ABOUT
Saddle Up And Read is on a mission to encourage youth to achieve literary excellence through equine activities. In 2017, founder Caitlin Gooch noticed the literacy rates in North Carolina were low. Caitlin acted immediately by creating an incentive with a local library. As a prize for reading, this incentive included a day at her father's horse farm. The only requirement was for children to check out 3 or more books from the library. It turned out to be a great success which led to Saddle Up And Read.
In April 2019, Saddle Up and Read became established as a
501(c)(3) non profit organization. "Horses connect people and get kids excited. Why not use that energy to encourage kids to read?" Caitlin states. To this day, Saddle Up and Read has visited elementary schools, libraries, child care centers, church youth groups, and community events.
WHAT WE DO
Making A Difference
FARM READING SESSIONS
Youth have the opportunity to read to a horse at our farm and learn about horses.
LITERACY OUTREACH
We partner with libraries to host incentives for checking out and reading books. We go into neighborhoods and parks with our horses to read with kids. We visit schools to read and our literacy mascot, Man Man, joins us!