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Saddle Up

EIN 58-1930303 · Franklin, TN

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE OSADDLE UP! STARTED AS A DREAM AND LAUNCHED AS A ONE NIGHT A WEEK PROGRAM IN DAYLIGHT AND GOOD WEATHER ONLY FOR 10 STUDENTS. SADDLE UP! IS NOW A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM THAT WILL SERVE NEARLY 180 CHILDREN/YOUTH THIS YEAR. SADDLE UP! IS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN THE REGION, AND THE ONLY ONE EXCLUSIVELY SERVING CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO HAVE DISABILITIES. WE ARE A PREMIER CENTER ACCREDITED BY PATH INTERNATIONAL, THE ORGANIZATION THAT SETS THE STANDARDS FOR SAFETY AND QUALITY IN EQUINE ASSISTED PROGRAMS.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
53 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
0
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$124,275, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 53.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 55% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 139% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $883,711 spent. SADDLE UP!'S ADAPTIVE RIDING (AR) PROGRAM IS AN EQUINE-ASSISTED SERVICE WHERE PARTICIPANTS WORK ON THEIR MOUNTED AND UNMOUNTED HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS. OUR PATH INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS ADAPT THE LESSON FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONTRIBUTING POSITIVELY TO THE COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL WELLBEING OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. SECONDARY BENEFITS THAT HAVE BEEN OBSERVED BY SADDLE UP! FAMILIES INCLUDE IMPROVEMENTS IN BALANCE, ENDURANCE, COORDINATION, COMMUNICATION, SPEECH, ATTENTION, AND MUCH MORE. OUR ADAPTIVE RIDING PROGRAM SERVES CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES FROM THE AGE OF 4 THROUGH THEIR 19TH BIRTHDAY. SADDLE UP! DEVELOPED AND USES RIDES AS OUR SYSTEM OF ASSESSMENT FOR THE ADAPTIVE RIDING PROGRAM. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR RIDES INFORMATIONAL PAGE. THE RIDES PROGRAM ALLOWS OUR PATH INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR TO TEACH MOUNTED AND UNMOUNTED SKILLS AND TO SET AND MEASURE PARTICIPANT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, FROM THE FUNDAMENTALS TO CANTERING. GOALS ARE BASED ON THE PARTICIPANT'S ABILITIES AND INCLUDE FAMILY INPUT. AT THE END OF EACH SESSION, FAMILIES ARE UPDATED VIA AN END OF SESSION REPORT ON HOW THEIR CHILD HAS WORKED TO ATTAIN THEIR GOALS.
  2. $93,433 spent. THERAPY SERVICES SADDLE UP!'S THERAPY SERVICES (TS) OFFERS PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPY THAT INCORPORATES EQUINE MOVEMENT AS A TREATMENT STRATEGY. OUR THERAPISTS SKILLFULLY DIRECT THE MOVEMENT OF THE HORSE TO CHALLENGE AND ENGAGE THE CLIENT'S NEUROMUSCULAR AND SENSORIMOTOR SYSTEMS TO ADDRESS THE CLIENT'S CHALLENGES, SUCH AS DEFICITS IN BALANCE, ENDURANCE, COORDINATION, COMMUNICATION, SPEECH, AND ATTENTION. THERAPY SERVICES TREATS CLIENTS WITH DISABILITIES AS YOUNG AS 2 YEARS OLD.
  3. $71,605 spent. EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING PROGRAM SADDLE UP!'S EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING (EAL) PROGRAM IS AN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING APPROACH WHICH INVOLVES STUDENTS INTERACTING WITH HORSES TO BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE, IMPROVE SOCIAL SKILLS, AND REINFORCE ACADEMIC SKILLS. USING THE BARN AS A DYNAMIC CLASSROOM, STUDENTS ALSO GET TO PARTICIPATE IN ARTS, CRAFTS, HIKES, GAMES, AND DISCOVERY. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE WITH LEARNING AND/OR SOCIAL DIFFERENCES.
  4. $260,989 spent. HORSE PROGRAMS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1991.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.