Saddle Up!
Saddle Up! is a Franklin, Tennessee-based nonprofit founded in 1989 that provides therapeutic horseback riding, equine-assisted therapy, and adaptive horsemanship programs to approximately 180 children and youth with disabilities ages 2-26 annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersFranklin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Saddle Up! does
Saddle Up! is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit therapeutic equestrian organization founded in November 1989 and incorporated in 1991, headquartered on a 34-acre farm at 1549 Old Hillsboro Road in Franklin, Tennessee, just south of Nashville. Its mission is to serve children and young adults with disabilities (ages 2–26) through therapeutic, educational, and recreational experiences with horses. The organization delivers eight core programs year-round: Adaptive Riding (PATH-certified mounted lessons), Therapy Services (PT/OT/Speech incorporating equine movement), Adaptive Horsemanship (ground-based EAL), Interactive Vaulting, Equestrian Club (advanced horsemanship), Fun on the Farm (summer program), From the Ground Up (EAL partnerships), and Alumni Transitions (ages 19-26 with vocational skills). It operates with a herd of 26 therapy horses, a 500+ volunteer workforce, and serves approximately 180 children/youth annually with 5,300–6,000 programming hours.
Saddle Up!'s underlying technology is intentionally lightweight and operational rather than product-centric: it uses Salesforce as CRM for donor and participant records, Wranglr for volunteer scheduling, Click N' Pledge for online donations and payments, Mailchimp for email, and PodOps Media for website hosting. Its one proprietary asset is RIDES, a registered trademark assessment system with skill charts, mounted/unmounted components, and progress documentation that has been adopted by other therapeutic riding centers and is commercialized at $75 per digital download.
Revenue is diversified across program fees ($35–$50 per lesson/unit), individual donations and an Annual Fund, foundation/corporate grants, event sponsorships (Music Country Grand Prix, Chukkers for Charity, SUPER Show/Week, Pony Up! campaign), horse ($1,500) and barn cat ($250) sponsorships, planned giving through the Pegasus Society and Endowment, corporate matching gifts, United Way/Kroger passive revenue channels, and RIDES sales. Saddle Up! does not receive government funding. GTM is community-led: physician referrals, word-of-mouth, a waitlist-based registration system, and high-touch community events serve as the primary acquisition and engagement mechanics.
Saddle Up! firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Saddle Up!
- Legal name
- Saddle Up!
- Website
- https://saddleupnashville.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Saddle Up! is a Franklin, Tennessee-based nonprofit founded in 1989 that provides therapeutic horseback riding, equine-assisted therapy, and adaptive horsemanship programs to approximately 180 children and youth with disabilities ages 2-26 annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Saddle Up! industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Therapeutic Equestrian Services
- NAICS
- Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sport/Show Horse Training & Performance Programs (AFAEAGAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Horse Boarding, Livery & Stable Operations (AFAEAGAG), Equestrian Teams & Stables (Racing/Show Jumping/Eventing) (MPAKABAG), Equine Care & Stable Management (EDAOAOAE)
Keywords
Where Saddle Up! is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Franklin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Saddle Up! business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Program Fees/Lesson Fees: Fees charged for various therapeutic riding and therapy programs including Adaptive Riding ($35/lesson), Therapy Services ($40/unit for 15 min sessions), Interactive Vaulting ($40/participant), Equestrian Club ($50/meeting), Alumni Transitions ($50/participant), Adaptive Horsemanship ($35/participant), and Fun on the Farm ($350-550/week).
- Donations and Annual Fund: Individual donations including Annual Fund gifts. Hoofing Society membership requires annual gifts of $1,000 or more. The organization does not receive government funding and relies on donor support.
- Grants and Funders: Grant funding from foundations and corporate entities supporting nonprofit programs for children with disabilities.
- Horse Sponsorship: Annual horse sponsorship of $1,500 offsets approximately $10,000 in feed, hay, boarding, farrier and veterinarian expenses. Sponsors receive updates, meet-and-greet opportunities, and special recognition.
- Barn Cat Sponsorship: $250 donation to sponsor one of the organization's barn cats (Johnny, June, Mambo, Tango, and Magic) covering food and veterinary care.
- Event Sponsorships: Corporate and individual sponsorships for special events including Music Country Grand Prix, Chukkers for Charity, SUPER Show/Week, and Pony Up! fundraising campaign.
