SADDLE UP
1549 OLD HILLSBORO ROAD, FRANKLIN, TN 37069 www.saddleupnashville.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: SADDLE UP!'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND DEVELOP THROUGH THERAPEUTIC, EDUCATIONAL AND ADAPTIVE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WITH HORSES.

HORSE-BASED PROGRAMS:1. ADAPTIVE RIDING- FORMERLY NAMED THERAPEUTIC RIDINGSADDLE UP!'S ADAPTIVE RIDING (AR) PROGRAM IS AN EQUINE-ASSISTED ACTIVITY WHERE PARTICIPANTS WORK ON THEIR MOUNTED AND UNMOUNTED HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS. OUR PATH INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS ADAPT THE LESSON FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONTRIBUTING POSITIVELY TO THE COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. SECONDARY BENEFITS THAT HAVE BEEN OBSERVED BY SADDLE UP! FAMILIES INCLUDE IMPROVEMENTS IN BALANCE, ENDURANCE, COORDINATION, COMMUNICATION, SPEECH, ATTENTION, AND MUCH MORE. OUR ADAPTIVE RIDING PROGRAM SERVES CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES FROM THE AGE OF 4 THROUGH THEIR 19TH BIRTHDAY.SADDLE UP!'S AR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE SCHEDULED FOR WEEKLY LESSONS LED BY A PATH INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR. LESSONS CAN LAST ANYWHERE FROM 30 MINUTES TO 1 HOUR AND CAN INCLUDE UP TO 4 PARTICIPANTS. SADDLE UP!'S PATH INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS ARE TRAINED TO ADAPT MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESOURCES WITHIN THE LESSON TO ENHANCE A PARTICIPANT'S ABILITIES. PARTICIPANTS ARE PROVIDED A VOLUNTEER LEADER FOR THEIR HORSE AND UP TO TWO VOLUNTEER SIDEWALKERS, AS NECESSARY, TO HELP SUPPORT AND INTERACT WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR LESSON. TACK AND LESSON EQUIPMENT IS SELECTED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PARTICIPANTS AND MANY ADAPTIONS CAN BE MADE TO OPTIMIZE COMFORT, FIT, AND RIDING GOALS. LESSON INSTRUCTION IS ENHANCED AS EACH INSTRUCTOR TEACHES TO EACH PARTICIPANT'S LEARNING STYLE. HORSE SELECTION IS TAILORED TO THE CHILD BY GAIT, BREADTH AND TEMPERAMENT. SADDLE UP! DEVELOPED AND USES RIDES AS THEIR SYSTEM OF ASSESSMENT AND IN 2019 WILL PILOT THE PEDI-CAT PRE AND POST ASSESSMENT FOR INDEPENDENT DAILY LIVING SKILLS. THE RIDES PROGRAM ALLOWS OUR PATH INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR TO SET AND MEASURE PARTICIPANTS' GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, FROM THE FUNDAMENTALS TO CANTERING. GOALS ARE BASED ON THE PARTICIPANT'S ABILITIES AND INCLUDE FAMILY INPUT. AT THE END OF EACH SESSION, FAMILIES ARE UPDATED VIA AN END OF SESSION REPORT ON HOW THEIR CHILD HAS WORKED TO ATTAIN THEIR GOALS.EVERY AR LESSON IS SCHOLARSHIPPED BY 75% AND FINANCIAL AID IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE PARENTS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO AFFORD OUR $30/RIDE LESSON FEE. 2. THERAPY SERVICES- FORMERLY NAMED HIPPOTHERAPYSADDLE UP!'S THERAPY SERVICES (TS) OFFERS PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPY THAT INCORPORATES EQUINE MOVEMENT AS A TREATMENT STRATEGY. OUR THERAPISTS SKILLFULLY DIRECT THE MOVEMENT OF THE HORSE TO CHALLENGE AND ENGAGE THE CLIENT'S NEUROMUSCULAR AND SENSORIMOTOR SYSTEMS TO ADDRESS THE CLIENT'S CHALLENGES, SUCH AS DEFICITS IN BALANCE, ENDURANCE, COORDINATION, COMMUNICATION, SPEECH, AND ATTENTION. WITH THESE SYSTEMS REGULATED, PATIENTS ARE ABLE TO INTERACT OPTIMALLY WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENT