TIS and Kiwanis Are In It Together

News

Tall in the Saddle (TIS) marks 50 years of horse-riding education, recreation for disabled

youth.

Betsy Evans and Michelle Gallant from the Tall in the Saddle reminded Midland

Kiwanians at their recent meeting that TIS was founded in 1976, 50 years ago, as a

program that provides horse-riding education and recreation for disabled youth. 

Evans has been involved with TIS since 1979. She noted that Midland Kiwanian Howard

Fenn was instrumental in its founding and that Midland Kiwanis Club has supported the

program with funding and volunteer hours ever since.

The Midland program is one of only 12 TIS programs in the state, and these programs

cooperate through a state coordinator. Tall in the Saddle is aligned with 4H and the MSU

Extension.

TIS offers eight-week sessions in April-May and in September-October. Each session

accommodates eight riders and involves 16 volunteers each day. Riders must meet certain

qualifications, including age, weight, and specific abilities. 

Horses must also meet special requirements and are specially selected based on their

patience, calmness, gait, and ability to tolerate rider behaviors. 

Gallant is the volunteer coordinator for TIS. She schedules horse leaders, side walkers and

operations support. Volunteers must also meet certain qualities such as ability to walk/jog

next to a horse, patience and love of kids. Side walkers do not need to have experience

with horses.

Gallant and Kiwanian Earl Soules work together to schedule Midland Kiwanis volunteers

to fill side walker spots at each spring and fall session. 

Volunteers are vetted and trained through the MSU “Gold Volunteer” requirements.

Certification takes approximately two weeks to complete for first-timers, but is

automatically renewed annually after that. 

To learn more about TIS, check out https://www.tallinthesaddle.info/