By Laura Gilmer

Saddle Up! was created in the late 1980s as a therapeutic riding program for special needs children. Located on a beautiful 35 acre farm in Franklin, Tennessee, this area is mainly known as the hometown for many recording artists such as the Judds, Keith Urban, Michael McDonald, and Steve Winwood to name a few.

However, this area is also home to an exceptional program which helps countless families in Middle Tennessee that have children with disabilities.

Currently, this popular program has over 240 children on the waiting list, and it is one of only three programs to earn Premier Accredited Center designation from the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), the national organization that sets the standards for quality and safety. The farm normally fluctuates between 16 to 20 horses and serves around 130 children, ages 4 to 18, who have over 40 different disabilities including Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Pervasive Developmental Delay, Autism, non-verbal disorders, visual and hearing loss, developmental and learning disabilities, and many others.

“This place is wonderful. The children are accepted here. At times, these children don’t get a chance to shine. But, at Saddle Up! they are the stars of the show,” Anne Craig, a NARHA certified instructor at Saddle Up! says. “We don’t just do pony rides. We are teaching correct rein and leg aides, and developing good riders.”

At first, Craig says, many students have been scared and fearful of horses but, over time, they were completely transformed and now love riding. “Horseback riding helps many of our children with balance, coordination, and social skills.”

Brant Bousquet whose son Robert, age 13, has autism and participates in the riding program, explains that it is such a positive experience for his son.

“Riding horses has been a real blessing for Robert. There is such a magical interaction between horses and children. He has become more social because he is able to talk to people about riding horses. One boy was really impressed when Robert told him he rode horses. Not all children or adults have the opportunity to ride horses, and this was an activity that made him special. He was able to show-off his blue and red ribbons that he won at the horse shows.”

Deann Stanley, mother of a 15-year-old boy named Alan who also has autism, explains that Saddle Up! provides a place for special needs children to have recreational fun while learning to ride horses.

“Riding horses has a calming effect on my son. It is an avenue for him to make friends and build relationships with others. Also, he is learning giving skills and being a good steward.

“For Christmas, he saved money in his piggy bank to buy his horse a massage and also gave money for the retirement party for one of the horses he used to ride. Alan is learning life lessons and also having fun,” she says.

Bousquet explains that horses give the kids the opportunity to receive therapy in a setting where they don’t realize it is work. “Riding horses is more enjoyable than receiving therapy in a medical setting. My son is always looking forward to his riding lessons.”

Executive Director Cheryl Scutt explains that they don’t allow parents to serve as volunteers in their children’s lessons. “This is the time for the rider to function independently, which is more difficult if they have a parent in the lesson.”

However, Scutt says that parents are instrumental in making this program work through volunteering at events, donating money, and being a support network for each other.

Saddle Up! Development Coordinator Tina Carpenter says that riding benefits special needs children by being an amazing confidence builder and motivator.

“There is no other activity or therapy that can simulate walking like the movement of the horse. The simple act of grooming the horse prior to the lesson is the perfect setting for executing and improving fine motor skills and sequencing. Mounting and dismounting the horse, starting and stopping or riding an obstacle course while mounted are activities which improve motor planning, something many riders struggle with or lack altogether.”

Carpenter goes on to say, “The emotional bond formed with the horse can help improve personal relationships, patience, and self-confidence among children with disabilities. Therapeutic riding uses the horse as a tool to achieve these goals, all of which can easily be transferable into daily life.”

Scutt saw firsthand when she was a young reporter in Bloomington, Indiana how programs like Saddle Up! can change people’s lives. She wrote a story about a program two brothers started that helped people with disabilities through riding horses. She vividly remembers one experience during that visit that eventually led her to where she is today.

“The day I went to their barn to interview them and learn about the program, there was a young girl with Spina Bifida sitting in a wheelchair by the indoor arena. To this day, the image of her being lifted from that wheelchair and put astride a horse remains as clear as if it happened 10 minutes ago. She literally transformed once she was on the horse. She sat straighter. She smiled to the point that she was beaming. She had an air of confidence that you could see and feel on this half-ton horse. It was amazing and obviously memorable.”

Scutt has also seen many breakthroughs and life-changing moments at Saddle Up! “We’ve had children say their first words while on their horse. We’ve seen children progress from wheelchairs or walkers to walking independently or with reduced aids. We’ve had children make emotional connections. Recently, one instructor sent an emotional email after a lesson in which a non-verbal rider exploded with words during their lesson.”

Scutt also talks passionately about the horses and how they “know” they are doing a job and take special care of these riders. Scutt mentions a time when they had the opportunity to host the Special Olympics training camp for the 2007 equestrian team last summer.

