2 February 2023 - Flipbook - Page 61
S
ITUATED in a quiet and tranquil,
rural location outside Lisburn, in the
village of Lower Ballinderry, yet easily
accessed from the motorway and main
roads, the Irish Equine Rehabilitation
and Fitness Centre (IERFC) is just two years
old and has been a well kept secret until now!
The state of the art facility was borne out
of the owners’ experience of trying to nd
top class specialist rehabilitation facilities,
like those found in England, when needing to
rehabilitate their own horses. The buildings
are purpose designed and built airy barns,
with the majority of stables having a small
bre turnout paddock attached to ensure
that horses get outside into the sunshine
whenever possible if they are conned to box
rest yet unable to run about or cause damage
to themselves.
The facility has gone from strength to
strength since its initial opening in February
2018 with Ireland’s only ECB treadmill with
incline open to the public; in April 2019,
another six stables were added for livery
clients and, in January 2020, an ECB cold salt
water spa with solarium over it was added to
the top class facilities.
The facilities do not stop with the pieces
of equipment, as staff recently became the
rst in Europe to gain accreditations in the
protocols for the use of a water treadmill. The
centre staff are a hugely important resource
with their vast knowledge and experience
(and to a lesser extent the qualications),
as nothing beats horsemanship through
experience!
THE TEAM
Karen Barry (Ferris) took up the reins in
January 2020 and has implemented the level
of impeccable stable management protocols
and horsemanship found on top racing yards
where she previously worked, such as the
late Dessie Hughes, Robert Buckler, Brian
Hamiliton, James Lambe and David Christie.
Karen has also worked for Warren Ewing
and Colin McKeever and has over 17 years
experience in racing.
After getting the ‘pony bug’ as a child and
spending several years competing in show
jumping and cross-country competitions, with
a bit of hunting and one day eventing thrown
in for good measure, Karen headed down the
racing route and has many years of experience
having qualied through RACE in 2003/2004,
as well as competing as a jockey in both
Ireland and England having ridden winners
both on the track and point to pointing.
She also assisted her husband running his
training yard. Whilst her own injuries forced a
change in career, Karen moved into studying
equine rehabilitation, qualifying in Equine
Massage and Rehabilitation and continuing
to study advanced techniques to further her
knowledge.
IERFC apprentice, Amy Roberts joined in
October 2019 and the centre was fortunate
enough to gain a scholarship from the Down
Royal Breeders’ Association to assist with
the cost of her further education at the Open
College of Equine Studies near Newmarket,
where she is studying for a Diploma in
Equine Therapy and Rehabilitation, which
she undertakes by distance learning and
assignments, coupled with residential
assessments. Amy too has a wealth of
experience, having ridden since she was three
years old, being an active member of Iveagh
Pony Club until she was 14 and show jumping
competitively from the age of seven - even
TREADMILL: The ECB Water treadmill
with optional incline is popular with both
rehabilitation and fitness clients.
(FW22-541NN)
ACCESS: A typical stable, all fully matted, with
outdoor access. (FW22-535NN)
HORSEWEEK
FARMWEEK
MAY 28 2020
61
IERFC - A unique facility
on the island of Ireland
UNIQUE: Right,
The Irish Equine
Rehabilitation and
Fitness Centre is a
unique purpose built,
airy building with large
fully matted stables.
(FW22-536NN)
MEET THE TEAM: Michelle Kane, owner;
Karen Ferris, Yard Manager and Amy Roberts,
Apprentice, pictured at the Irish Equine
Rehabilitation and Fitness Centre.
(FW22-538NN)
competing in Olympia aged 11, where she won
the Mini-Majors, paired with Robert Whitaker!
Amy continued competing through ponies up
to jumping 1.30m on 148s! She has hunted
with the Tynan and Armagh Foxhounds since
she was 12 and competed on their hunt chase
team for the last three years. Before coming
to the IERFC, Amy had spent three years at
JJ Lambe racing and so has a great wealth of
experience.
FACILITIES
Both the treadmill and spa can be used
either while on livery with IERFC or as a drive
in or drop off client on a day visit, which is
the option many of the tness clients use.
Livery clients are advised and encouraged to
build the treadmill into their tness regime
after their stay to ensure benets are retained
- it is a bit like a rider going to the gym for
an intensive week or two of training with a
personal trainer, the benets of which only
last if you set up a maintenance programme.
All types of clients come through the doors,
not just those with lameness issues, as the
facility caters for any type of illness that
requires a hands-on approach. In addition,
there are plenty of clients that are t and
well and come as part of their tness regime,
or indeed to retain tness while owners are
away on holiday or unable to exercise their
horses. The treadmill is an excellent means of
exercise on the dark, wet winter evenings and
gives a bit of variety.
As a wholly independent facility, IERFC
works with all of the veterinary practices
and specialist equine hospitals in Ireland, as
well as with chiropractors, physiotherapists,
farriers and dentists to name but a few.
The treadmill permits horses to work
without impact or concussion and can be
used dry or with various depths of water,
varying speed or degree of incline, depending
on the needs of the horse and, following
an assessment, every treatment plan is
developed in a bespoke manner to meet that
client’s needs - taking into account workload
or injury, if there has been one. Using the
treadmill with water encourages the horse
to work straight, develops the core strength
and, in so doing, inhibits the risk of injury.
The spa uses a combination of salts and
Epsom salt to reduce inammation and
can be used for a multitude of leg and foot
issues from jarring, bone bruises, sore shins,
tendonitis, cuts or skin conditions to laminitis,
for example. The water is chilled to around
two degrees and is passed over the legs along
FRESH AIR: Many of the stables have small
outdoor fibre paddocks. (FW22-534NN)
with oxygenation - in the simplest terms,
this encourages a rush of blood to the limbs,
removes toxins and encourages healing.
IERFC offers a full livery service and provides
a bespoke plan to include treadmill and/or
spa sessions or a mixture of both, lunging and
ridden work, turnout on bre paddocks and, if
suitable, grass paddock turnout also.
IERFC works with expert farriers - often
running specialist clinics in conjunction with
the Werkman Black Gait Analysis and with
the nutritionalists currently at Baileys Feeds
to ensure that your horse receives top class
attention when visiting. In addition, all hay
and haylage is expertly made on site and
tested for nutritional content.
Clients vary in ability and type and the
centre has had everything from show
Shetlands and family ponies to top class show
jumping ponies, from cobs and ex-racehorses
that have been rescued to international
show jumpers, dressage divas, eventers
and racehorses and everything in between.
Prices are such that everyone can afford to
treat their horse or pony to the facilities and
packages are available for any pocket.
HIGHLIGHTS
All in all, the facilities are top class and
second to none in the whole of Ireland and
include:
- ECB Aquatic Equine treadmill with optional
incline
- ECB cold saltwater spa
- Well ventilated, fully matted stables using
dust free shavings, most have attached bre
turnout paddocks
- Hot wash and solarium
- Haygain steamer
- Flexineb nebuliser
- Sterile environment with monthly use of
Equizar disinfectant
- Carpet Gallop anti-concussion arena
- Individual grass turnout paddocks whenever
possible
Videos of facilities and treatments can be
seen on the IERFC website: www.ierfc.com or
facebook page or simply give Karen a call on
07522 227325 to discuss your needs.
HAPPY CLIENT: A happy client using the
Saltwater Spa. (FW22-540NN)
