Upcoming Community Programs
Click on the PDF links for more information.
communityprograms.pdf (500kb) - registrationform.pdf (488kb)

Individual children enroll for  two one-and-a-half hour sessions. Enrollment is limited to a maximum of 20 students. Grade two students are provided with two books by author, Walter Farley (author of the Black Stallion series of books and the Black Stallion movie).  Grade four students receive one book by Walter Farley.

Grooming the horseEducational Activity Centres
The children learn about horses in a safe and structured environment.

Grooming the horse

  1. Children learn to brush the horse and learn about distinguishing features of the horse.
  2. Each child, in turn reads, two or three paragraphs to the horse.

Parts of the Horse

  1. Children learn to identify parts of the horse.
  2. Each child, in turn, reads two or three paragraphs to the horse

Saddles and Tack

  1. Children learn to identify the parts of a western saddle and an English saddle.
  2. They will learn about bits and bridles and watch as a bridle is put on a horse.
  3. Each child, in turn, reads two or three paragraphs to the horse

Horse shoes and feetHorse Shoes and Feet

  1. As the instructor picks up the horse’s foot, each child has the opportunity to touch the foot and scrape out the dirt from the foot with a hoof pick.
  2. Children will observe how awkward it is for the horse to stand on three legs.
  3. The children will handle a real horse shoe and observe how a shoe is put on a horse.
  4. Each child, in turn, reads two or three paragraphs to the horse

Brain Gym “hor-ga” Movements

  1. The children enjoy physical activity through a set of 'yoga’ type movements.
  2. The movements combine simple and invigorating stretching with specific 'brain gym’ cross-over movements.

Leading a Horse

  1. Instructors demonstrate proper communication to the horse to make them walk and stop.
  2. In pairs, the children take on roles ... one of them is the horse and the other is the handler. Using the same communication as demonstrated , the children play act, going over poles, through a maze and over a simple obstacle course.
  3. Individual children may lead a live horse, with the assistance of a qualified instructor.

The session is concluded with the children gathering outside the horse’s stall, reading to the horse and enjoying a refreshing drink.

The final session will include an “ Imagination Session”. The children will watch as the individual horses are turned loose in the indoor arena and introduced as a part of an imaginative story narrative. The horses and imaginary characters perform in a fantasy story. With pictures and words, the children then create their own stories, through art and writing.

“Imagination can help you reach into the heavens to grasp an idea, bring it down to earth and make it work.” - Walter Farley (author of The Black Stallion)

Reading to horsesThe children develop a connection with the horses. The horses are non-judgnental when the children read to them. The horses do not correct them when they mispronounce a word. The horses are not concerned if the child skips a word. The horse will never criticize the way a child reads.

When they meet and touch the connection motivates the children to want to read and imagine in this new-found magical world of horses ... powerful!

As you watch the children and listen to the children reading to the horses ... you are certain the horses are listening to every word.

 

 

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