- Bequests and Estate Gifts: Planned giving through Pegasus Society, including specific gifts, percentage of estate, or remainder of estate. Gifts to Endowment provide long-term financial foundation.
- RIDES Manual Sales: Sale of RIDES system as digital download for $75 per copy to riding instructors and therapeutic riding centers.
- Corporate Matching Gifts: Many employers match charitable donations and service hours contributed by employees. Combined campaigns such as United Way or Community Health Charities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Adaptive Riding - Weekly lessons for ages 4-19 with disabilities |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Therapy Services - Physical, Occupational, Speech therapy for ages 2-19 |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Interactive Vaulting - Weekly group vaulting for ages 6-19 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fun on the Farm - Summer-only week program for ages 6-19 |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | From the Ground Up - Equine Assisted Learning for all ages |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Alumni Transitions - Program for graduates ages 19-26 |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Equestrian Club - Advanced horsemanship for ages 10-19 |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Adaptive Horsemanship - Ground-based EAL for ages 4-26 |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | RIDES System - Teaching tool for riding instructors |
| Subscription | Annual | Horse Sponsorship - Annual sponsorship of therapy horse |
| Subscription | Annual | Barn Cat Sponsorship |
| Subscription | Annual | Hoofing Society - Major Donor Circle |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels13 records
Saddle Up! product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Saddle Up! is a nonprofit therapeutic horseback riding center that delivers eight equine-assisted programs for children and youth with disabilities ages 2-26, including adaptive riding lessons, hippotherapy-integrated physical/occupational/speech therapy, interactive vaulting, adaptive horsemanship, and alumni life-skills transitions. Programs are delivered year-round on a 34-acre farm in Franklin, Tennessee, using a herd of 26 therapy horses and a force of 500+ trained volunteers. The organization also licenses its proprietary RIDES rider assessment system to other therapeutic riding centers.
Product overview
Saddle Up! is a nonprofit therapeutic horseback riding organization offering a portfolio of eight distinct equine-assisted programs for children and young adults with disabilities ages 2-26. The core programs include Adaptive Riding (mounted therapeutic riding lessons), Therapy Services (physical, occupational, and speech therapy using equine movement), Adaptive Horsemanship (ground-based EAL), Interactive Vaulting (horseback vaulting), Equestrian Club (advanced horsemanship), Fun on the Farm (summer day camp), From the Ground Up (EAL partnerships), and Alumni Transitions (graduates 19-26 with life skills). Additionally, Saddle Up! has developed and commercialized RIDES, a proprietary rider assessment system sold as a $75 digital download to other therapeutic riding centers. The organization is a PATH International Premier Accredited Center and the only American Hippotherapy Association member facility in Tennessee.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Adaptive Riding Program Year-round therapeutic riding program where children ages 4-19 with disabilities work on mounted and unmounted horsemanship skills, led by PATH International Certified Instructors with individualized lessons including leaders and sidewalkers.
- Therapy Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 180 children/youth served annually with 5,300-6,000 hours of programming
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Saddle Up!
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Saddle Up! technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Saddle Up! partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PATH InternationalcoreProfessional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International sets standards for safety and quality in equine assisted programs. Saddle Up! holds Premier Accredited Center status, the highest level of accreditation. PATH Intl. certifies instructors through the CTRI (Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor) credential.
- American Hippotherapy AssociationcoreSaddle Up! is the only AHA member facility in Tennessee. AHA credentials enable licensed therapists to incorporate equine movement as a treatment strategy. Therapists receive specialized training through AHA.
- United States Pony ClubminorSaddle Up!'s Equestrian Club curriculum is modeled after the knowledge required of participants in the United States Pony Club. Instructors break down USPC knowledge sets to assist riders in learning horsemanship skills at their own pace.
- United Way of Greater NashvilleminorSaddle Up! is designated as a recipient of United Way workplace giving campaigns, allowing employees to contribute through combined charitable campaigns.
- KrogerminorKroger Community Rewards program allows shoppers to enroll their loyalty cards and earn donations for Saddle Up! based on qualified purchases.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Saddle Up! competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- PATH International: Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International is the national credentialing body for equine-assisted services. It is directly comparable as the governing body that accredits Saddle Up! and certifies its instructors, and serves as an industry-shaping incumbent in the therapeutic riding category.
