The city of Cayce has officially welcomed its first-ever therapy horse, Muffin.

The 5-year-old miniature horse, which is also South Carolina’s first therapy horse, was given an introduction to the community by the Cayce Fire Department at the launch of their Midlands Gives campaign request.

During the welcome event, which took place at the department’s headquarters, Muffin got a taste of what handlers do, getting to experience first-hoove the job at hand (hoove).

According to the release, Muffin has gone through extensive training to achieve the title of a registered therapy horse, meeting the standards of Pet Partners, an organization focused on animal therapy.

Muffin is partnered with Lindsay McDade, Cayce’s first community risk reduction manager, and the release added that the pair received the highest rating during the team evaluation with Pet Partners.

The release states that the Muffin Cares program is about meeting the community’s need for connection, reducing stigma and providing hope. The topics that will be covered by the program include fire safety information, drug prevention and resiliency resources.

The new program will also help connect the community with resources like The Courage Center, a nonprofit centered around drug addiction recovery, and LRADAC, a drug addiction treatment center.

“Society has become technology-driven, making face-to-face interaction harder to come by, especially for the younger generations,” Cayce Fire Chief Steven Bullard is quoted saying in the release. “Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) helps to bring back face-to-face communication and meet people where they are at. This could be at a variety of rehabilitation, community-based, education or other events.”

McDade hopes to raise $10,000 during the May 7 Midlands Gives event, which falls after the Chronicle’s press deadline.

“We would like the Cayce Public Safety Foundation to raise funds through Midlands Gives to provide additional equipment for Muffin and coloring books and outreach materials to be distributed across the Midlands,” McDade is quoted saying in the release.

This program isn’t the only way that the Cayce Fire Department has turned focus to addressing drug-use and increasing community. Earlier this year, the department hosted its first ever Save a Life Day which was centered around creating a more approachable way to inform about drug awareness.