A Place to Belong
Youth Programs
A calm, structured environment where young people learn through experience, not lectures. Planned for young people ages 12–18 at Ocean View Stables in Daly City, California. Our first cohort has not opened yet. This is the program we are building.
Who It's For
Young people finding their voice
The program is being built for a young person navigating instability, stress, or a lack of mentorship: somewhere to find structure, purpose, and connection.
Our youth program is designed for young people ages 12–18, who will be referred through schools, community organisations, or by a family directly with parental consent. No prior horse experience will be required.
Working with horses asks for responsibility, emotional regulation, and confidence in ways words often cannot. Horses respond to what a person is feeling, not what they are saying: an honest mirror, offered without judgement.
What Participants Will Do
Everything will happen on the ground, alongside the horses and the people who care for them.
Grooming and Basic Horse Care
Hands-on care that asks for attention, gentleness, and follow-through.
Ground-Based Horsemanship
Leading, communicating, and reading a horse from the ground. No riding involved.
Stable Responsibility and Teamwork
Real jobs with real consequences, shared with the rest of the group.
Guided Reflection and Mentorship
Time to talk it through with a mentor. Reflection is invited, never demanded.
On the Ground
In the barn, not the saddle
Every session will be ground-based: grooming, feeding, leading, and caring for the horses. We do not offer riding lessons or mounted activities.
What We Are Building Toward
No cohort has run yet, so these are the aims of the program, not results we are claiming. We do not promise clinical outcomes.
Increased confidence and self-awareness
Healthy routines and accountability
Emotional regulation and calm focus
Respect for themselves, others, and animals
What the horses teach
The aim is skills that extend far beyond the barn. The horse becomes a living teacher, responding honestly and without judgment.
- How calm leadership creates trust
- How clear boundaries reduce confusion
- How patience leads to cooperation
- How responsibility builds confidence
The Shape of It
How the Program Will Run
- Our first cohort is planned as an eight-week session with weekly two-hour visits.
- Every session will be ground-based. We do not offer riding lessons or mounted activities.
- Every participant will receive a thorough safety orientation before interacting with horses.
- The program will be offered free or on a sliding scale based on ability to pay. No one will be turned away because they cannot pay.
Important Notes
- No prior horse experience required
- Riding is not required
- This is not clinical therapy, and it is not a substitute for care from a licensed health professional
Questions Families Ask
If your question isn't here, get in touch and we'll answer it plainly.
The youth program is designed for young people ages 12–18, referred through schools, community organisations, or by a family directly with parental consent. No prior horse experience is required. The first cohort has not opened yet. Get in touch and we will tell you when it does.
No. Saved by the Saddle offers ground-based 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.
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 cohort is planned as an eight-week session with weekly two-hour visits. Nothing is fixed yet, and we will work with each family to find what fits.
The program will be offered free or on a sliding scale based on ability to pay. No one will be turned away because they cannot pay. Keeping it accessible is a founding commitment, not an afterthought.
Closed-toe shoes with a low heel (no sandals, flip-flops, or high heels). Long pants are recommended. Dress for the weather. We work rain or shine unless conditions are unsafe. We will have spare boots and gloves on hand.
Where It Will Run
Ocean View Stables, Daly City
The program will run at Ocean View Stables on the California coast, where the barns sit above the Pacific.
How to Apply
Referrals will come from schools, community organisations, or directly from a family with parental consent. The first cohort has not opened yet. Tell us a little about the young person and we'll walk you through what happens next and let you know when a place is available.