Holly Whelan

Participant

I began riding in Cherry Orchard when I was six years old. I took lessons every Monday evening and quickly fell in love with horse riding and everything to do with horses. As the years went on, I gained more experience and knew it would be a lifelong passion of mine. When I was around twelve years old, my instructor at the time asked if I would be interested in joining the Leader Programme.

I remember that within my first few days as a leader, I had made so many new friends and reconnected with old friends from lessons I had taken over the years. Some of my best childhood memories are from the yard with my friends, whether it was Christmas jumping shows, musical rides, or trips to Tayto Park and Bay Sports water park. The girls I met during my time as a leader are still some of my closest friends, even more than 10 years later. The Leader Programme gave me a sense of belonging, especially through the staff, who always looked after us extremely well and were excellent role models. I would come up Monday to Saturday, straight after school, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Being around horses was truly my passion, and it was all I talked about in school, at home, and with friends.

Over time, as I rode more frequently and spent more time on the yard in Cherry Orchard, I became familiar with all of the horses, staff, and leaders. I learned so much about riding, stable management, caring for horses, and overall horse care.

A few years later, I was told about the BHS Working Student Programme by Edel. This was exactly what I knew I needed. With riding five days a week, stable management classes, and working on a live yard, I managed to complete my BHS Stage 1 within 3-4 months. I was extremely proud of myself, and it has changed me both as a rider and as an individual. I’ve gained more confidence in myself, I am willing to push myself to take on more challenging tasks, and I’m determined to achieve my goals and pursue a career in the equine industry, which has always been my childhood dream.

The staff at Cherry Orchard Equine Centre has helped me build my confidence, make lifelong friends, take on responsibility, use my own initiative, and push me towards achieving my goals. I am currently working towards my BHS Stage 2 exams, and I couldn’t have done it without the guidance and support from the centre and staff.