News from Brickhouse Equestrian Center (BEC) and Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding  (CATR) 
July 2017 

Good luck to  
Julia Nichols!
 
In 2010, Julia Nichols joined the staff at BEC teaching community lessons, and in 2013 she took the position of  BEC Program Director.    In this position, she brought in new students, trained and conditioned horses, coached students at horse shows and even started the BEC Pony Club.  In addition, Julia has been essential to CATR's Therapeutic Riding Program by stepping in to volunteer when needed and by serving as Chair and Co-Chair for CATR's annual fundraiser.  
This spring Julia took a position as Marketing and Communications 
Coordinator at United Way in Myrtle Beach. 
For the past seven years, Julia has been a valuable member of the CATR and BEC family and will be missed dearly.  We wish her all the best in her future endeavors! 

We will miss you, Julia!


CATR Welcomes Lauren and Kenna 
 

Lauren Gayden recently joined CATR's staff as a therapeutic riding instructor.  Lauren is a SC native who recently moved back to the area from Nashville. 
Lauren graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Early Childhood Education.  She then went on to certify with PATH International and has been teaching for four years.      


Kenna Brookshire
interned for CATR in the spring as part of her coursework at the College of Charleston. 
After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and a minor in Psychology in May, Kenna joined the staff as CATR's part-time Administrative Assistant and BEC's Assistant Instructor for Summer Camp.  Kenna has been riding for fourteen years and participated on the IEA team throughout high school.
 

Click here to learn more about Internship Opportunities at CATR.



CATR & BEC Events

June 15th - July 22nd  
CATR Summer Session

July 14th & 22nd, August 5th & 18th 
BEC Pony Club Meet
 
August 26th
Volunteer Orientation & Training 

September 9th  
 
Volunteer Conference & PATH Intl. State Meeting & Education Day
*Details coming soon!

Sept. 18th - Dec. 16th 
Fall Therapeutic Riding Session
 
November 17th  
Trident United Way Day of Caring

November 20th - 25th  
CATR Thanksgiving Break

December 11th - 16th  
CATR & BEC Holiday
Week 


Under the Big Top  
CATR's Summer Camp Program 

CATR offered a Summer Camp Program to therapeutic riding students June 6th - 9th.  The CATR staff developed a curriculum with a circus theme, which was fitting since the camp was held "under the big top" of our covered arena! 

Five returning students and one new student participated. The six teenagers were supported by eight volunteers and two therapeutic riding instructors.  Camp was from 9:00 to 1:00, with mornings spent riding and exploring vaulting positions on the barrel.   When mounted, campers worked on independent steering, posting the trot, balance and posture.  After riding, everyone groomed their horses, hosed them off to cool them down and even gave them a bath! 

Campers learned "circus tricks" using rainbow streamers, pois, juggling balls and scarves, hula hoops and balancing plates.  These fun circus props stimulated self-expression and cooperation while challenging coordination.  

Campers made individual horseshoe print artwork and worked together painting cardboard boxes in bright colors. The boxes were used to create a "circus arena" for their performance on the final day!

Camp activities focused on positive social interactions, learning new skills, teamwork and creative problem solving.  On the last day of camp, the students were thrilled to show off both their mounted and unmounted   accomplishments!  The troupe's circus performance was fabulous and included horses and riders, jugglers and even tightrope dancers!

We had a blast at summer camp and are looking forward to offering it again next year! 
BEC's New Program Director 
Welcome, Miller Hiers! 

Miller (left) and her sister,
Meri Beth, with Al Capony
Brickhouse Equestrian Center is proud to welcome Miller Hiers as the new Program Director. 

Miller began her equestrian life in 2003, at just eight years old.  She took her very first riding lesson at BEC, on Al Capony.  As Miller's passion for horses continued to grow, she joined the Charleston Pony Club and was an avid foxhunter and eventer. 

In 2009, having just finished the eighth grade, Miller started working in the barn.  She spent all of her high school years feeding horses and mucking stalls, all the while riding any horse she could, every chance she got.  During these years, one of Miller's proudest accomplishments was helping Murray to train our beloved Woodstock.

As a full time college student, not only did Miller continue working as barn staff, she made time in her busy schedule to begin teaching lessons.  Upon graduating from the College of Charleston in May, Miller was offered the position of Program Director.  When asked why she is still at BEC, after all these years, she replied, "I love kids, I love horses, and I love BEC and the CATR Program!"

Be sure to say hello to Miller the next time you are at the farm!
Professional Education 
CATR Hosts First Workshop & Certification
 
CATR hosted its first PATH International Instructor Workshop and Certification June 4th - 7th.   It was facilitated by PATH Intl. Evaluators, Mandy Branton and Karen Brittle.

Classroom sessions were held at Berkeley Electric Cooperative, and the practical elements were facilitated at BEC.  There were eighteen participants, including several CATR volunteers, a CATR Instructor-In-Training and a BEC student.  Six participants were instructor candidates and went through the certification process after the workshop.  The PATH Intl. Registered Instructor Certification includes a horsemanship component, a riding test and a teaching competency.  

All participants had the opportunity to learn and review the role of the therapeutic riding instructor, as well as have hands on experience with the CATR horses. Topics included analyzing the horses' movement, posture and alignment for the rider and teaching techniques.

Laura Hunsucker, CATR's 2016-2017 Instructor-In-Training, was one of the instructor candidates to complete and pass her PATH International Registered Instructor Certification.  Congratulations to all who participated!

Thank you to the volunteers, therapeutic riding students and families who shared their time and talents for the workshop.  We are looking forward to hosting many more educational opportunities at CATR!   

Please check out the short film, "The Ride" to learn about a little girl's love of riding and how it has helped her learn to take her first steps. 

The Ride