The Clondalkin Equine Club are midway through their training programme at the Fettercairn Youth Horse Project.

Clondalkin Equine Club Trainees

The Club secured funding from the Department of Agriculture to go towards an accredited training programme for their young horse owners.  The training is part of the initiative agreed between the Club, the Department of Agriculture and South Dublin County Council which included the provision of the recently opened stables at Ballyowen Park in Clondalkin. The group of twenty young people have been split into two groups for the training programme at Fettercairn.

The first twelve young people aged between 14 and 17 started the programme on the 14th of January  and completed their 5 week programme on the 11 Feb 2017 with a written exam. This group worked towards the BHS Essential Horse Knowledge Certificate that has a number of modules including safety, basic health, horse husbandry, the foot and shoeing and identification. Exam papers were submitted to the BHS and will be returned over the next few weeks.

The second group, which are ages 9 to 13, starts on the 18th of February. Along with some of their parents, they will work over five weeks toward the Stable Management section of the BHS Progressive Riding Test One which will have a practical exam at the end.

The Fettercairn Youth Horse Project are delighted with the enthusiasm and dedication of all of the members of the Clondalkin Equine Club and we wish them every success in the operation and running of their fabulous new stables at Ballyowen Park.