Mount Pleasant Magazine Nov/Dec 2021

82 PETS www.MtPl easant . Pet | www.MPVet s . Pet | www. f acebook . com/MPpet s F E A T U R E That’s because of Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding (CATR). CATR celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2021 and currently serves some 200 individuals, young and old, each year. Their constituency for this program of equine-assisted activities and therapies includes people with physical and mental challenges, ranging from autism to stroke recovery and a host of conditions that have been unresponsive to previous treatments. Colleen Trepen signed on as a CATR volunteer 17 years ago while working in consulting and program management in the corporate world. Today, she is CATR’s executive di- rector. At CATR’s 43-acre facility on Johns Island, she over- sees all its operations, including a full-time and part-time staff of 15 and a dedicated roster of part-time volunteers. As CATR’s leader, she is part of a special therapeutic com- munity, which some sources say may have origins among the ancient Greeks. In modern times, equine therapy dates principally from the 1950s, with its popularity increasing after World War II; veterans and amputees noticed the animals’ therapeutic benefits after spending time with their horses. The movement of the horse’s body mimics the natural human gait. Because of this, horseback riding can act as a therapy to help individuals with a wide range of disabilities to gain strength, balance and confidence. According to Trepen, CATR was founded to support peo- ple with disabilities in the Lowcountry through horseman- ship activities. The organization receives no government funding and relies on fundraising through its annual events and generous private donations. Today, when even the gasoline-powered “horseless carriages” that pushed horses to the sidelines as daily transportation are on their way out, few will ever have the chance to realize their equine fantasies. But in the Lowcountry, a select group of individuals each year will get a life-changing opportunity to learn, grow and flourish through riding some very special horses. CATR staff lead a horse during a therapeutic riding session.