Volunteer Opportunities


Our riders and horses have the best outcomes when consistent volunteers commit to one lesson per week for the same rider for a sixteen week session of lessons. Saddle Up! gives scheduling preference to long term volunteers who can meet this commitment.
New Volunteers
If you are interested in volunteering at Saddle Up!, the way to begin is to attend our training sessions for new volunteers. All volunteers are required to attend On-Site New Volunteer Training before becoming a Saddle Up! Volunteer.
For the first hour, we will meet in the Saddle Up! training room to review fun facts about Saddle Up!, volunteer opportunities, and what to expect as a volunteer. The last 2 hours will be your hands on training in our arena with the herd and a “mock” student.
Volunteers age 16 and up are eligible to serve as Sidewalkers and Leaders in lessons. Volunteers in these roles must be able to serve independent of their parents and demonstrate maturity and effective communication skills.
On-Site at Saddle Up! New Volunteer Training (3 hours)
2/18 Tuesday 5:00p – 8:00p [WAIT LIST]
3/1 Saturday 3:00p = 6:00p
3/18 Tuesday 5:00p – 8:00p
4/1 Tuesday 5:00p – 8:00p
4/6 Sunday 2:00p – 4:00p [This is a Prospective Volunteer Open House to learn more about Saddle Up!. This is NOT a training. Registration is not required. Please wear open-toed shoes.]
4/29 Tuesday 5:00p – 8:00p
5/17 Saturday 3:00p – 6:00p
7/13 Sunday 2:00p – 4:00p [This is a Prospective Volunteer Open House to learn more about Saddle Up!. This is NOT a training. Registration is not required. Please wear open-toed shoes.]
10/19 Sunday 2:00p – 4:00p [This is a Prospective Volunteer Open House to learn more about Saddle Up!. This is NOT a training. Registration is not required. Please wear open-toed shoes.]
To register for a training session, contact Volunteer Services Director Robin Johnson.
Volunteer Requirements and Opportunities
Volunteers age 16 and up are eligible to serve as Sidewalkers and Leaders in lessons. Volunteers in these roles must be able to serve independent of their parents and demonstrate maturity and effective communication skills.
Volunteering safely in our riding programs and the barn requires physical strength and endurance, balance, ability to make mature and quick decisions, ability to bend, twist, lift, hear, and run on uneven surfaces. Volunteers must be able to communicate with our Instructors and participants to support lesson goals and ensure the safety of the participant. Feeder and Stable Hand volunteers must be able to lift 50 lbs.
If you are a current rider at our facility, you are not eligible to volunteer.
Our riders and horses have the best outcomes when consistent volunteers commit to one lesson per week for the same rider for a sixteen week session of lessons. Saddle Up! gives scheduling preference to long term volunteers who can meet this commitment.
The primary responsibility of a Sidewalker is to ensure the safety of the rider. It’s also the volunteer role that is the most interactive with our special children. Saddle Up! tries to provide as independent an experience as possible for each rider. Sidewalkers are assigned based on what each rider needs. Some riders have no sidewalker, most riders have one and a few riders need two. This role includes helping the rider get their horse ready, get on the horse, and learn to ride. Sidewalkers must be at least 16 years old and able to walk briskly beside a horse for an average of 30 minutes.
New volunteer training required.
Leaders are the volunteers who are assigned a horse in a riding lesson. They need to arrive ahead of time and make sure to have the horse and its tack ready. They are responsible for the horse throughout the lesson and should make sure the horse and equipment are put away before leaving. Leaders must be able to walk at a fast pace for 30 minutes and jog intermittently during the lesson. Leaders must be at least 16 years old, have previous horse experience, and should be very comfortable handling horses. Training required includes the New Volunteer Training and the Leader Training class.
A Pony Pal must complete New Volunteer Training, Leader Training, and pass a riding evaluation by the Equine Operations Director. Prior horse experience is essential, as a Pony Pal’s skill level must be at or above the level of the horse’s training. A Pony Pal must:
• Have already been volunteering in at least one lesson per week as a leader or sidewalker for at least 3 months prior to applying to be a Pony Pal
• Fill out a Pony Pal application and have prior riding experience
• Upon becoming a Pony Pal, you must be able to commit to a weekly Pony Pal schedule for a duration of at least 3 months, including continuing to volunteer as a leader or sidewalker in at least one lesson per week.
• Must follow a conditioning plan provided by the Equine Operations Director and provide conditioning notes
• If you are not able to attend your scheduled slot, you must let the Equine Operations Director know ASAP.
It is beneficial for the horse, and in turn for our riders, to have people assigned to each horse that can deliver consistent attention and conditioning. Each Pony Pal must follow the Conditioning Plan provided by the Saddle Up! Equine Operations Director, as well as the organization’s Rules and Best Practice procedures for handling the Saddle Up! horses. You will report directly to the Equine Operations Director about your horse’s progress and needs. You must be able to make a weekly commitment to your assigned horse and take good, detailed notes.
New volunteer training and rider skill assessment required.
The Development Director needs volunteers with skills and knowledge in the areas of planning and coordinating fundraising efforts that will expand the donor base and generate funds needed to ensure the future of our program.
Current Volunteers

No more Volunteer Timecards. Volunteer Hours will now be entered electronically. Reminder it is important for you to log your hours by date, by hour, by activity.
How to Submit Volunteer Hours
- LOG VOLUNTEER HOURS
- To fill out form, you will need to click on each box to fill in. * Required, denotes required fields that must be filled out before you submit your form.
Fields Required
- First Name
- Last Name
- Date you volunteered (only 1 date of volunteering is allowed per form)
- Volunteer Activity #1. This is a drop down box that you need to click on your activity. (ex. Leader)
- Volunteer Hours #1. This is a drop down box that you need to click on your hours volunteered (ex. 2 hours = 2.0)
- Additional Activity/Hours fields are available if you volunteer for more than 1 activity in the same day. (Ex Volunteer Activity #2, Volunteer Hours #2)
Once finished, click SUBMIT.
WATCH: The Power of an Hour at Saddle Up!
WATCH: How to Blanket a Horse
Volunteer Milestone Awards
A sincere THANK YOU to these generous volunteers for giving so much of their time to support Saddle Up! programs. We could not do it without you!
500 Hours
1,000 Hours
1,500 Hours
2,000+ Hours
Emily Burn
Adrienne Chase
MaryBeth Chawan
Starr Ellen Cruise
Marshall Eakin
Jill Franks
Kiva Stack O’Keefe
Katie Harris
Tedd Kidd
Julia Lambright
Barbara Martin
Jayne OMera
Alicia Pack
Robin Phillips
Laura Saul
Steve Stamps
Paul Tampien
Susan Wade
Kristy Williams
Trent Wilson
Susan Batson
Sarah Chenevert
Michelle Gonzales
Bart Harrison
Marcia Hoover
Marcia King
Karen Lyons
Marge Naughton
Bob Zeidner
Rachel Brenner
Daryn Edwards
Monika Junefelt
Kim Kline
Melissa Wallace
Leigh Barnes
Teresa Barry
Michelle Beatty-Eakin
Marty Foy
Leslie Gillis
Tina Mann
Dana Marshall
Christine McCann
Marilyn Murray
Saddle Up!
1549 Old Hillsboro Road
Franklin, TN 37069-9136
info@saddleupnashville.org
Program Hours
Friday 9am – 5pm
Saturday 8am – 4pm