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Saddle Up and Read

Caitlin Gooch is an equestrian encouraging children to achieve literary excellence

By Rue Reynold

Caitlin Gooch

Claim to fame: Caitlin started riding horses at age 3 and has leveraged her love of animals as a way to promote literacy. Where you’ll find her: Keep an eye on Saddle Up and Read’s Facebook (facebook.com/saddleupandread) and Instagram (instagram.com/saddleupandread) pages to keep up to date on events in your area.

Wendell native Caitlin Gooch began life with a love for animals and helping others. She became invested in her community at an early age, and while volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club, Caitlin discovered literary deficiency cases in children growing at an alarming rate.

Having only a few horses and nothing else, Caitlin took the reins and worked from the ground up to make a change. That passion created Saddle Up and Read (saddleupandread.org), a nonprofit that blends education, inspiration and interaction all in one to increase literacy in children with the assistance of horses.

All of Saddle Up and Read’s programs are free to attend and enjoy. Farm Reading Sessions can help instill personal growth, responsibility and confidence as children read and interact with horses.

The Literary Outreach program involves children checking out at least three books from a partnering library to be entered into a random drawing. Winners are given a certificate to visit Caitlin’s farm to enjoy the full Farm Reading experience.

Caitlin also travels to parks and neighborhoods with books and her partner, Man-Man the miniature horse. As children interact with Man-Man, Caitlin excites their interest in reading with flash cards and a reading session.

“I want people to know this is something they can do,” Caitlin says. “They can do whatever it is they feel their heart is telling them to do, whether it’s to change the world or change themselves.”

Rue Reynold is the editorial assistant for Carolina Country.