The Stable Yard

The Stable Yard. . , The Stable Yard was historically very much at the heart of the Blarney Estate., The horses were used to pull the carriages in which the family travelled and were also kept for riding and hunting. The visitor cafe is located in the restored coach house area. Various coaches were kept here for the families use., Adjacent to the café, ran the original stables with elaborate stalls and room for 10 horses. In their heyday these were the height of luxury for the equine occupants and no expense was spared in their construction. Across the old yard lies the grain store and hayloft. A large, dry room that was raised off the ground to keep out the damp and help preserve the feed., In the corner of the yard is the Grooms House., The job of the groom was to feed, “groom”, and exercise the horses, and if there was no separate coachman, to drive and maintain the carriages. The groom was expected to know all about the care of horses, from grooming and training to basic veterinary medicine. He was also expected to teach the children of the family to ride, which they learnt to do from a very young age., The groom also had to store and maintain the saddles, bridles, stirrups and other bits of harness, and clean each piece after use. If a vehicle had been used, the groom cleaned that too. They were washed from the water pump in the centre of the yard, it’s exact location long since lost, but the pump remains as testament. The head groom would have been available for the family at all hours, and as such it was necessary to live on site.