Tara Hill Riding Club’s generous spirit

In the run up to Christmas, members of Tara Hill Riding Club enjoyed some fun and games – both on horseback and on foot, at their Christmas Fun Night at Kells Equestrian Centre, in Carlanstown

The club had run a Charity Fund Raising Derby Show on the 5th November, in the Emerald Equestrian Centre, and members had nominated four local charities that they wished to benefit from proceeds from this show. They are extremely grateful to their sponsors, whose generosity has enabled them to demonstrate this generosity.

Representatives from the four charities attended the Club Christmas Fun Night where they were each presented with a cheque for €750. Each of these representatives explained how their very welcome donations would be used.

Majella Coyle, from the Catherine McAuley Day Care Centre, in Kells, explained that their donation would be used to buy outdoor furniture, so that their clients would be able to sit out in the safe outdoor area, which had been newly constructed, (with some help from a previous donation from Tara Hill.)

Rachael McEneaney from SOSAD explained that their organisation's main objective is suicide prevention. She emphasised how they focus on early intervention through free counselling. Counselling that is available to anyone over the age of 16. They are trying to spread the word that anyone over this age, can contact them for support with their mental health, and that they have a 24-hour helpline for anyone needing support or who is feeling suicidal.

They have a messaging service available on their website from 8pm – 12am. All their services are free of charge, so they rely mainly on donations to keep their offices open and their helpline and messaging services running. Tara Hills donation is very important to them

Enable Ireland's representative, physiotherapist, Ragu Rajaram, explained that their donation would be used purely for the purpose of funding Therapeutic Riding lessons for clients aged between 0 -18 years old, at Brookefield Riding Stables,in Navan.

These lessons incorporate grooming, caring for the horses, and recreational riding skills, and can provide immense benefits to both clients with physical disabilities and those with sensory ones.

The horses gait at walk is similar to that of the human and the movement of the horses hips, pelvis and legs provides sensory input to the rider. The interaction between the two can markedly show benefits, even after a small number of lessons.

The horse is proven to be the best tool for increasing postural and core stability and balance control, building overall weight bearing and motor planning skills. Horse riding also increases sensory awareness and sensory stimulation and leads to an enhanced quality of life. Tara Hill Riding Club has been supporting these lessons since 2016.

A member of Tara Hill accepted the cheque for Navan Food Bank, on behalf of Aisling Lowe, who was unable to attend the presentations. Aisling had explained earlier that currently the Food Bank has 67 families, 12 army service men and a number of elderly people on their books, all of whom are suffering from extreme food poverty.

There are several clients who have certain food intolerances, and babies that have to have special infant formulas. Aisling keeps an extensive food profile of each client, so that their food parcels meet their particular needs. The Food Bank relies almost entirely on donations of money, vouchers for certain food stores and non perishable food items.