'It's just a calm environment': Program pairs young readers with horses

After a pilot launched in March, Therapeutic Ride Algoma has secured a grant from the Excellence in Literacy Foundation to continue its Read with Horses initiative

A recently-launched program encourages young readers by allowing them to read bedtime stories to horses. Offered by Therapeutic Ride Algoma, the Read with Horses program pairs children with horses at a Black Road stable and provides books to be read aloud. Program director Cory Steinberg said there has been interest from children as young as three and up to age 17.

"We're not like exclusive to anyone, if anyone wants to come and read, it's open to anyone," said Steinberg. She said there are many benefits to the children who participate in the program. "It's interesting for the kids to be able to come out, get to the barn, meet the horses, spend some time in like the nature, get them away from their phones, that kind of thing.

But it's really just a confidence-building, judgment-free environment where they can they literally just sit and read to the horses," said Steinberg. "It's just a calm environment and all the horses stay in their stalls and the kids just sit on the hay bales and read." She said the horses seem to like it as well.

"We were worried that the horses would just be stuck back in their stall and eating their hay, but they seem to really like the interaction with the kids, which is great. "It's kind of a nice introduction for some kids that haven't been around horses at all," said Steinberg. A pilot of the project was launched in March and the group later received a grant from the Excellence in Literacy Foundation to continue it.

"We're doing Tuesday nights in July and August and then we're hoping to have another session in the fall when kids go back to school," said Steinberg. There are currently five horses at the stable, allowing for five readers at a time during each 45 minute session. By the end of the session, each child reads five books — one to each horse — and they are given a certificate for completing the program.

"Something they can put on their fridge at home or show grandparents," said Steinberg. Each session is $15, but Steinberg said TRA is seeking community partners who may want to sponsor the program. "We're hoping that in the future we could just do it as a pay-what-you-can sort of thing," she said.

During a recent Read with Horses event, Kristen Morin brought six-year-old Luka and three-year-old Oaklyn for their first time. Morin said she was really impressed by the way Luka took to the horses. "He's not usually one to sit still with a book, but he actually paid a lot of attention to make sure that each one got a fair turn," she said.

More information about the program is available on the Therapeutic Ride Algoma Facebook page. TRA offers a number of programs supporting individuals with cognitive, physical and developmental disabilities. Aside from the sponsorships for the Read with Horses program, Steinberg said the program is also launching a $20 a month campaign.

"Basically, we're just looking for community partners to donate $20 a month toward keeping the program affordable for families," she said.