Ground-Based Horsemanship
Our Programs
Three interconnected pathways: for young people finding their voice, veterans finding their peace, and horses finding their home.
Saved by the Saddle is a newly launching 501(c)(3) and has not yet run a cohort. What follows is the design of the programs we are building. All three are taught from the Leyden Horsemanship methodology of calm leadership, consent, and mutual respect, and all three happen on the ground at Ocean View Stables in Daly City, California.
Three Programs, One Approach
Every program is designed to be ground-based, non-clinical, and built on the same principles: consent, consistency, and calm leadership.
Youth Programs
A calm, structured environment where young people learn through experience, not lectures. Our first cohort is planned for young people ages 12–18.
Veteran Programs
Veterans already ride free at Ocean View Stables. The Foundation is being formed to take full ownership of that work and grow it into a ground-based program for veterans of all eras.
Horse Rescue & Rehabilitation
The intake standard and care protocol we are putting in place for horses who have been neglected, displaced, or overlooked. Patience and dignity, never force.
A Place to Belong
Youth Programs
Planned for young people ages 12–18
Our youth program is being built as a calm, structured environment where young people learn through experience, not lectures. Working with horses asks for responsibility, emotional regulation, and confidence in ways words often cannot.
What Participants Will Do
- Grooming and basic horse care
- Ground-based horsemanship
- Stable responsibility and teamwork
- Guided reflection and mentorship
What We Are Building Toward
- Increased confidence and self-awareness
- Healthy routines and accountability
- Emotional regulation and calm focus
- Respect for themselves, others, and animals
Important Notes
- No prior horse experience required
- Riding is not required
- This is not clinical therapy
Calm Strength. Honest Connection.
Veteran Programs
For military veterans of all eras
Veterans ride free at Ocean View Stables today. That open door is the real thing the Foundation is being formed around: a respectful, non-judgmental place where veterans can reconnect with themselves through purposeful activity and connection with horses.
What Participants Will Do
- Grounding and stress reduction
- Rebuilding trust and leadership
- Non-verbal communication
- Peer connection and autonomy
How Participation Works
- Group or individual formats
- Choice-based participation
- Trauma-informed, non-clinical approach
- No riding required
Important Notes
- No prior horse experience required
- Veteran-led sessions planned
- Flexible scheduling intended
Every Horse Has a Story
Horse Rescue & Rehabilitation
Giving horses a second chance
No horse has come into the Foundation's care yet. We are setting the intake standard and the care protocol first, so that every horse who arrives receives individualised care, patience, and dignity, never force.
Our Care Protocol
- Comprehensive intake assessment
- Veterinary and farrier care
- Behavioral rehabilitation
- Thoughtful integration into programs when appropriate
Our Commitment
- Humane, ethical care
- Rehabilitation at the horse's pace
- Sanctuary for non-adoptable horses
- Lifelong respect, regardless of ability
Important Notes
- Rescued horses will never be treated as tools
- They are partners in the work, not equipment for it
- Adoption available for suitable homes
In Development
The Curriculum We Are Writing
Our first cohort is planned as an eight-week, trauma-informed course for young people and for veterans, each week building on the last. It has not run yet. If you want to see the outline as it stands, or help shape it, ask us.
Please Read
What We Are, and What We're Not
Saved by the Saddle offers ground-based horsemanship. Our programs focus on experiential learning, personal development, and connection, not clinical treatment.
We are not a licensed therapy provider. Our programs are not a substitute for mental health treatment, medical care, or professional counseling. We do not offer riding lessons or equestrian training.
We encourage participants to work with qualified healthcare providers for any clinical needs, and we welcome collaboration with their care teams.
Where This Happens
On the coast at Ocean View Stables
All three programs are based at Ocean View Stables in Daly City, California, on the ground, above the Pacific.
Ready to Get Started?
Get in touch to hear how the programs are taking shape, and to be told when the first cohort opens.