“One of the Olympians had seizure problems, and the excitement of the camp seemed to make them worse. During a session in our outdoor arena, she had an extended seizure while on the horse. The horse stood in place, perfectly still, during the 10 to 15 minutes before they could safely remove the rider. Then the horse moved. That type of awareness—of being tuned into the rider’s needs is typical and amazing!”

The majority of activities happen in the lesson program which can last between 30 minutes for a private lesson to 60 minutes for a group lesson–with a maximum of 4 riders in a group. Lessons can include grooming, tacking, untacking, walking the horse to the mounting block, and working on riding skills. At times, they may go on trail rides outside, while arena work usually involves games or riding over obstacles that help build the rider’s skills.

“As the saying goes here, success is measured in inches. It may take a child six months to learn to pick up the reins and hold them but, when it happens, it is exhilarating to the whole riding team,” Carpenter says. ”The most rewarding aspect of my job is knowing that I am making a difference, no matter how small, in the lives of my students and their families.”

The program is always looking for quality horses to add to their lesson program, but their requirements are strict and the process is intense and time consuming.

“It takes a special horse to be able to do this demanding job. What we do is not just a pony ride. Consequently, it requires a horse that has good physical, mental and behavioral characteristics. We have a variety of horses – for example, former polo, dressage, and pleasure horses. Almost all of our horses have been donated, and we are grateful to the individuals who have chosen to give their horses to our program.”

Saddle Up! has an equine committee, led by the equine manager, that evaluates possible horses that maybe added to the program. The potential therapy horse goes through a 90-day evaluation/training. *(The detailed requirements are provided at the end of this article)

“We are picky about accepting a horse because we have to be. Our riders’ safety is first and foremost, and the horse is at the center of that,” Scutt says. “In addition, both our veterinarian and farrier donate a lot of services so we work hard to make sure we bring in horses that are sound to prevent additional costs to them.”

Scutt describes in detail what happens during those 90 days, “The horse undergoes extensive conditioning – simulating activities in lessons that may vary from work at the mounting block for wheelchairs to having toys used – to assess if this is a good fit. Once they’re in the program, we have an ongoing conditioning program to ensure both their physical and mental health because both are equally important for a horse to succeed, especially on an ongoing basis, because the job is stressful to them.”

The usual challenge that most non-profits face is the need for money to sustain their programs. Saddle Up! is no different and relies on many people to help their organization run smoothly. They have a small full-time staff of eight people, 20 part-time employees, and they have a volunteer group of over 300.

Scutt says, “Without our volunteers, we would either have to reduce the program or significantly increase our budget. So recruiting, training and retaining our volunteer corps is an ongoing challenge.”

Bonnie Garner has been a volunteer at Saddle Up! for over a year and says there is a sense of pride and accomplishment from being involved with this organization. “The staff and volunteers are helpful and funny. Everyone pitches in where they are needed. Egos are left at the door when it comes to caring for the kids and horses. The children teach me patience, and they are always waiting for a chance to correct me and have a giggle at my expense.”

Saddle Up! is not funded by an agency and relies exclusively on donations, gifts-in-kind, fundraisers and grants for the various services and activities this program provides. This includes support from individuals, businesses, and foundations. Also, they have two charity events during the year to help raise additional funds. If you would like to find out more about donating a horse, money, equipment or volunteering with the organization, you can visit their website at www.saddleupnashville.org.

Saddle Up! · Therapy Horse Requirements

To be accepted on a 90 day trial period the horse must be:

• Between the ages of 7 and 20.
• No less than 12 hands high (48 inches) and no more than 16.2 hands high (66 inches).
• Sound with no physical limitations.
• Forgiving of inexperienced and/or unbalanced riders.
• Obedient to both voice and leg signals.
• Quiet and well-mannered on the ground.
• Accepting of assistive devices and equipment.
• Comfortable with a variety of handlers and experiences.
• If above 14 hands, able to walk, trot (or second gait), and canter, with smooth transitions between each.
• If above 14 hands, must have a minimum of one year riding experience.
• If below 14 hands, able to walk and trot (or second gait), with smooth transitions between each.
• Fill current needs of the program, as decided by the Equine Committee.

To be accepted in the program the following requirements must be met:

• Veterinary exam of the horse must present no longstanding concerns.
• Pass 80% of instructor evaluations, with a minimum of six evaluations done within the first 90 days. (Barring any health concerns or unforeseen circumstances.)
• Pass 80% of Equine Management Team Evaluations within the first 90 days. (Barring any health concerns or unforeseen circumstances.)