“Walk on.”

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The words floated down from above me, tentative but brave. I was walking beside an eight-year-old rider, one hand gently steadying her leg as she sat atop Mustang Sally. It was the first day of the spring session, and she’d been instructed to give the cue for Sally to move forward. But today, her voice sounded more like a question than a command.

 

It was April 2023, and Ride to Read was off to a blustery start. Persistent spring rains had already delayed the session two weeks. The arena was soggy, the air still cold. But we were finally here, boots on the ground and hearts open.

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Ride to Read is held at a breathtaking ranch in Three Rivers, California, originally developed by beloved locals Jill and Cal Johnson, and now lovingly cared for by their dear friends Cathy and John Fitzpatrick. As a first-time volunteer, just setting foot on this sacred land, once home to the Yokuts, Mono, and Tübatulabal peoples, felt like an honor. It seemed only fitting that this land again serves as a place of learning for young people.

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My role? “Side Walker.” Not a snake, not a sidewalk repair crew, just a grounded, steady presence walking beside the horse, watching over the rider. I worked alongside the “Horse Leader,” who guided the horse through the arena, while I kept my eyes and hands focused on the student. Together, we ensured a safe, supported experience.

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At the center of the arena stood Cathy, founder of Ride to Read and a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. She directed the session with calm authority, weaving together riding instruction, literacy challenges, and compassionate horsemanship. Cathy does it all — mounts and dismounts, lesson planning, volunteer coordination, student outreach, fundraising, and even horse care — all while maintaining a warm, welcoming presence (and a pretty fantastic playlist).

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Sally, the mustang carrying our young rider, is a remarkable horse. Born wild, she’s now steady and gentle, with soulful brown eyes and a knack for nuzzling. Alongside pasture mates Odie Mae and Poco, she plays an essential role in the program, not as a tool, but as a trusted teammate. At Ride to Read, horses are family. Their bond with students is foundational to the learning that happens here.

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Classes run 90 minutes: the first half in the saddle, the second in the classroom. Reading and riding are intertwined; students spell horse anatomy, label tack, identify plants and birds spotted on trail rides. They don’t just learn on horses, they learn with them.

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Studies increasingly show the value of outdoor learning, especially for kids who struggle with attention or behavior in traditional classrooms. Ride to Read taps into that power. But it goes farther. Students grow not just as readers, but as caretakers, communicators, and confident young people. Over the seven-week session, we witnessed once-quiet kids transform: learning to trot, to rope, to spot birds, and most importantly, to speak up. To say “walk on” with confidence.

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By the end of the spring session, the shy student from Day One had become a self-assured equestrian, chatty, focused, and clearly bonded with her horse partner.

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And when she gave that cue again, this time it wasn’t a suggestion.

It was a statement: WALK ON!