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Frequently asked questions

Answers to common questions about the programs, safety, and how to get involved.

Programs and eligibility

Who can take part?

Mavericks is for young people, with a focus on at-promise youth, signed up by a school, counselor, organization or parent, with a responsible adult who stays for the whole session. Heroes and Horses, our program for veterans, is for veterans of any branch, era or length of service. No horse experience is needed for either. An eight-week youth cohort for ages 12 to 18 and weekly Heroes and Horses sessions open to every veteran are planned but not open yet.

What is Heroes and Horses?

Heroes and Horses is Saved by the Saddle's program for military veterans: free and non-clinical. It meets as Coffee and Horsemanship, two mornings a month on the ground at Ocean View Stables in Daly City, and every Thursday at 10 AM with veterans from our Veterans Court partnership. Weekly sessions open to every veteran, and shorter intensives, are planned.

Is this therapy?

No. Saved by the Saddle offers horsemanship, not therapy. Our programs are educational, experiential and wellness-focused. We are not licensed therapists and our programs are not a substitute for mental health treatment. We encourage participants to work with qualified healthcare providers for clinical needs.

Do participants have to ride horses?

No. Nobody has to ride. Mavericks sessions, Coffee and Horsemanship mornings and Open Barn stay on the ground: grooming, feeding, leading and caring for horses. Special events, like Fleet Week at the Barn, and the programs we build with partner organizations can include riding, and there it is always your choice: ride, stay on the ground, or do a bit of both. Separately, veterans ride free at Ocean View Stables: the stable donates the ride, Saved by the Saddle sponsors the offer, and you bring proof of service.

How long are the sessions?

Mavericks meets 4:00 to 7:00 PM, twice a month. Heroes and Horses meets as Coffee and Horsemanship, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on the second and fourth Mondays, and our Veterans Court sessions start at 10 AM every Thursday. The planned youth cohort is eight weeks of weekly two-hour visits.

Is there a cost to participate?

No. Mavericks is free, and so is Heroes and Horses. The planned youth cohort will be free or on a sliding scale, and no one will be turned away for inability to pay.

Safety and what to expect

Is working with horses safe?

Safety comes first, with clear protocols. Every participant receives a safety orientation before going near a horse. Horses are large animals and there is inherent risk in working with them, and we will never minimize that.

Who runs the sessions?

Sessions are hosted by Karl Watson, Co-Founder and CEO, and the horsemanship is taught to the Leyden Horsemanship methodology. Everyone who works directly with participants and horses passes a background check and completes training in horse handling and in working with the people we serve.

What should I wear?

Closed-toe shoes with a low heel (no sandals, flip-flops or high heels). Long pants are recommended. Dress for the weather, in layers.

What happens in bad weather?

Sessions are outdoors in most weather. We cancel during lightning, heavy storms, or extreme heat or cold. If conditions are questionable, we will contact you by 7am on the day of your session.

Getting involved

How can I volunteer?

Choose one of four tracks: board, skilled professional, program (one shift a week of two to three hours, for a full eight to twelve week session) or horse care (one shift a week of three to four hours). Program and horse care volunteers complete a Live Scan background check, mandated reporter training and an orientation before their first shift.

Can teenagers volunteer?

Yes, from age 16, in the program and horse care tracks. Volunteers who are 16 or 17 need a parent or guardian consent form and always work alongside or under the direct supervision of an adult.

How are donations used?

We are a new 501(c)(3) public charity and have not completed a financial year, so we will not quote you a split we cannot yet stand behind. Gifts are directed to running the programs, training and safety, horse care once rescue opens, Saved by the Saddle's program facilities, and the administration a nonprofit is required to do. You can give online by card, once or monthly, on the Donate page.

Can I visit the stables?

Yes, at an event. Open Barn: Meet the Herd runs four times a year, 3:00 to 4:00 PM; it is free and families are welcome. Drop-in visits are not available: sessions are private and the horses need routine.

Do you adopt out horses?

Not yet. Saved by the Saddle owns no horses yet. When R&R, the rescue and rehab program, opens, some horses will be available for adoption to qualified homes after screening, and others will live out their lives in sanctuary.

Can I donate my horse to Saved by the Saddle?

Not yet. Saved by the Saddle owns no horses yet, and none will be taken in until vet and farrier cover, space to settle, a written intake standard and lasting funding are in place. We will not take on a horse we cannot keep. Register your interest and we will tell you when intake opens.

Is Saved by the Saddle part of Ocean View Stables?

No. Saved by the Saddle is a separate legal entity, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, and operates at Ocean View Stables, a privately owned business, under a written facilities agreement. Donations fund Saved by the Saddle's charitable programs only.

Still have a question?

We are happy to help, and we reply within two to three business days.

Help build it properly.

Gifts fund free sessions, the training and safety work behind them, and the groundwork for a rescue program done right.

The green bluff above the Pacific beside Ocean View Stables in Daly City