Volunteer at Saddle Up!

Saddle Up!’s mission is to provide children and youth with disabilities the opportunity to grow and develop through therapeutic, educational and recreational activities with horses. We bring that mission to life by providing a year-round program on our 34-acre farm near Franklin, TN.

Saddle Up! could not operate without the dedicated help of an army of volunteers from our community. There are numerous positions that require a wide variety of talents.  All volunteers MUST attend New Volunteer Training before participating in any of the below listed opportunities.

Sidewalkers

This volunteer interacts with and helps our special riders. Assigned to a particular rider in a riding lesson, this volunteer helps the rider get the horse ready, helps them get on the horse, and walks next to the rider throughout the mounted portion of the lesson providing support as needed. This is the person most involved with helping our special needs riders. Sidewalkers must be at least 16 years-old and able to walk briskly beside a horse for an average of 30 minutes. There are opportunities to sidewalk on a weekly basis or sub in as a sidewalker on any days when you are available.

Leaders* (weekly commitment for the duration of a program session)

This volunteer is in charge of a horse in a riding lesson. They pre-groom the horse before the lesson, help with tacking, and lead the horse throughout the lesson. Most riders who have leaders are unable to fully control their horse. After the lesson, they are responsible for putting the horse back where it needs to go and returning all equipment to the tack room. Leaders are volunteers over the age of 16 and must be able to walk at a fast pace for 30 minutes and jog intermittently during the lesson. They should be very comfortable with horses and react calmly if an incident arises.