What is Horse-Powered Reading?

What is Horse-Powered Reading? 

By: Katie Kim

Horse-Powered Reading

Horse Powered Reading® was created in 2012 by Michele Pickel, Ph. D. A Professor at Concordia University in St. Paul, MN, she specializes in literacy education and holds an advanced certification as an Equine Specialist through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA). Dr. Pickel wanted to help struggling readers find missing reading skills, as well as help them overcome social-emotional challenges that interfere with learning. 

As stated on Dr. Pickel’s website, “Horse Powered Reading® integrates social-emotional learning with academics; thus allowing students to see and experience reading with their entire mind, body and emotions by creating metaphors for the skills involved in reading.” In this program, learners interact with horses from the ground and use toys and props to learn five critical reading skills: phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.

Learning in a Relaxed Environment 

By applying the Horse Powered Reading® curriculum in an outdoor, relaxed environment, readers can have a learning experience that differs from the standard classroom approach. Not all children learn the same, so why should they all learn in the same environment? 

Each and every student has different struggles, but for some learners, especially those with learning and/or other social-emotional disabilities, the regular classroom offers distractions, boredom, and a lack of inspiration. At Rouxtano Farm, learners get to be outdoors and can choose to read alone, with an instructor, or to an animal friend. There is less pressure and more exploratory opportunity to approach reading and learning in a new way. 

How Animals Help Us Learn

Many studies point to the emotional impact animals have on students of all ages. Therapy pets and assistance animals are commonly used to help people relax or recover from any number of injuries or life circumstances (think anxiety, mood disorders, physical illnesses, etc). Take it from a few students in past Rearing2Read camps: 

“The animals, if I am touching their fur…it calms me down a little bit, not to rush.” 

-Kaydance

“ The animals have just been really nice to be around and not have a stressful day. They’ve given me a lot of happiness–serotonin. You don’t really feel rushed. [The camp] makes you want to read, but not feel like you’re rushed. I really like that.” 

-Issac