Welcome to Saddle Up!

Saddle Up! is the place where all children are equal in the saddle. It’s Middle Tennessee’s oldest and largest riding center offering equine-based programs exclusively for children with disabilities. Come learn more about our programs, our highly trained people, and how riding and interaction with horses can make an incredible difference in the life of a child who faces lots of challenges.

The care and safety of our Saddle Up! families, volunteers, staff, and herd continue to be our top priority. The start of the spring session has been delayed to Monday, January 18, 2021. Our offices will be closed and administrative staff will work remotely until programs resume. The herd will be well cared for by scheduled volunteers and staff who will wear masks and maintain social distancing.
TN Dept of Health guidelines for COVID-19 exposure

MISSION STATEMENT

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. For many of our riders, Saddle Up! is one of the few, if not the only, recreational programs available to them.

CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS

To ensure the safety of its participants and a quality learning opportunity, Saddle Up! requires all of its Instructors to be certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl) In addition, we provide special training for our dedicated group of volunteers who come from all walks of life, age brackets and locations in the area to serve in the program.

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Adaptive Riding

Participants in our Adaptive Riding Program learn horsemanship skills in a rider-focused setting with PATH-certified instructors and sidewalkers. Lessons are designed to meet the rider's goals in a fun, inclusive session.

Therapy Services

Therapy goals are individualized to the specific needs of each participant, and are aimed at creating functional change with independence in mobility, activities of daily living, and increased participation in family, school, and community life.

EAL Program

Our Equine Assisted Learning Program involve non-mounted activities to help participants build self-confidence, improve social skills and reinforce academic skills. Activities include arts and crafts, nature hikes, horse table games and discovery projects.

Equestrian Club

The Saddle Up! Equestrian Club is a group of 6 riders who have excelled through the Therapeutic Riding program to work on mastering horsemanship skills. Each meeting provides opportunities in class work, barn work, riding, and horse care.

Learn about these and other programs by visiting our Programs page.

Major Annual Fundraising Events

We are grateful to the organizers of these two annual events for their continued support of our program. The Music Country Grand Prix and Chukkers for Charity make a significant impact to our operating budget each year.

Music Country Grand Prix

Benefitting Saddle Up!, the Music Country Grand Prix is a premier equestrian jumping competition featuring top riders and horses from across the nation.

Chukkers for Charity

Benefitting Saddle Up! and the Rochelle Center, Chukkers for Charity is a polo match featuring both professional and celebrity players.

Pony Up!

Pony Up! is a month-long fundraising competition that allows families and businesses to support Saddle Up! in a fun, new format.

Annual Fund

Saddle Up! does not receive any government funding so we rely purely on the support of our broad base of caring individuals like you.

RIDES: Rider Instruction, Development and Evaluation System

Developed by Saddle Up! instructors, RIDES is a tool used to teach mounted and unmounted skills and to set and measure rider goals and objectives, from the fundamentals to cantering.

Mutual of Ohama "aha" moment series, featuring five Saddle Up! members

In 2013, Saddle Up! was thrilled to be included in Mutual of Omaha's "aha" moments series. Included were co-founder Lynne Evans along with parents, riders and volunteers.

Contact Us

Saddle Up!
1549 Old Hillsboro Road
Franklin, TN 37069-9136
VIEW MAP
615-794-1150
FAX: 615-794-7973

Program Hours

Monday - Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 4pm
Please contact us during these hours for assistance. We are closed Sundays & major holidays, except for special events.

If you have questions or would like more information about our program, please don't hesitate to contact us.

About Us

Saddle Up! is the region’s oldest and largest recreational therapeutic riding program, and it is the only one exclusively serving children and youth with disabilities.