ROCKFORD, Mich. — Parents and teachers are constantly looking for new ways to encourage reading, especially during the summer months when kids often put down the books and focus on other things.
There’s an organization in Rockford that’s found a creative way to engage young readers. The Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding was founded in 1990, using equine therapy for clients ages two to over a-hundred with a wide range of disabilities.
Executive Director Kathy Ryan said time spent on and with the horses, for some, has been transformative.
As a former elementary school teacher, Ryan also knows first-hand the challenge of summer slide. She’s discovered the impact therapy horses can also have on young readers, so she started an Equine Reading & Literacy Program where children interact with horses of all sizes.
A special treat? Reading a book to a favorite horse.
Ryan said there are studies that show this kind of experience helps with retention, motivation, and wanting to read further after the experience. Ryan has incorporated literacy into her summer camp program as well.
She’s convinced that interaction with the horses and the Center’s beautiful farm environment, with reading thrown in, encourages kids to “saddle-up” for a lifetime of DOING and learning.
The Equest Literacy Program is year-round. This summer they’re taking their horses out to read at local libraries, group homes, and long-term care facilities. Ryan said they are badly in need of volunteers in a variety of roles.
For more information, visit www.equestcenter.org.
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