Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding (CATR Farm) on Johns Island helping children and adults with disabilities discover the beauty of horseriding
Mission:
To empower children and adults with disabilities to enjoy more active and fulfilling lives through therapeutic horsemanship.
Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding (CATR) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies. Meta Carter and Eileen McGuffie, both accomplished equestrians, started CATR in 1991. With the help of Meta’s brother, Heyward Carter, we received our 501(c)(3) status in 1992. That year, CATR also gained the title of “Premier Accredited Center” through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.). PATH Intl. provides standards for best practice and continuing education opportunities to help therapeutic riding centers all over the world maintain safe and successful programs. We are proud to have maintained our premier accredited status consistently since 1992.
By 1995 we had a Board of Directors, and in 1997 we received our first grant from the Joanna Foundation. We were then able to hire our first and current Executive Director, Murray S. Neale.
CATR’s program began at Rhonda Tockmakis’ farm in Mt. Pleasant with two students, a volunteer instructor, Andrea Smith, a few volunteers and wonderful horses donated by Rhonda. Along the way, CATR set up shop at Meta’s farm in West Ashley, Rosebank Farms, Seabrook Equestrian Center and Brickhouse Plantation Equestrian Center.
In 2004 we were able to purchase Brickhouse, and for the first time, we had 12 acres on Johns Island to call our home! At this time, we established Brickhouse Equestrian Center LLC (previously known as CATR Farms), which is a for-profit entity under CATR’s umbrella and exists solely for the support of the non-profit organization. Brickhouse Equestrian Center (BEC) is a full boarding and lesson facility that supports the horses and the maintenance of the farm. In 2009, we greatly expanded our property by acquiring 31 surrounding acres through the Green Belt program, making CATR’s home a beautiful 43-acre farm.
Today, CATR employs ten PATH Intl. certified instructors that work together with 150 volunteers to serve over 140 children and adults with disabilities and 30 wounded military veterans each year.
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I absolutely adore horses. I’ve never had one and I don’t ride, but I would love to be able to volunteer to just come be near them, groom them, feed them, etc etc.
I in very good physical and mental shape for my age. I have 2 horse channels on UTube that I watch religiously: Steve Young Horsemanship and Stable Horse Training.
Is there anything I can volunteer to do so I can enjoy these marvelous creatures—up close and personal ?
I’d be so very grateful if you would allow me to visit
Sincerely Jo Ann Smith
My name is Patricia, I am yes disabled other than multiple surgeries and quite honestly I have two children I need autistic Spectrum I live in Massachusetts which has become ultimately the death of me with the environment the climate and one of my greatest desires in life has always been animals again I have two children on the Spectrum one lower one now considered Asperger’s outside of the spectrum although I need to speak with someone who may be able to help me help others if this is a possibility my number is 339-788 6381 thank you ever so much. Patricia