FyinI will try to answer some of your questions ( though I am not sure they were directed specifically at me)

Horse-back - Mt Juliet
I just happen have a 30 page color booklet I picked during my stay with some prices etc
a) Equestrian ” under the guidance of expert instructors programmes can be tailored to the needs of individual riders and groups ... choose between trail riding, lessons in dressage show jumping....or the exhilaration of one of the most picturesque cross country courses in Ireland.
Rate per hour : Trekking ( in euros) 45, Instructions 57, Pony and Trap 76

The property is a 30 miles from Waterford ( but you find by driving anywhere in Ireland that it will take an hour. One other item of note is if you are going through Waterford or anywhere west (and passing through Waterford) traffic is pretty slow between 700am and 1000am most mornings which complicated by the fact all traffic crosses a draw-bridge which is raised I believe
every morning at 900 am. So to get anywhere its imperative to get an early start since most sites requiring admission close at 500PM, plus you will be driving on the left, no free-ways and mostly single lane traffic at 20 mph or less

We did half the Ring-of Kerry (got as far as Kenmore and back) but from Mount Juliet it took all day (hence we were late for dinner in my post above)
Also drive the Ring anti-clockwise so you don’t get stuck behind the myriads of tour busses.

One book I would highly recommend is Ireland’s Best Driving Tours by Frommer it breaks up the island in to 24 drives half or one day circular trips it was invaluable for our trip.
E-mail me if you think I might be able to assist you more.

mike