Saddle Up Scholars

05/22/2026

We are so fortunate to be recognized as a USEF Community Outreach program, and one of our lucky followers might win this amazing VIP package to attend the NAYC Championships in Traverse City this summer! Enter to win!

Eyes on the prize 👀🎁
Win the ultimate Horse Lover’s vacation to Traverse City, Michigan! US Equestrian has partnered with Traverse City Horse Shows to offer one lucky winner and a guest the chance to claim a two-night stay at Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, a tour at Bonobo Winery, a private Charter with Elk Rapids Marina, exclusive VIP access during the weekend of the FEI/North American Youth Championships, and more!
🎁 Go to www.usef.org/sweepstakes to enter now!

04/30/2026

These are the updates we love from our students! Schuster rider Eva had a challenging start to her first semester in 4th grade, but with a renewed commitment in her tutoring sessions, she has been awarded High Honors for Quarter 3. Those lessons she is learning with in the barn are really helping out in the classroom too!

04/23/2026

Learning is at the heart of our tutoring program, and we love seeing our students thrive at school. Schuster rider Janae has been tutoring with us for 3 years and is finishing middle school with top grades! We're so proud of her commitment and progress to excel in her academics.

04/14/2026

Following our open house at the juvenile corrections at Lowell, we enjoyed an evening celebrating Thoroughbreds and our shared mission of providing dignified aftercare. From second careers for the horses to academic guidance and tutoring for inmates, Saddle Up Scholars and the TRF are helping harness the power of horses to change lives.

Thank you to our incredibly gracious hosts, the Stocker family, who provided a beautiful venue and demonstration by and our sponsors and all those who contributed raffle items: and .bamboo.life.
What a joy to celebrate the people and horses who have made so many wonderful connections in Ocala and to our origins in Maryland.

04/13/2026

A celebration of Second Chances for horses and humans. On Friday, Saddle Up Scholars and the TRF were able to showcase the work we are both doing for horses and inmates at the juvenile and women’s correctional facilities in Ocala, FL. Both of our programs focus on dignified aftercare: retired racehorses become teachers and former inmates become role models, thanks to the “stable” environment like the ones at Youth Opportunity.

We were so fortunate to have guest speakers at our barn open house like graduates Julianne Stowell, Brandi Jenkins and current student CW to share how horses changed their life journeys and helped them find purpose and direction. Equine Director Velvet Saulsberry was joined by mentor Raymond Wheeler and YOI Director Lamar Edwards to share the success that young men find after going through the horsemanship program and continuing with Saddle Up upon their release to complete their schooling. Thank you to all our guests for sharing your time and thoughtful contributions, especially to our mentor Deonte Sewell. Together we are making a positive difference.

03/31/2026

Ocala friends, please join us for cocktails and conversation about second chances for Thoroughbreds and youth offenders. You’ll meet the Directors, graduates, and horse industry leaders to hear about the work these horses are doing to help set inmates up for success. Join us at Royal Grounds Farm on April 10 for a celebration of retired racehorses and Ocala’s role in the heart of Florida horse country.

RSVP https://donorbox.org/events/915210/steps/choose_tickets

03/20/2026

Attention WEF 11 Shoppers! Come browse our racks of gently used riding clothes at the KPF stalls in permanent barn 4 across from Anonymous Coffee. Amazing deals on coats, breeches, and shirts from Equiline, Samshield, For Horses, Tailored Sportsman, Struck, and so many more! All proceeds directly benefit Saddle Up Scholars to provide free tutoring for deserving young riders in outreach equestrian programs 🎓📚🍎

03/17/2026

We are so grateful for our partners at Signature Academics. If you are at WEF, come shopping for some great deals on gently used riding clothes Weeks 11 & 12 at KPF across from Anonymous Coffee.

Donate, volunteer, and shop for a good cause! Join us to shop fellow equestrians' gently-used (sometimes nearly new!) riding apparel, with all proceeds benefiting Saddle Up Scholars, a non-profit organization that provides educational services at no cost to young riders in existing equestrian outreach programs.

02/25/2026

Our Memphis-based partner BridgeUP GiddyUP is changing lives through their riding program that empowers a new kind of future generation of horsemen and women.

Check out the full video on YouTube https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r6aMwaHBhD8

02/10/2026

Thank you SO much to everyone who came out to enjoy the Super Bowl/Bad Bunny and learn more about our program!

We’re beyond grateful for our incredible hosts at Eye Candy and their amazing generosity of spirit(s) 😇🍸 ! We’d also like to thank our educational sponsors Palm Beach International Academy for “The Smartest Play” contest as well as all the vendors who contributed to our raffle prizes. Together you all helped raise awareness about the meaningful work we are doing to help deserving young riders succeed at school and beyond! The proceeds from the evening brought us enough funding to support THREE students’ tutoring for an entire year - an incredible gift of learning and opportunity.
Raffle Sponsors: