Clondalkin Equine Club in danger of closing if more funding is not found

Clondalkin Equine Club is in danger of closing in the next three months if more funding is not found, according to Rachel Maher, club manager.

In a statement released to by the club, Maher said that it is appealing to the “Government to provide core funding and is also appealing to the private sector to assist with funding to save our Club.”

The club, which was set up 2017, offers a livery service to horses owned by children in the Clondalkin and Lucan South area, “continuing the tradition of urban horse ownership in the locality,” it says.

“The Equine Club is much more than just a place to keep your horse,” Maher says in the statement.

“It was opened in 2017 and provides a supportive and holistic environment for children and their families to give them a sense of belonging within their community.

“The Equine Club prides itself on its work with children living in a marginalised community, supporting their participation in the club, nurturing them to be the best that they can be and encouraging them to complete their education.

“It also promotes good animal welfare practice and teaches children responsible horse ownership and riding skills.”

In addition to this, the club also organises themed information events, promoting best practice for urban ownership and the use of horses as a therapeutic and educational support.

“Before the Covid-19 pandemic we provided access to the stables for children from the local primary and secondary schools and for children involved with other external agencies, to allow them to benefit from the therapeutic effect that comes from interaction with horses,” the club says.

“Research commissioned by those external agencies has highlighted the benefits of this interaction including, improvement in the ability to communicate and an increased ability to build relationships.”

The club says that it needs “core funding of €60,000 per annum to allow it to develop and to continue serving the community.

“This funding will allow our Club to continue to employ workers from the local area to provide local children and the broader community access to this service and the benefits that that provides.”

“We have a waiting list of children and young people in need of our services; the demand is most definitely there,” Maher says.

First opened in February 2017, Clondalkin Equine Club was the brainchild of a group of local horse owners who were fed up with seeing horse abuse in the wider community.

The €550,000 facility was funded through the Department of Agriculture and South Dublin County Council and took four years to complete.

Located at Ballyowen Park, the centre hosts 20 stables and educates owners and young people on equine care and welfare.