Our Horses

Freedom has four legs.

Our horses are vital partners in making a difference in the lives of our participating children. Saddle Up! horses are “a breed apart” – very special animals carefully selected for their talents and temperament and trained for their roles. Meet our therapeutic horses below – a variety of breeds and sizes – all qualified to be partners and special friends for our children. We have several more horses and ponies in training, looking for their opportunity to join these special mounts.

Become a Horse Sponsor

Saddle Up! relies heavily on equine donations and free leases to provide safe and effective services.  Due to the population we serve, we are looking for equines who will be able to happily and safely serve our participants for many years.  Saddle Up! is dedicated to providing quality care to their equines through nutrition, training, conditioning, veterinarian and farrier care, as well as individualized retirement plans.

In order for Saddle Up! to consider your equine for donation/free lease, please CLICK HERE to review the donation/free lease information and complete the application form.  We ask that you complete the information to the best of your ability.  If any information is unknown, please be sure to let us know on the appropriate section of the application.  Once you have completed the application, please email it to lwood@saddleupnashville.org or fax it to (615) 794-7973.  Please allow 7-10 business days for staff to receive and review the application.  If you haven’t been contacted by a staff person after 7-10 business days, please feel free to contact the main office at (615) 794-1150 and ask to speak with Lindsey Wood.

Horse Donation/Free Lease Criteria

To be considered for our program equines must be…

  • Between the ages of five and nineteen.
  • No less than 11 hands tall (44 inches) and no more than 17 hands high (68 inches).
  • Sound with no physical limitations.
  • Able to walk, trot, and canter with smooth transitions between each, if above thirteen hands.
  • 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.
  • Experienced with mounted riders for a minimum of 2 years.
  • Saddle Up! can NOT consider or accept stallions or pregnant mares.

To be considered for our program equine owners must…

  • Give Saddle Up! access to a complete medical record history and permission to consult with current veterinarian.
  • Be able to take the equine back during the 90-day trial in the event that it does not meet program standards.

Thank you so much for showing interest in adopting a Saddle Up! horse. Saddle Up! horses are very special. They have worked this special job as a therapy horse for part of their life, and in most cases have had a job before! Retired Saddle Up! horses are looking for a loving, forever home with great care. Horses retire from Saddle Up! with different needs and different levels of use.

Please review our Adoption and Retirement Process for more information and then you can CLICK HERE to express interest in adopting a Saddle Up! horse.  If you don’t have a specific horse in mind, that is okay, you can leave that question blank.

Meet the Herd

Arrow Headshot Fall 2020

Arrow

15.3h quarter horse gelding, born 2008

Once owned by a country music star, Arrow gave guided trail rides. He’s named from arrow pattern on his coat, and his personality is very similar to a Labrador retriever puppy.

Bailey

16h American Warmblood, born 2001

Bailey came to us after his career as a fox hunter. Bailey is the most patient and forgiving horse you will ever meet. He is great with every child he has met.

Baron

16h Belgian Draft cross gelding born 1999

Baron’s long flowing locks make him a barn favorite, and he loves to let them blow in the wind. Patient and understanding, he’s an awesome addition to our herd.

Big Mack

16.3h Georgian Grande born 2004

Big Mack is known for his size, and his celebrity look-a-likes, the Budweiser Clydesdales! He is a great horse for our larger riders.

Bishop

17.1h Percheron gelding, born 2008

Bishop came to Saddle Up! from a rescue in Ohio. He is truly our gentle giant and is the current record holder for tallest horse at Saddle Up!. Bishop is blind in his right eye, but that does not stop him from being capable of providing safe and educational lessons to his riders.

Boomer Headshot Fall 2020

Boomer

15h Quarter Horse, born 2001

Boomer is known for his trot. He has the comfiest trot on the farm. Before coming to Saddle Up! in 2019, Boomer was a champion team roper.

Chip Headshot Fall 2020

Chip

12.2h Silver Bay Welsh Pony Gelding, born 2000

Chip was a Hunter Jumper before arrival. Check out his unique coloring; his undercoat is a different color than his topcoat.

Cocoa

15h Quarter Horse mare, born 2003

Cocoa is registered with AQHA as “Spot my Chips”. She trained and competed in Western Pleasure and has a very smooth and quiet trot and canter. Cocoa is a friendly horse who loves to talk to all the other horses, especially her girlfriends Phoenix and Sally, even when she is working in lessons.

Jelly Bean Headshot Fall 2020

Jelly Bean

12h chestnut pony, born 2005

Before Saddle Up!, Jelly Bean taught many kids riding and jumping. He loves hanging out with his best friend, Sampson. You will often find the two sharing a pile of hay.

Nemo

14.3h Appendix gelding, born 2012

Nemo was a lesson horse and played polo before joining the Saddle Up! herd. He is a sweet guy who makes friends with horses and people very easily. He loves all the toys the participants use in lessons and sometimes, he even tries to play with them himself.

Oscar

13h Pony of the Americas, born 1999

Oscar’s previous job was showing and teaching lessons. His cuteness is noticed by all students and volunteers. He is a great pony for independent riding.

Phoenix

15h Standardbred mare, born 2009

Phoenix came to us from a rescue in Ohio. She was previously a cart horse and has a large scar on her right side from an old injury. Phoenix is the boss mare in her pasture and enjoys giving her riders quality movement with her active walk.

Rocco

14.3h quarter horse gelding, born 2005

Previously owned by a rider who used a wheelchair, Rocco is ridden completely through voice commands! This cool trick is an amazing asset to our riders!

Rocky

Rocky

15.2h grey draft cross gelding, born 2002

Rocky was used for fox hunting prior to his career at Saddle Up!. He and Scout are best friends and can easily get mistaken for each other. Rocky has unique brown marks on his jaws that can help distinguish him from Scout.

Sally

15.2h Paint mare, born 2002

Sally is on a free lease with Saddle Up!, thanks to Heather Miller. Sally was a pleasure horse in her previous career and has nice smooth movements to prove it. She loves working in lessons and is gentle and kind with all her riders.

Sampson

11h bay pony gelding, born 2008

Sampson is an adorable flirt with his punk rock mohawk and large personality! He came to us through Safe Harbor rescue and loves his job and life at Saddle Up!.

Scout

15h grey draft cross gelding, born 1998

Scout was used for fox hunting prior to his career at Saddle Up!. He came to Saddle Up! with his best friend Rocky and is enjoying all the attention he receives.

Stormy

14h quarter horse, born 2007

He is known around the barn for how pretty he is. So pretty, he is often mistaken for a mare. Before coming to Saddle Up! in 2018 Stormy enjoyed doing 4H shows.

Willie

16.1h Chestnut gelding Tennessee Walking Horse, born 2012

Willie was primarily used as a trail horse prior to coming to work at Saddle Up!. He is a descendent of Midnight Sun, one of the leading sires of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed, and a two-time World Grand Champion in 1945 and 1946.

Saddle Up!

1549 Old Hillsboro Road
Franklin, TN 37069-9136
info@saddleupnashville.org

Program Hours

Monday – Thursday 9am – 7pm
Friday 9am – 5pm
Saturday 8am – 4pm
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