Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our programs, safety, and how to get involved.
Programs & Eligibility
Our youth program is for inner-city young people ages 12-18, referred through schools, community organizations, or by a parent or guardian. Our veteran program is open to military veterans of all eras and branches. No prior horse experience is needed for either. We are pre-launch, so places are not open yet. Get in touch and we will tell you when enrollment opens.
No. Saved by the Saddle offers ground-based horsemanship and wellness programs, 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.
No. All programs are ground-based. Our programs focus on groundwork: grooming, feeding, leading, and caring for horses. We believe the deepest connections happen on the ground, where participants can be fully present with the horse. We do not offer riding lessons or mounted activities.
Our first youth cohort is planned as an 8-week session with weekly two-hour visits. The veteran program is planned with flexible scheduling: ongoing weekly sessions and shorter intensive formats. Final schedules will be confirmed before enrollment opens, and we will work with each participant to find what fits.
Our programs will be offered free or on a sliding scale based on ability to pay. No one will be turned away for inability to pay. We are committed to making the programs accessible to everyone who can benefit from them.
Safety & What to Expect
Yes, with clear protocols. Safety comes first. Every participant will receive a full safety orientation before going near a horse. Everyone working with participants will be trained in equine safety, first aid, and emergency procedures, and we will carry insurance appropriate to the work and follow industry best practice. Horses are large animals and there is inherent risk in working with them, and we will never minimize that.
We are building the team now. Everyone who works directly with participants and horses will pass a background check and complete training in both horse handling and working with the groups we serve. Our horsemanship teaching is based on the established Leyden Horsemanship program at Ocean View Stables. You can see the people forming the Foundation on our About page.
Closed-toe shoes with a low heel (no sandals, flip-flops, or high heels). Long pants are recommended. Dress for the weather. Sessions run rain or shine unless conditions are unsafe. We will keep some spare boots and gloves on hand.
Sessions are outdoors in most weather: learning to be comfortable outside is part of the experience. We will 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
We are recruiting our first volunteers now. We ask for a regular commitment: a minimum of four hours a week for three months. Volunteers help with horse care, facility upkeep, and program support. Everyone completes an application, a Live Scan background check through the California Department of Justice, mandated reporter training, and horse handling training before starting. Visit our Volunteer page to apply.
We are a newly formed 501(c)(3) and have not completed a financial year, so we will not quote you a split we cannot yet stand behind. What we can tell you is where gifts are directed: horse care and veterinary costs, running the programs, qualified staff and their training, keeping the facility safe, and the administration a nonprofit is required to do. We will publish annual financial reports and make our Form 990 available once our first filing is complete. There is more detail on our Donate page.
We plan to host community open days once the programs are running, where the public can visit, meet the horses, and see how the programs work. Check our Events page for dates as they are set. Drop-in visits are not available: sessions are private and the horses need routine.
Some of the horses we take in will be available for adoption to qualified homes, with a thorough screening process so the match is right. Others will not be adoptable because of age, health, or behavioral needs, and those horses will live out their lives with us. Visit our Horse Rescue page for more information.
In Practice
What a session actually looks like
Everything happens on the ground and mostly outdoors: leading a horse in from the stall, grooming, feeding, mucking out, and learning to read what the animal is telling you. No riding, no performance, no audience.
Where We Are
South of the city, on the coast
Ocean View Stables is in Daly City, California, just south of San Francisco. If your question is easier answered in person, ask us and we will arrange a time.
Still Have Questions?
We are happy to help. Reach out to our team and we will get back to you within 2-3 business days.