SPRING BREAK 3/15 - 3/20 NAT'L VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK 4/18 - 4/24

Saddle Up! provides a recreational therapeutic horseback riding program that makes a positive difference in the lives of Middle Tennessee children and youth, ages 4 to 18, with more than 40 types of documented disabilities.

In 2008, Saddle Up:

• Achieved full implementation of our innovative Waitlist Provisional Riders Program. The Waitlist program was created and launched by Saddle Up! as a pilot in 2007 to address our biggest challenge – the continually growing list of children waiting to get into the program. From July 2006 to date, the waiting list ballooned from about 140 to nearly 250 children. Due to the Waitlist program, nearly 100 of those children have had the opportunity to experience benefits of recreational therapeutic riding and activities with horses.
• Increased volunteerism by 42% vs. 2007. This was especially celebrated as Saddle Up! designated 2008 as the Year of the Volunteer in recognition of all that volunteers do. Volunteers founded Saddle Up! in 1990, and they remain the lifeblood of the organization serving in all capacities from Board leadership to barn duties to serving in the heart of our work – the weekly lessons.
• Increased the number of lessons provided. From 4,117 lessons in 2007, we increased to 4,841 lessons projected for year-end 2008 – a nearly 18% increase.
• Served more children. Over the past two years, we have increased the number of children served by 28%, going from 140 children in 2006 to 179 in 2008.
  

Behind all the numbers is a child. Serving that child – with an emphasis on the abilities of each individual – is the focus of all that happens at Saddle Up!. That’s only possible thanks to the leadership and vision of our Board, the expertise and commitment of our staff, the devoted dedication of our specially trained very valued volunteers, and the support of our generous donors. And, of course, the power of the horse, whose movements, emotional connections and spirit are the foundation of the program.

Saddle Up! has grown from offering lessons one night a week in daylight and good weather only in 1990 to offering lessons six days a week year-round at our 34-acre farm with its state of the art indoor arena.

Saddle Up! is the oldest and largest program in the region and is one of only three programs in Tennessee to earn the Premier Accredited Center designation from the NARHA, the national organization that sets the standards for quality and safety. We are also the only program in Middle Tennessee that exclusively serves children and youth with disabilities.

Saddle Up! operates with a full-time staff of eight, a part-time staff that averages 20, and a volunteer core of nearly 300. We rely almost exclusively on donations from individuals and businesses, fundraising events, and grants to fund our operation. More than 81 cents of each dollar spent funds direct program costs, including food, veterinarian and farrier care for our herd of heroic horses, farm and barn maintenance, insurance, program staff, volunteer support and scholarships for children needing financial help.

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