SHOWING IMPROVEMENTS IN ATTENTION, SENSORY REGULATION, COMMUNICATION, MUSCLE ENGAGEMENT, AND POSTURAL CONTROL. THE DYNAMIC MOVEMENT OF THE HORSE COMBINED WITH THE DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT CAN HELP PROMOTE FUNCTIONAL CHANGE, RESULTING IN INCREASED INDEPENDENCE IN MOBILITY, ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING, AND INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN FAMILY, SCHOOL, AND COMMUNITY LIFE. THERAPY SERVICES TREATS CLIENTS WITH DISABILITIES AS YOUNG AS 2 YEARS OLD THROUGH THEIR 19TH BIRTHDAY. THE THERAPY SERVICES PROGRAM IS OFFERED YEAR-ROUND AND APPOINTMENTS ARE SCHEDULED AND LED BY A LICENSED PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL OR SPEECH THERAPIST THAT HAS ALSO BEEN CERTIFIED AS A HIPPOTHERAPY CLINICAL SPECIALIST. THE APPOINTMENT ALSO INCORPORATES THE EXPERTISE OF A PATH INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR. A TYPICAL APPOINTMENT IS 45 MINUTES. THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT ADDRESS HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS AS IN OUR THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAM. MEDICAL PROGRESS NOTES ARE COMPLETED FOLLOWING EACH APPOINTMENT TO ASSESS FUNCTIONAL CHANGE TOWARDS GOALS AND GUIDE FURTHER PLAN OF CARE. 3. EQUINE-ASSISTED LEARNINGSADDLE UP!'S EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING (EAL) PROGRAM IS AN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING APPROACH WHICH INVOLVES STUDENTS INTERACTING WITH HORSES TO BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE, IMPROVE SOCIAL SKILLS, AND REINFORCE ACADEMIC SKILLS. USING THE BARN AS A DYNAMIC CLASSROOM, STUDENTS ALSO GET TO PARTICIPATE IN ARTS, CRAFTS, HIKES, GAMES, AND DISCOVERY. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE WITH LEARNING AND/OR SOCIAL DIFFERENCES.4. EQUESTRIAN CLUBTHE SADDLE UP! EQUESTRIAN CLUB (SUEC) IS COMPRISED OF RIDERS WHO HAVE EXCELLED THROUGH THE ADAPTIVE RIDING PROGRAM AND ARE WORKING ON MASTERING THEIR HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS. EACH SUEC MEETING GIVES RIDERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN CLASS WORK, BARN WORK, RIDING, AND HORSE CARE. RIDERS ARE CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WHO HAVE ACHIEVED LEVEL #4 IN OUR ASSESSMENT SOFTWARE, RIDES, THROUGH OUR ADAPTIVE RIDING PROGRAM, AND SHOWED CONTINUED INTEREST IN EXCELLING IN THEIR HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS. THE SUEC MEETS TWICE A MONTH IN THE SPRING AND FALL AND FOR A FULL WEEK IN THE SUMMER TO GAIN THEIR ADVANCED HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS. SPRING AND FALL MEETINGS ARE 2 HOURS LONG AND THE SUMMER MEETING IS 3 HOURS LONG FOR 5 CONSECUTIVE DAYS. THIS ALLOWS TIME FOR EXTENSIVE UNMOUNTED AND MOUNTED PRACTICE TIME. OCCASIONAL FIELD TRIPS ARE SCHEDULED TO FARMS, VETERINARIAN CLINICS, AND HORSE SHOWS FOR ADDITIONAL HORSEMANSHIP EXPERIENCES. THE SADDLE UP! EQUESTRIAN CLUB CURRICULUM IS MODELED AFTER THE KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE UNITED STATES PONY CLUB. SADDLE UP!'S PATH INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS BREAK DOWN THE KNOWLEDGE SET FORTH BY THE UNITED STATES PONY CLUB TO ASSIST RIDERS IN LEARNING THESE HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS AT THEIR OWN PACE. INSTRUCTION IS ENHANCED AS INSTRUCTORS TEACH TO EACH RIDER'S LEARNING STYLE. GOALS ARE SET BASED ON THE RIDER'S ABILITIES AND AREA(S) OF INTEREST. 