From Cavan to Cork
By Katie O'Keeffe
A Bantry-based woman has travelled the 500km Beara Breifne Way on horseback with her dog to raise money to complete a new barn at her therapeutic riding centre.
Sandra Schmid, who runs Hairy Henry Therapeutic Riding Centre in the West Cork town spent 19 days travelling with her horse Flora and dog Trudi from the Northern Irish border in Blacklion, Co. Cavan to Bantry town.
The trek was in aid of a new barn for the care farm so that therapy sessions can take place in all weather.
Hairy Henry Care Farm supports people to deal with emotional, social, physical, mental or educational challenges. People of all abilities can attend the farm and benefit from engaging with the therapy animals and farming activities.
“Our therapy work here on the farm can put smiles on faces, relieve stress, ease anxious minds, enable challenging bodies, make positive social connections with others, help find courage and confidence, and increase well-being and joy,” Sandra told the Cork Independent.
She added: “We need the barn so we can continue helping people in the winter months and I knew the only way I could raise the money would be fundraising. I knew I had to come up with an idea that would connect with people and interest them and it seemed like the idea of travelling the country by horse really caught people's attention.”
Sandra started the journey at the Breifne end of the trail and travelled homeward bound to West Cork stopping each night at different accommodations which people kindly offered for her to stay in.
“We found so much generosity in people who had never met me. It was great to know we had somewhere to rest each day and to have a meal to warm me.”
Sandra documented her journey on her Facebook page Hairy Henry's Homeward Bound Tour which she says also showed how beautiful all different areas of the country are.
“We live in a beautiful country and being on a horse I couldn’t take the main routes all of the time so I was able to document and experience the lovely places that people don’t often see which was like a lucky side effect to the journey.”
The trio returned to Bantry last Friday to a warm welcome and have taken a well-deserved break before returning to work.
Sandra is still hoping to reach their goal of €25,000 for building work on the barn, electricity, plumbing, fencing, parking, a disability accessible toilet and other important things. Anyone who wishes to donate online can visit gofundme.com/f/hairy-henrys-homeward-bound-tour.