RIDING CLUB

Equine Therapy

Equine Therapy is for the following disorders: ADD, CP, depression, anxiety, autism, drug and alcohol addiction, Downs Syndrome, and PTSD, among others. Saddle Up is not  a place just for riding in the box. Saddle Up’s arena-based program includes barn orientation/safety, horse grooming, tacking, behavior around horses, controlling the horse, and arena riding. Participants work on posture, getting exercise, stretching, working muscles and strengthening body core. We teach a variety of things about the horse and horsemanship to get the participants comfortable with the horse before they actually get on. Horse handlers and side walkers are used with each participant for safety.  
Classes are 40 minutes long and held each Saturday morning.

Cost is $40 per session or if paid in advance $150 a month or $75 if riding bi- weekly

Saddle Up is a place not just for riding horses, rather Saddle Up is a place of the heart. Everyone who works or volunteers at Saddle Up does so with their heart, not just their hands. This is a program where people connect with horses, which is a wonderful thing in itself. But it is so much more than that. This is a place where people connect with each other; where relationships are built that change the lives of the riders as well as the volunteers; where genuine love and commitment are evidenced at every practice session and at every event. Saddle Up is a place of equalization: every person, no matter rider or volunteer, no matter able-bodied or disabled, no matter mentally challenged or fully mentally functional, all experience the sheer joy that comes through the triumph of the human spirit. Being part of Saddle Up will change you forever to watch as children and adults who are in shells created by disability, by emotional pain, by fear, by anxiety chip away at those shells from the inside as instructors and horses chip away from the outside is an amazing thing to see and to be a part of. And even more so, when that shell is discarded and left behind, and the person who emerges is stronger and more confident and more able to cope with their situation in life, being a part of this cannot help but change a person in more ways than can be expressed in words. Come and see for yourself. You too will be changed forever.

Saddle UP Riding Club's Equine Assisted Activities & Therapies (EAAT) 

Saddle Up Riding Club, Inc. Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) Program is to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities through equine assisted and related activities. Saddle Up Riding Club is a  previous member center of the PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International), which provides structured horseback riding sessions to children and adults with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. Although we are not still members of the PATH Intl. due to the cost of fees. We still and will always follow their guidelines. Our instructors are nationally certified in therapeutic riding through PATH Intl. and our volunteers and horses have been carefully selected and trained for their roles.

Depending on the disability, benefits of horseback riding include improvement in joint mobility, balance and coordination, relaxation of spasticity, increased muscle tone, self-confidence through self-image, improved learning, concentration, spatial awareness, and motivation to set and achieve goals. Riders also benefit emotionally, through the unique bonds they form with their horses and our dedicated volunteers. Most important is that riding a horse is fun!  From the beginning, riders learn balance, coordination and self-assurance while receiving therapeutic muscle stimulation. As a result of carefully planned lessons, poise posture, strength and flexibility improve. A strong sense of responsibility develops as the rider learns to take part in the care of the horses and equipment. Advanced equestrian skills, teamwork and cooperation are learned as the rider becomes independent on horseback. Finally classes, horse shows and events encourage confidence, self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment as new levels of expertise and new goals are met. Advanced equestrian skills, teamwork and cooperation are learned as the rider becomes independent on horseback. Finally classes, horse shows and events encourage confidence, self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment as new levels of expertise and new goals are met.

What programs are available at Saddle Up Riding Club?

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Saddle Up for Heroes • Special Olympics, Paralympics and Competition Training  • Internships  

Our Mission 

To improve the lives of able, disabled and at risk children and adults through direct interaction with horses and equine assisted activities

Whether you've grown up around horses and are wanting to reconnect. A child with aspirations to compete with your giant furry friend. Disabled and wanting to feel the freedom that horses unlock within, or you simply find joy in getting dirty with the aroma of horsehair following you home, while creating something special through helping others; Saddle up has a spot for you.

Offering programs, opportunity and a family for anyone and everyone. Saddle up is a family owned and operated 501c3 that believes in teaching the character traits of perseverance, teamwork, compassion, confidence and the desire to help others grow through intervention and care of horses. We are founded on the truth that the Lord is our shelter and our strength. He has blessed us with the opportunity to share his compassion for us and reveal his strength through learning, caring and understanding these majestic animals. (Psalm 33:17-19)

Who We Are

Everyone who works or volunteers at Saddle Up does so with their heart, not just their hands. This is a program where people connect with horses, which is a wonderful thing in itself. But it is so much more than that. This is a place where people connect with each other; where relationships are built that change the lives of the riders as well as the volunteers; where genuine love and commitment are evidenced at every practice session and at every event. Saddle Up is a place of equalization: every person, no matter rider or volunteer, no matter able bodied or disabled, no matter mentally challenged or fully mentally functional, all experience the sheer joy that comes through the triumph of the human spirit

Come Join Us!

Join our Barn Time, which gives children the chance to learn about horses, their care, and how to ride in a group setting. Sessions run for three hours, this includes learning safety around the barn, grooming and tacking, cleaning, and general horse care. We also offer beginner lessons along with specialized Western and English lessons.