5. INTERACTIVE VAULTING- APPROVED FOR 2019 LAUNCHSADDLE UP!'S INTERACTIVE VAULTING (IV) PROGRAM IS AN EQUINE-ASSISTED ACTIVITY WHERE PARTICIPANTS PERFORM MOVEMENTS ON AND AROUND THE HORSE WHILE THE HORSE IS BEING LUNGED ON A CIRCLE. DURING A LESSON, OUR PATH INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED VAULTING INSTRUCTOR DIRECTS VAULTERS TO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AND THEIR HORSE IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS IN ORDER TO FOSTER TEAMWORK, TEACH RESPECT FOR THE HORSE, FOSTER INDEPENDENCE, BUILD CONFIDENCE, AND ENCOURAGE SOCIAL INTERACTION. OUR INTERACTIVE VAULTING PROGRAM SERVES CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES FROM THE AGE OF 6 THROUGH THEIR 19TH BIRTHDAY.6. ALUMNI TRANSITIONS- APPROVED FOR 2019 LAUNCHSADDLE UP!'S ALUMNI TRANSITIONS (AT) PROGRAM IS FOR SADDLE UP! GRADUATES WHERE THEY CONTINUE THEIR ADAPTIVE RIDING EDUCATION AND COMBINE IT WITH VOCATIONAL AND INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TO ENHANCE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND COMMUNITY IMPACT. DURING A LESSON, OUR PATH INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR WILL LEAD GRADUATES IN A 1.5 HOUR LESSON THAT INCLUDES GROOMING, TACKING, RIDING, AND VOCATIONAL SKILLS. OUR ALUMNI TRANSITIONS PROGRAM SERVES YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES FROM THE AGE OF 19 THROUGH THEIR 24TH BIRTHDAY.7. EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING (EAL)FUN ON THE FARM (SUMMER ONLY)FUN ON THE FARM IS A SUMMER ONLY, EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING PROGRAM WHERE PARTICIPANTS GET TO COME OUT TO SADDLE UP! FOR A WEEK AND DISCOVER THE FARM FROM OUR HERD'S POINT OF VIEW. ACTIVITIES SUCH AS NATURE HIKES, HORSE HANDLING, CRAFTS, WATER PLAY, AND RIDING LESSONS WILL TEACH STUDENTS LEADERSHIP, TEAMWORK, AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS AND THEY'LL HAVE SO MUCH FUN THEY WON'T EVEN KNOW THEY ARE LEARNING! OUR FUN ON THE FARM PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES FROM THE AGE OF 6 THROUGH THEIR 19TH BIRTHDAY.EAL (FALL AND SPRING) SADDLE UP'S EAL PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH THE SCHOOL OR GROUP TO SCHEDULE STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN A 2-HOUR CLASS WHICH INCLUDES HANDS ON INTERACTION WITH THE HORSES. HORSE INTERACTION IS FOCUSED ON LEARNING UNMOUNTED HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS. FOR MOUNTED HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS, PLEASE SEE OUR THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAMS. THE CLASS IS LED BY A PATH INTERNATIONAL EQUINE SPECIALIST IN MENTAL HEALTH AND LEARNING AND SUPPORTED BY EDUCATORS AND VOLUNTEERS AS NEEDED. THE CLASS TIME CAN BE ADJUSTED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL OR GROUP. SADDLE UP! DEVELOPS GOALS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOL AND/OR GROUP. SADDLE UP! WORKS WITH THE SCHOOL AND/OR GROUP TO DO A PRE AND POST-ASSESSMENT BASED ON THE GOALS THAT ARE BEING ADDRESSED. RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, THE FOCUS IS ON GROUP DYNAMICS AND CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES RELATED TO GROUP LEARNING, LIFE SKILLS, AND SOCIAL SKILLS.

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Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (public 990 form dataset) from: https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/201942149349301314_public.xml