Strong hands lifted him from his wheelchair and gently arranged him on the back of the patient old quarterhorse. With the same hands lightly supporting him on either side, Lee entered the covered arena on his favorite horse. The smile on his face was radiant.

Four months have passed since the Dream Catchers Therapeutic Riding Center moved to its new home at the Beaver Dam Equestrian Center, located on 42 acres in the Baker's Chapel area of Conway. "It's great!" said owner Ann Van Dyke. "This place was built with Dream Catchers in mind."

The benefits of hippotherapy, a form of physical rehabilitation that employs the multidimensional movement of horseback riding, were recognized as early as 460 BC. When a woman with paralysis won the silver medal for dressage at the 1952 Olympics, medical and equine professionals took interest. The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) was formed in 1969; today, there are over 550 NARHA-affiliated centers in North America.

"The horse simulates the human gait, the movement of the hips and pelvis," said Heather Ruvalcaba van Dyke, head instructor at Dream Catchers (and no relation to Ann Van Dyke). "This really helps people who can't use their legs." Balance, posture, mobility, communication, and function are often improved, sometimes drastically.

A Myrtle Beach resident, van Dyke teaches between four and six students per day. "The walking, the warmth of the horse, being ABOVE everybody else - these things increase the self-confidence of my students," she explained. "And I applaud every one of the parents. They're not stopping their kids from getting on these huge horses." Though some parents, initially, are a bit nervous, they soon begin to admire the well-trained horses, the skilled instructor, and her experienced volunteers.

The six regular Dream Catchers volunteers help out with a variety of tasks: as "sidewalkers," they support riders with balance and motor skill problems; they feed and groom the horses, clean stalls, and help with instruction. Allen and Brian Shaw of North Conway have been Dream Catchers volunteers for a year and a half.

The 20-year-old twins seem alike in many ways: they have ridden in championships in their native Iowa, both have curly blond hair, they're both studying computer science at Coastal Carolina University. Brian just happens to be blind.

The twins feel that Brian's blindness helps them relate to the challenges faced by Dream Catchers students. "In fact, I don't think of them as being handicapped," said Allen. "Being totally blind, I sometimes think, 'What's the big deal here?'" agreed Brian.

But the Shaws are quick to acknowledge the benefits of riding for these special students. "For most of the kids, riding is the one thing they look forward to doing," Brian said.

Michael Carter arrives for his fourth lesson. He is a twenty-five year old man with autism and bipolar disorder. "His grandfather had horses when Michael was a boy, and he's always wanted to ride," said Beverly Hill, house manager at Forestbrook House, a group home where Carter has lived for four years.

Hill has already noticed subtle changes in the young man. "He's very content, and he loves looking forward to Tuesdays when he comes to see 'his horse'!"

A NARHA-certified instructor, van Dyke plans to be certified by the Special Olympics, so that her students can learn dressage and perhaps even compete. She also wants to work with delinquent children, people with terminal illnesses, and children who have recently lost a parent or grandparent.

"This will eventually be one big helping place," she said. "That's what I want."

A Dream Catchers benefit will take place from 2:30-7:00 PM this Saturday, July 9, at Bimini's in Myrtle Beach. Entertainment will be provided by Jimmy Valentine and the Chainsaws. For information on the event, call 449-5549.

Dream Catchers provides morning and evening riding lessons on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. For information on Dream Catchers, call 365-9550.