Location: Johns Island, South Carolina, United States
Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding, Inc., often known as CATR, is a nonprofit equine-assisted services program based in Johns Island, South Carolina. The organization helps children and adults build confidence, skills, and connection through therapeutic interactions with horses in a structured and supportive setting.
As one of the more established therapeutic riding programs in the Charleston area, CATR focuses on creating meaningful horse-centered experiences for participants with disabilities as well as wounded veterans. Its work is centered on the idea that horses can support both personal growth and functional development in powerful ways.
About This Program
CATR provides equine-assisted services for children and adults with disabilities, along with programming for wounded military veterans. Its services include therapeutic riding and related horse-based activities designed to support physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development.
The program also works with local public schools and offers group-based experiences that extend beyond private riding instruction. This broader approach allows CATR to serve participants in multiple ways, from individual skill-building lessons to school partnerships and veteran-focused programming.
Services Offered
- Therapeutic riding lessons
- Equine-assisted services
- Public school program
- Veterans program
- Group experiences
- Horse-based activities such as grooming, leading, and tacking
- Private, semi-private, and group lessons
Who They Serve
CATR may be a good fit for:
- Children with disabilities
- Adults with disabilities
- Wounded military veterans
- Individuals with physical challenges
- Individuals with cognitive challenges
- Individuals with emotional or social challenges
- Students in special education settings
- Families looking for equine-assisted services in the Charleston area
Facility and Setting
CATR operates from a dedicated equestrian facility on Johns Island, South Carolina. The setting supports both mounted and unmounted horse activities and provides a calm environment where participants can work with horses, instructors, and volunteers in a structured way.
Its farm-based location gives the program room to serve individual riders, school groups, and veterans while maintaining a therapeutic focus. The organization’s long-standing community presence also gives it the feel of a well-rooted local resource for equine-assisted services.
What Makes Them Unique
One of the things that sets CATR apart is the range of people it serves through distinct program tracks. In addition to therapeutic riding lessons, it offers a public school program and a veterans program, which expands access beyond a single lesson format.
CATR also stands out for its longevity and its emphasis on therapeutic connections with horses. For families and participants in the Charleston area, it offers an established nonprofit option with a broad and community-oriented model of equine-assisted services.