Our Story

A woman riding a black horse outdoors, smiling, with trees and a fence in the background.

Amy Albertson COTA/L, CTRI
Program Director

“Myrtle Beach Therapeutic Riding + Vaulting Club was founded to share the joy and mental and physical benefits of riding and caring for horses.  I started by partnering with my draft cross gelding (Baloo, who was the first horse I trained and raised from a foal) to teach clients and friends here in Myrtle Beach.  I worked as a pediatric home-based Occupational Therapy assistant seeing clients during the day and teaching riding and vaulting lessons in the evening.  The lesson fees initially just helped cover the costs of caring for Baloo.  Gradually we grew to a small lesson program for equestrian vaulting and therapeutic and recreational riding, the students coming 3-5 a day to work with my gelding and one other gelding (Poncho) boarded at the farm we worked out of.  One day my gelding colicked and despite emergency veterinary care and NC state veterinary hospital attempting surgery he didn't make it through, they had to euthanize him.  I realized then how much I had relied on him as part of my daily and weekly routine and when he was gone, I felt a huge void.  I wasn't immediately ready to continue teaching, I even thought about taking a break to explore other things for myself for a time.  But then there was an outpouring of love from my students and their families.  They began sharing their stories of how he had touched their lives and brought them so much joy.  Through the sharing of my student's memories of joy and seeing their appreciation for the benefits he brought to their lives I realized I needed to continue.  Our non-profit board was very supportive, and we began to look for the right horse to partner with our club.  The draft mare we purchased first was renamed Joy to stand for the value she brought into our lives.

Since then, we have had over 500 individuals of all backgrounds and abilities participate in our programs and we now have 5 horses in our care who partner with us.  Our programs have come to include women's mini-retreats, occupational and physical therapy sessions, adaptive riding, recreational riding, driving and vaulting, beach and trail rides and day camp programs.  We are working to expand more programs into supporting mental health and healthy living in youth and adults.  The majority of our sessions now are for therapy clients who are benefiting from the horse's movement and learning environment as part of the therapeutic activities they participate in to meet their individual goals.  

Our program is now hosted on a small farm leased solely for our program's use.  Our challenges have been sustaining funds coming in to match the outgoing costs of caring for the horses and paying for help and the costs of equipment.  Our program manages the care, property maintenance, and safety standards for the farm.   Our staff, volunteers, students, and therapists all work together to care for and maintain the farm while running the programs. ”

Our Team

  • Smiling woman with long brown hair outdoors in a park, wearing a gray sleeveless top.

    Skye King

    President of the Board, Skye King, says "working with MBTRVC gives me the opportunity to combine my love of horses and kids! As a mom, a Social Worker, and a horse lover, I couldn’t find a better opportunity to give back to the community."

  • A smiling woman with gray hair, wearing blue glasses and an orange button-up shirt, outdoors with blurred trees in the background.

    Sherri Strickland

    Sherri Strickland is a Columbia, SC native who has lived in Myrtle Beach since 1993.  Her lifelong love of horses connected her with the program when Sherri's horse, My Poncho Skip, worked as a therapeutic riding and vaulting horse with the program from 2017 until 2025. Sherri continues to advocate for the love shown at MBTRVC and serves as Treasurer on the Board.

  • A woman with shoulder-length red hair smiling outdoors, wearing a light gray T-shirt with a logo and gold necklace.

    Jessica Keefer

    Originally from Connecticut, Jessica has spent the last 20 plus years in Myrtle Beach. Attending CCU persuaded the move and she has developed a deep passion for the MB area and community. Her daughter Delaney has been a part of the therapy program since early 2022. 

  • A woman smiling outdoors wearing a straw hat and a gray T-shirt with a graphic of a person riding a horse.

    Deva-Jenet Pugh

    Hi, I'm Deva. My passions are life-long learning, arts and crafts, and being out in nature. I'm a homesteader who enjoys gardening, working with animals and homeschooling my children. We discovered Myrtle Beach Therapeutic Riding and Vaulting Club in 2024, my daughter fell in love with the horses and vaulting and we've been volunteering there ever since!  By working and volunteering at MBTRVC I get to help members of our community connect and benefit from therapeutic riding and horse care and I learn something new every day!

  • A young woman with a braid smiling and holding a purple lead rope, standing next to a small horse or pony with a saddle and bridle, in an indoor riding arena.

    Brianna

    My name is Brianna and I love working with horses and people alike. There is always something more to learn in the horse world so I’m here to further my knowledge and prepare for a potential career, all while having fun and enjoying my favorite things!

  • Smiling woman wearing glasses, a gray baseball cap, and a gray T-shirt with a logo of a horse racing and a person on a horse, standing outdoors with a blurred green background.

    Claire Heisler

    Growing up I showed hunters, jumpers, and equitation. My sister and I had a stable in Vermont in the 80’s. She had a therapy program and I taught the clients that did the horse shows. Now I enjoy being around the horses and watching the progress of all the wonderful children and adults that come to Myrtle Beach Therapeutic Riding + Vaulting Club!

Black-and-white photo of a rustic barn with a wooden upper section and a brick lower section, open entrance, and surrounded by trees and grass.
Group of women standing outdoors on green grass with a lake and trees in the background. Some women are wearing gray T-shirts with a horse and text, others are in casual clothing. There is one woman in a wheelchair, and a woman is holding a young girl.
Four women standing outdoors on grass, smiling, wearing matching gray T-shirts with a horse and rider graphic, with a background of green trees and sky.

Our Horses

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    Moon

  • Black and white photo of a small horse or pony with a mane and a halter on its head.

    Little Bit

  • A close-up black and white photograph of a horse wearing a halter, with a blurred background.

    Willow

  • A white horse wearing a halter, standing outdoors, with a blurred background.

    Joy

  • Black and white photo of a young horse with a halter, standing outdoors.

    Annabelle

A young boy in a black shirt, beige shorts, and a helmet riding a white horse, raising his hand in the air, with a woman in a gray shirt and wide-brimmed hat holding onto the boy's leg, outdoors on a grassy field.
Person in a wheelchair driving a horse-drawn cart on a grassy field.
A young boy riding a brown horse with a black tail in an open field on a cloudy day.