful, low-pressure environment where every child can shine.

A brilliant team-building experience that brought out the best in every one of them, creating memories that will last well beyond the classroom
A heartfelt thank you to the school and to the wonderfully generous parent who sponsored the morning.

The smiles said it all.



AdditionalNeeds EquineAssistedLearning TherapeuticRiding TherapeuticRidingIreland DevelopmentalDisabilitiesAwarenessMonth

Meet Anabella, one of our riders. 🧡She does the macarena while riding a pony. She loves to pick and eat the blackberries...
26/03/2026

Meet Anabella, one of our riders. 🧡

She does the macarena while riding a pony. She loves to pick and eat the blackberries on our lane every autumn. She's a huge Elsa and Anna fan and she and Daisy make a brilliant team.

When she first came to us, she could only walk in a straight line on flat ground.

Now? She runs up and down hills. She jumps. She's learning to tumble. She knows all the moves to Round and Round the Garden. And she can tell us which song she wants next. 🎵

What looks like pure joy is also hard work. While Daisy walks, Anabella's core fires constantly to stay upright on a moving horse — that's postural work that's almost impossible to replicate on the ground. Adding her arm movements through the dance sequence increases that demand significantly, strengthening her trunk, improving her balance, and building her endurance.

This is what person-centred therapy looks like. We start with Anabella — her interests, her personality, what makes her light up — and build the therapeutic work around that. The novelty of doing something familiar in an unexpected place keeps her engaged and motivated. It also gives her something precious: choice. She decides which song comes next. For a child for whom communication is a daily challenge, that matters enormously.

Her parents tell us she's calmer and sleeps better on horse riding days. 🌙

She's learned to kick-start a horse, built a real bond with Daisy, and learned to hold the roller independently.

Anabella has earned her rosette. 🏅

Not just for riding. For showing up, working hard, and doing it all with a macarena and a grin. 🐴

People sometimes ask us: what does therapeutic riding actually do for a child with additionalneeds?Here’s what we see ev...
22/03/2026

People sometimes ask us: what does therapeutic riding actually do for a child with additional
needs?
Here’s what we see every week in our arena:
Better balance and core strength
Improved flexibility and range of motion
Greater spatial awareness and motor skills
the horse’s movement engages the body in ways no gym can replicate.
These aren’t just riding skills, they travel into home and school life creating new opportunities for independence 💪🏻
And every single rider in our rosette series has earned them. Stayed tuned for our rider stories over the coming weeks


Spring has finally sprung — and we’re marking it by doing what we love most: celebrating our riders. 🏆 Over the coming w...
20/03/2026

Spring has finally sprung — and we’re marking it by doing what we love most: celebrating our riders. 🏆 Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing stories from some of the incredible people who ride with us — their journeys, their breakthroughs, and the skills they’ve taken far beyond the arena. Because these achievements deserve to be seen. We’re here. Then, now, always. 🐎

Well done Laura, our newest rider! Laura has been with us just 5 weeks, and she is loving her Monday mornings with Betsy...
11/03/2026

Well done Laura, our newest rider! Laura has been with us just 5 weeks, and she is loving her Monday mornings with Betsy. She has conquered her fear about getting on Betsy and is now flying it!! She has shown huge determination and courage! We're delighted that she's so proud of what she is doing. And she's loving every bit of it! What a joy to see her out on the little hack down the road! Well done Laura, we're SOO thrilled for you!!!
needs

01/01/2026

2026 is the year of the fire horse symbolising new energy, opportunity, progress and success supported by community. This is everything we strive for at Happy Hooves and we have some exciting projects coming this year. If you’re interested in our work get in touch hello@happyhooves.ie 🐎✨❤️💫

31/12/2025
05/12/2025

In honour of the Volunteer Ireland Awards today, we want to take the opportunity to recognise and celebrate our wonderful volunteers past and present who help make what we do possible. Here's some beautiful moments of this past year!

Some lovely photos of Stephanie from CALI Care+Learn Ireland. We waited so long to get her tiny hat delivered from the U...
28/11/2025

Some lovely photos of Stephanie from CALI Care+Learn Ireland. We waited so long to get her tiny hat delivered from the UK, but it was worth it to see her amazing smile beaming from under it and to see her enjoying her sessions every week!! We love the enthusiasm when Stephanie tells Ned or Leitrim to "Go!" Stephanie loves horse-riding and it helps make her stronger, more co-ordinated and balanced and she's able to use these necessary skills in her everyday life! 😀We've recently discovered that she also sings beautifully, so we're looking forward to hearing more of that! We're delighted to see her doing something she loves while reaping so many benefits. Well done Stephanie - we know you love it, but you also work so hard up there, so we're really proud of you! Happy Hooves are advocates of social inclusion in all of our communities and are big fans of CALI and are delighted that Alex, James and Stephanie are all enjoying their horse-riding! What a great way to start their Thursday morning! 😍

SCHOOL EQUINE OUTREACH PROGRAMME Big Thanks to Teddy and Tiny, our mini ponies, for bringing Joy to lots of children in ...
28/11/2025

SCHOOL EQUINE OUTREACH PROGRAMME

Big Thanks to Teddy and Tiny, our mini ponies, for bringing Joy to lots of children in 4 local schools with our Schools Equine Outreach Programme! Can we also give huge thanks to the National Lottery and HSE who provided the grant funding to enable it. And of course, thanks to our volunteers and lovely TY students who helped us on the outreach mornings.
We visited Marino Special School in Bray, St. Michaels Special School in Leopardstown, Ballyowen Meadows Special School in Loughlinstown and St. Augustines Special School in Blackrock. Over 100 children and around 40 school staff participated across 4 schools, receiving tailored sessions designed to support wellbeing, engagement, communication, and regulation.
The children engaged with the ponies, touched and groomed them, experienced the calm of being with them, got to see them eating, got to lead them in their school gardens and did little obstacle courses with them using our little Go/Stop traffic sign! We had great FUN!!!
Based on teacher, SNA and parent feedback, children experienced:
• Improved regulation (settling faster after transitions; calmer body language)
• Greater engagement (active participation, increased eye contact, smiles, vocalisations)
• Enhanced communication (spontaneous speech, gestures, social initiations)
• Reduced anxiety in schoolyard or outdoor environments
• Improved confidence and independence
• Positive sensory experiences they were able to tolerate and enjoy without overwhelm
• Development of co-regulation skills through the pony’s rhythmic breathing and movement
Thanks again to our wonderful ponies who were so patient and willing – they love their job! And fingers crossed that we receive the grant again next year so the ponies can continue to bring joy, positivity, increased regulation, well-being and confidence to children in our community!












24/11/2025

💫OUR JEDI TOMMY💫
KICKING OF THE WEEK JEDI STYLE…’THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE!’ 🚀
With each therapeutic ride Tommys confidence, core strength, balance & coordination has improved beyond belief! Such trust, courage & zest for life💪 All supported by the ‘Heart to Hoove Connection’.

21/11/2025

🤩AMAZING GRACE🤩

Address

Killegar Stables, The Scalp
Enniskerry
A98C7Y0

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 11am - 2pm

Telephone

+353876982393

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