BACK STORY ENCORE
Tara East
Executive Director Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center It’s a pretty obvious cliché but true: Tara East has spent most of her life horsing around.
East is the executive director of the Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center in Augusta, which provides equine therapy and serves riders of all ages who have physical, emotional or cognitive disabilities. Its clients range from 14 months to 92 years. In operation since 1970, the Cheff Center has also become an internationally recognized training center to certify those who want to provide equine therapy. East, who has been at the helm since 2006, says there is no “cooler place to work. “ “You get to wear jeans and be around horses, and even though some of our clients just have the worst afflictions, they come here with smiles on their faces. We transform their day for them
Brian Powers
(continued on page 45)
46 | ENCORE APRIL 2017