Don Kelley first learned of Dream Catchers Therapeutic Riding Center in a Sun News article. The concept of horseback riding as physical therapy was meaningful to Kelley for several reasons: he was once a champion rider himself, and his son Jacob, now 1½, was born three months prematurely. "Just seeing those kids get on the horses… I get goosebumps just talking about it," he said.

As co-owners of Atlantic Housing in Longs, Kelley and his partners, Rick and Kim Poston, offered to donate the use of their facilities for a fundraising event. Plans for a carnival got underway.

Dream Catchers is one of the few facilities in the Southeast that offers hippotherapy, a form of physical rehabilitation that employs the multidimensional movement of horseback riding. The movements of a horse simulates the walking motions of a rider's hips and pelvis. Balance, posture, mobility, communication, and function are often improved, sometimes drastically.

A good time was had by all who attended the carnival held on March 10. The event was organized by Ann Van Dyke, executive director of Dream Catchers, and included rides, games, and refreshments.

Carnival attendees were able to have their photos taken with Ingenioso, an Andalusian stallion owned by Beaver Dam Equestrian Center in Conway, where Dream Catchers has its facilities. The mascot from the Pelicans baseball game also put in an appearance, to the delight of the children who attended. Beverage from Pepsi-Cola and snacks from Keebler's were donated for the event.

Raising funds for Dream Catchers continues to be a tremendous challenge. "People do not understand that most riding students receive no state funding," explained Van Dyke. The vast majority of students pay for lessons themselves, or are funded by donations; only about 5% of the lessons at Dream Catchers are underwritten by state organizations like the South Carolina Department of Social Services.

In a unique arrangement, Atlantic Housing in Longs announced that it will donate a portion of the sale price of any new or used mobile home to the riding center, if customers mention Dream Catchers at the time of the sale. "Anyone who buys a house, and mentions Dream Catchers, we will donate $500 to the center. New or used, it doesn't matter," said Kelley.

Ann Hayes, personnel manager of Dixie Stampede, was on hand to help out at the carnival. "Our mission statement is that we give back to the community, and this year we've chosen Dream Catchers as our major project," she commented.

Dixie Stampede will host a huge yard sale in its parking lot on April 28; proceeds will help cover the center's operating costs. Additionally, Dixie Stampede will sponsor an October benefit dinner, and a special show featuring a professional horse whisperer is also in the works, according to Hayes, who has become a member of Dream Catcher's advisory board.

"When I've taken different projects to my community involvement committee, this is the one that they've really focused on," she commented. "It's an awesome program. You see the difference between the time you put a child on the horse, and the time you take them off. Even in thirty minutes, you can see how it helps."

For information on Dream Catchers Therapeutic Riding Center, call 365-9550. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to Dream Catchers, 6200 Adrian Parkway, Conway, SC 29526. For information on purchasing a home from Atlantic Housing in Longs, call 399-8055.