Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding Inc

My son Jackson is 7 years old and has been riding with CATR for about 3 years. Jackson has Autism and communication has always been a weakness for him. Seeing my son interact with "Charlie" as well as Dee (his instructor) and the volunteers has been an amazing experience. He has a connection with these horses and these people that I don't see very often, and I am so thankful for all they have done for my son. His language is exploding, his core strength and balance are improving, and he even has a special song he sings to "his" horse at the beginning and end of each session, and that in and of itself is fantastic since he can speak very little. My heart felt love and appreciation goes out to everyone at CATR for all that they give, and all that they do.

I've had the good fortune to observe the programs at CATR Farm on several occasions. CATR is a model of community service in action - in a unique and beautiful locale. Being in and around the CATR environment benefits anyone there, whether or not they have (clinically defined) special needs.

I am a retired principal. I was able to receive therapeutic riding for my TMD students. I can tell a story of a miracle. One of my students could not sit up nor did she seem to react to any stimulus. The class went to their scheduled riding day and this student went for the first time. (some thought it would be pointless) . Teacher and I insisted that she go. She was placed on a horse, She sat up and then began stroking the horse's neck. This was the beginning of her new life.

Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding has been instrumental in helping me steer my career in a new direction. When I moved South to Charleston about 3 years ago, I had quit my position in business world, and was on a mission to find a more meaningful occupation, ideally one which would allow me to positively impact the lives of others. I contacted CATR researching volunteer, or possible employment opportunities, and have been volunteering at CATR ever since. The staff is professional, courteous, creative and everyone goes the extra mile to accommodate the riders, volunteers and to make sure the horses are taken care of well. Through my volunteer work at CATR, and having made friends with several staff members who offered a wealth of advice, experience and ideas, I was inspired to explore the field of occupational therapy as a possible career choice. Seeing the riding instructors at CATR interact with the students, being able to help with the lessons, and part-taking in the sense of accomplishment and pride reflected on the riders' faces astride the horses have truly been a life-changing opportunity that this organization has afforded me. I am now enrolled at the Medical University of South Carolina in my second year of OT school. Thanks, CATR!

This is such a wonderful place! I have been working at CATR for almost a year now and hope to stay for many more! As one of the horse feeders i personally know that they take great care of all of the horses and riders, also being there i have seen so many children & adults blossom and glow when they are riding. CATR has such a wonderful program whether its the therapeutic, community or special events they take care of their students wonderfully!

I have volunteered with CATR on and off for 5 years now and am always so impressed with how well the organization is run and with the great people who work there. They are truly thankful for the volunteers and dedicated to the clients they serve. I am happy to give my time to such a wonderful organization!

I have only been working with this organization for a little over a year, but I can certainly vouch for the fact that this program has a significant impact in people’s lives. I found CATR on volunteermatch.com & became intrigued after viewing their website. The volunteer coordinator, Dee, is an extremely sweet lady who helped me through the qualification process. My first day volunteering was with Dee & another woman who works at CATR. Both were friendly, knowledgeable, & overall very helpful in making me feel comfortable & letting me know exactly how things work at their facility, what lessons entail, etc.

I have worked with several children in my short time with this organization. Although they had different life experiences (several were Autistic, one had Cerebral Palsy, etc.), I can tell that their time spent with CATR is not only enjoyable for them, but beneficial as well. It brings me great joy to watch them ride around the area, practice trotting, etc. They get the biggest smiles on their faces!! :) I find it nothing short of amazing how much this program can advance children with disabilities. It is very interesting to me that riding lessons can assist with so many different factors in a person’s life- social interaction, emotional behavior, independence, etc. One child I have worked with used to be extremely timid & scared to even touch a horse- now he rides with a smile on his face! I am proud to be a volunteer at CATR & can’t wait to see what the future holds for this organization.

As an adult student taking lessons through the Community Lessons program at CATR, I have witnessed some of the beautiful work they do with our area schools and children. CATR farms management and staff have created an environment that hums with care, happiness, warmth and good intentions combined with skilled instruction. My lessons often coincide with the Therapeutic lessons and it has been a true pleasure witnessing the joy of the children playing and riding on the farm. I believe that this is a valuable resource to our community in that it offers a unique environment in which to heal. This doesn't just apply to the Therapeutic Riding students, but to anyone taking lessons at CATR! In my personal experience as a student at CATR, I have been able to diminish symptoms of my own in my struggle with PTSD. I have found that grooming the horses of CATR and riding once a week has greatly reduced the anxiety that comes along with dealing with traumatic experiences. I have been riding at other barns and I can attest to the fact that CATR's healing environment is not only unique, but also worthy of community support of any kind (donations, volunteers, lessons).

I learned about CATR Farms when I was looking for Non-profits in need of volunteers. I learned that my schedule just does not fit with their schedule of classes so volunteering has not been possible. However, they have several other ways to help support their efforts; the one I am most active with is the community lessons. Our tuition helps support the barn financially and as we all know every penny helps when it comes to non-profits.

While spending the last several months at the barn every Friday, I learned and witnessed what a special group of people run and teach at this barn. In addition to the horses; a mule, several cats, and a few dogs are roaming the grounds. It is clear how much these animals are treasured by all students, barn hands, teachers, etc. As for the whole purpose of CATR, the therapeutic riding, I cannot think of an environment so welcoming and accepting of ALL people. I had the pleasure of witnessing a young man make a huge step forward in his therapy by actually putting his leg over the horses back and eventually sitting for a few minutes. I was told by my trainer that when he first came to CATR, the therapists could not get him to even touch the horse. How AMAZING!!!!! During my volunteer training, I learned some of the success stories from CATR's therapeutic riding program which included students with speech issues learning to use their voices, student with touch issues learning that being touched is not a terrible thing, and students with various different physical disabilities developing their strength to various different levels.

The dedication of the team at CATR is unsurpassed and I am honored to have had the opportunity to meet these wonderful people and to be able to help support such a fantastic service.