Who We Are
About Saved by the Saddle
Healing horses. Healing people. Creating second chances: for the horses, and for the people who will work alongside them.
Our Story
Healing often happens in relationship, not in words
Saved by the Saddle was created from a simple truth: healing often happens in relationship, not in words. Horses, honest, sensitive, and present, offer a unique mirror to the human experience. When people are given space, safety, and responsibility alongside these animals, something powerful unfolds.
Our programs are based at Ocean View Stables in Daly City, California, and are being built to bring together rescued horses, trained staff and volunteers, and people looking for steadiness, purpose, and connection.
Our Philosophy
We don't believe in one-way rescue
At Saved by the Saddle, the horses we take in become partners in the work, offering something no manual can provide: honest, non-judgmental presence.
Horses are masters of reading emotion. They respond to what you're feeling, not what you're saying. For young people who have learned to mask their pain, or veterans who struggle to express it, this honest mirror matters.
We Believe
No one is beyond a second chance
Healing is not rushed
Trust is built through consistency
Responsibility restores dignity
Horses and people can help save each other
The Horses
Honest, sensitive, and present
A horse responds to what is actually in front of it. Working alongside one asks for patience, consistency, and attention: the same things the work asks of us.
Where We Are Today
A new foundation, built on work already happening
Saved by the Saddle is a newly launching 501(c)(3): the nonprofit arm being created to take full ownership of the work with horses, veterans, and young people at Ocean View Stables in Daly City, California.
We are not starting from nothing. Veterans already ride free at Ocean View Stables, and the horsemanship we teach is based on the established Leyden Horsemanship program. The Foundation gives that work a home, a board, and the ability to raise funds for it. Saved by the Saddle is a separate legal entity from Ocean View Stables, which is a privately owned business. The Foundation operates at Ocean View Stables under a written facilities agreement, and donations to the Foundation fund its charitable programs only. They are not used to support or improve the private business.
We have not run our first cohort yet. When we have, what we report on this site will be what actually happened.
Who We Serve
Our programs are built around three groups, and the connection between them.
Inner-City Youth
Young people navigating instability, stress, or a shortage of steady mentors. The youth program is built to offer structure, responsibility, and connection.
Military Veterans
Veterans looking for grounding and meaningful work with animals. The veteran program is non-clinical, and it grows out of the free riding veterans already have at Ocean View Stables.
At-Risk Horses
Horses in need of safety, care, and patience. They will get rehabilitation and a permanent home, and many will become partners in the programs.
Our Home
Ocean View Stables
Nestled in the hills of Daly City with views of the Pacific, Ocean View Stables offers a peaceful haven just minutes from San Francisco. The salty ocean air and rolling coastal fog create an atmosphere of calm that visitors feel the moment they arrive.
Ocean View Stables
2152 Olympic Way
Daly City, CA 94015
Our Core Values
These principles guide how we are building the Foundation and how every session will be run.
Safety
Every person and horse in our care will be protected by clear, rigorous safety protocols.
Dignity
We treat everyone, human and horse, with deep respect and compassion.
Community
Healing happens in relationship. We foster genuine connection.
Patience
Change takes time. We meet everyone where they are.
Accountability
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of care and transparency.
Second Chances
Every being deserves the opportunity to heal, grow, and thrive.
Daly City, California
Trails on the ridge above the Pacific
The trails at Ocean View Stables run along the green coastal ridge, with the ocean open below them.
Our Leadership Team
The people forming the Foundation, and the roles they hold. No director or officer receives any compensation from Saved by the Saddle. Every role, including all board seats, is unpaid.
Karl Watson
Founder / Executive Director / Youth Program Manager / Board Member
Leads the formation of the Foundation and is responsible for the youth program.
Kalea Leyden
Co-Founder / Programs Director / Board Member / Horse Trainer
Responsible for program design and horse training, and leads the horsemanship curriculum.
Hanley Chan
Veteran Program Advocate / Board Member
Advocates for the veteran program and serves on the board.
Zachary Leyden
Veteran Programs Director / Horse Trainer
Responsible for the veteran program and for day-to-day horse training and care.
Zoey Kasaris
Co-Founder / Chief of Staff / Board Member
Responsible for operations, governance, and the administration of the Foundation.
Tony Kasaris
Corporate Secretary / Board Member
Serves as Corporate Secretary and board member, responsible for governance, records, and corporate compliance for the newly forming Foundation.
Join Our Mission
Whether through volunteering, donating, or joining a future cohort, there is a place for you in this community.