Therapeutic riding is just one of the equine facilitated activities offered at SaddleUp!™ We also offer vaulting and equine facilitated learning (EFL). Participants of equine facilitated activities learn the activity and/or discipline in a manner that is appropriate for them and is adapted for their needs in order to provide the optimum environment for independence. Participants learn skills that promote overall physical, cognitive, emotional, and/or social growth while gaining a sense of freedom, sense of accomplishment, confidence and knowledge of new skills in a fun-filled environment.

Therapeutic riding is a core program offered at SaddleUp! Foundation because it offers a variety of benefits in many different areas and is very adaptable to the participants needs. Therapeutic riding most often focuses on four areas, at varying levels, during the equine-oriented activity: sport, education, recreation/leisure and therapeutic benefit.
Sport includes activities such as horseback riding, ground work, competition, horsemanship goals that are related to learning the sport of working with horses.

Education is included by learning new horsemanship skills, teaching adaptive riding and by incorporating educational and learning goals within the lesson.

Recreation/leisure is incorporated in that as a whole it is an enjoyable experience, emphasizing relaxation, providing an environment for socialization and support providing an improved quality of life.
The therapeutic benefits are plentiful in that riding and working around horses can affect an individual’s physical, cognitive, and emotional health.

The activities are skill-based lessons, focusing on skill development and progression while improving the participants’ physical, cognitive, emotional, and/or social skills and are often guided by an educational or learning model. The professional guiding the experience is a specially trained certified instructor. The professionals’ expertise provides them with training in specialized, adaptive teaching methods that allow people with a variety of disabilities to learn horsemanship skills and experience the equine environment. As abilities allow, the participants will participate in pre-mounted and post-mounted horse care.  Some of our instructors are working towards their therapeutic certific and may also give these lessons as part of their credit requirement, while being under the strict supervision of our head certified therapeutic instructor.

Therapeutic riding fosters and promotes:
Cognitive functioning
Sensorimotor integration
Increased physical stamina
Improved posture, circulation and muscle tone
Independence and social skills
Emotional stability and flexibility
Increased self esteem and motivation
Vocalization and learning
Smiles

Let’s Get A Little Bit Closer Now – Putting it all Together!
The benefits of equine facilitated activities have been recognized for many years. It is a proven method of increasing the physical, mental, emotional and developmental capabilities for individuals with special needs, functional limitation and/or medical challenges. There is a healing interaction between horses, participants, therapists, equine professionals, instructors and the volunteers who assist them during the lesson. The team dynamic provides an atmosphere that can produce dramatic and lasting benefits. In order to create a successful lesson, there needs to be a variety of elements in place depending upon a participant’s individual challenges, strengths and goals, the level of assistance needed that all equate to a successful lesson:

The motion of the horse requires participant’s efforts to maintain a balanced seat and perform riding skills that help to strengthen a rider physically. Because a horse’s walking stride is similar in length and cadence to a human’s stride, the pelvic movement mimics the action of walking and provides vital exercise and input for riders. Often times a particular horse is selected for a participant due to its size, movement, ability, temperament, etc.

The content of the lesson challenges participants cognitively, physically as well as emotionally. Our professional instructors work with the participant, family and other professionals as necessary in order to determine goals and objectives, both short and long-term, for our participants in order to have them become independent to their highest ability. The skill-based lessons focus on skill development and progression, but rest assured, there is always time for games and activities to reinforce the skills learned!

The participant’s team of volunteers provides moment-to-moment support, and keeps the participant safe in the saddle, on the ground and focused on the lesson. Trust and positive social interactions result from the participant’s relationships with their volunteers. Volunteers play key roles during the lesson such as sidewalkers, spotters, and/or horse leaders.

The relationship between horse and participant is typically one of deep trust and affection, strengthened by increased interaction as the participant learns to groom and care for the horse. Participants often end the lesson by hugging and kissing their horses or by sneaking a carrot or two in their feed bucket!

Rest assured, we spend countless hours desensitizing our horses in order to provide an arena for learning that is as safe as possible. Even well-seasoned horses have been faced with objects or situations that are confusing, if not downright terrifying. We proactively train to cope with these reactions on a regular basis. Although there is no such thing as a bomb-proof horse, the SaddleUp! Foundation is proud of our “mother approved” herd.

SaddleUp! Foundation is unique for many reasons, but one we are very proud of is that our environment is unique. We have a facility that can accommodate the entire family. Our staff and volunteers interact closely with participants, as well as their families. Participants are encouraged to bring their entire family in order to share in the experience at the facility, by watching the therapeutic lessons or by relaxing, reading a book, painting crafts, playing games, watching a movie, taking a walk or playing on the swing set.

The Foundation works in conjunction with other programs by accepting referrals and referring when appropriate. Most programs operate with waiting lists and are located in different parts of the metro area. Other participants are referred to the program by Children's Hospital, Oasis Network, Mental Health Association, Denver Options, Developmental Pathways, Douglas County Wrap Around, NARHA - formerly knows as North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, CHA - Certified Horsemanship Association, physical and occupational therapists, and by parents.