HORSE POWERED READING®

Horse Powered Reading sessions offered in summer (June-August) only

In the spring of 2021, Gabby completed her Horse Powered Reading® facilitator training with the program's founder, Dr. Michele Pickel. Shortly after, she established Leg Up To Literacy Equine-Assisted Learning, LLC, a program with a vision to help struggling readers in the central Maine area become confident, empowered, and motivated readers using the research-based HPR® curriculum. Apart from HPR® sessions, Gabby also offers Pony Tales Book Clubs and "traditional" 1:1 and small group English/ELA tutoring in K-12 and for MLLs/ESL students. She also provides homeschool support, consultations, and curriculum reviews.

Gabby has plans to also offer equine-assisted social-emotional learning programs pending some additional training and certifications. Stay tuned! 

Pony Tales Book Clubs

In this unique program, learners are grouped by age and/or reading level and participate in 5-week sessions that blend a traditional book club or read-aloud experience with independent reading time and unmounted, hands-on activities focused on horses and horse care.

Lower elementary students (K–2) attend a shortened session that includes a read-aloud story and a guided unmounted activity. No reading “homework” is assigned—just fun, listening, and learning.

Upper elementary, middle school, and high school students receive a reader’s notebook, pencils, bookmarks, and a brand-new copy of their club book to keep. These participants are expected to complete assigned reading between sessions. Unmounted horse management instruction is designed for beginner riders or students with little to no horse experience, though students with prior experience are warmly welcomed. This program offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with peers who share a love of horses and reading.

Each session includes dedicated time for students to read independently or with a partner. Participants may choose to read silently or read aloud—to a friend or even to the horses! Literature circle discussions focus on building and practicing key reading strategies such as predicting, inferring, questioning, identifying main ideas, and visualizing.

Unmounted horse activities are thoughtfully connected to themes from our reading and may include topics such as safe handling and leading, grooming, feeding, horse anatomy, colors and breeds, tack and equipment, and basic horse care.