- American Hippotherapy Association: National organization that establishes standards for incorporating equine movement into clinical therapy. Saddle Up! is the only AHA member facility in Tennessee; AHA is a direct peer as the governing body for the clinical hippotherapy services Saddle Up! delivers.
Direct peers
- BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center: One of the largest therapeutic horseback riding centers in the U.S., serving riders with disabilities across Illinois and Wisconsin. Directly comparable to Saddle Up! as a multi-program, PATH Premier Accredited nonprofit offering adaptive riding, hippotherapy, and equine-assisted services with similar mission, funding model, and program structure.
- Chastain Horse Park: Atlanta-based nonprofit equestrian facility offering therapeutic riding and adaptive horsemanship programs. Directly comparable as a regional nonprofit therapeutic riding center serving children and adults with disabilities through PATH-certified instruction.
- The Cheff Center for the Handicapped: Michigan-based PATH Premier Accredited therapeutic riding nonprofit serving children and adults with disabilities. Directly comparable to Saddle Up! in mission, accreditation status, program portfolio, and nonprofit funding model.
- Mane Stream Therapeutic Riding: New Jersey nonprofit offering adaptive riding, hippotherapy, and equine-assisted services to children and adults with disabilities. Directly comparable as a PATH-accredited therapeutic riding nonprofit with similar program mix and donor-dependent revenue model.
- Pegasus Therapeutic Riding: Pennsylvania-based PATH Premier Accredited therapeutic riding nonprofit serving children and adults with special needs. Directly comparable in mission, accreditation tier, and program portfolio including adaptive riding and hippotherapy.
- STRIDES Therapeutic Riding Center: Oregon-based nonprofit providing adaptive horseback riding and equine-assisted services. Directly comparable as a regional PATH-accredited therapeutic riding nonprofit with similar mission, program structure, and reliance on volunteers and donations.
- National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT): California-based nonprofit providing equine-assisted therapy, adaptive riding, and mental health services. Directly comparable as a multi-program therapeutic equestrian nonprofit with similar accreditation, mission scope, and donor-funded operating model.
Emerging players
- EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association): Professional association setting standards for equine-assisted learning and psychotherapy. Comparable to Saddle Up! as a sector-defining organization in the broader equine-assisted services space, though focused on mental health applications rather than physical/occupational therapy.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Saddle Up! social profiles
Digital presenceSaddle Up! compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Saddle Up! financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Saddle Up! leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Saddle Up! funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Saddle Up! M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Saddle Up!
What does Saddle Up! do?
Saddle Up! is a nonprofit therapeutic horseback riding center that delivers eight equine-assisted programs for children and youth with disabilities ages 2-26, including adaptive riding lessons, hippotherapy-integrated physical/occupational/speech therapy, interactive vaulting, adaptive horsemanship, and alumni life-skills transitions. Programs are delivered year-round on a 34-acre farm in Franklin, Tennessee, using a herd of 26 therapy horses and a force of 500+ trained volunteers. The organization also licenses its proprietary RIDES rider assessment system to other therapeutic riding centers.
Is Saddle Up! a public or private company?
Saddle Up! is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Saddle Up! founded?
Saddle Up! was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Saddle Up! based?
Saddle Up! is headquartered in Franklin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Saddle Up! make money?
Nine revenue lines are on record. Program Fees/Lesson Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Annual Fund, grants and Funders, horse Sponsorship, barn Cat Sponsorship, event Sponsorships, bequests and Estate Gifts, RIDES Manual Sales and corporate Matching Gifts.
Who are Saddle Up!'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are PATH International and American Hippotherapy Association. Direct peers are BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center, Chastain Horse Park, The Cheff Center for the Handicapped, Mane Stream Therapeutic Riding, Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, STRIDES Therapeutic Riding Center and National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT). EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Saddle Up! have an API?
No public API is recorded for Saddle Up!.
What industry is Saddle Up! in?
Saddle Up!'s product category is Therapeutic Equestrian Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAGAF, Sport/Show Horse Training & Performance Programs, with a secondary code of AFAEAGAG, Horse Boarding, Livery & Stable Operations. Its NAICS code is 71394 and its SIC code is 7997.