PROGRAMS FOR KIDS & TEENS
Horse Powered Programs
Horse Powered Reading®, Math, Social-Emotional skills, and private coaching & tutoring focuses on the learning process for the individual and builds upon children’s natural curiosity and determination.
During sessions, students are allowed to make discoveries and experiment with knowledge firsthand.
The interaction between client and horse gives the facilitator insight into what the client is experiencing inside and what patterns are working or not working for them. That interplay allows for profound learning to take place.
Through this process, the horse creates an opportunity for immediate feedback and experiential learning to take place.
Our Horse Powered programs are inclusive and serve all neurodivergent and neurotypical participants, including those who are autistic, have ADHD, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, anxiety, depression, and more. We can help support IEP and neurodiversity-affirming ABA goals.
Powering through challenges
Horse Powered equine-assisted programs take learning to a new level with a whole-body learning approach which emphasizes individual learning styles and challenges. Whole body learning engages students in multiple ways; physically, mentally and emotionally.
Your child will have the opportunity to complete all activities on the ground (no riding). No prior horse experience is expected or required. Your child will be interacting and learning with horses in a fun and sensory oriented environment.
Private Programs
Individual Sessions- Ages 5 and Up
Designed for children ages 5 and up, these private 1:1 programs provide individualized attention, catering to the specific needs and goals of each participant. Sessions are primarily held on the ground, but riding can also be incorporated to deepen the student’s connection to the horse.
Program Activities
Ground-Based Activities:
Participants engage in various ground-based activities, such as leading a horse through an obstacle course, grooming, or observing and reflecting on horse behavior within a herd. These activities help develop trust, communication skills, and an understanding of non-verbal cues.
Therapeutic Riding:
Therapeutic riding is a specialized form of equine-assisted activity that helps individuals with physical, emotional, or cognitive challenges improve their well-being through structured horseback riding sessions. This holistic approach enhances balance, coordination, and confidence while fostering a deep connection with horses.
Emotional Regulation and Self-Awareness:
Horses, known for their sensitivity to human emotions, serve as mirrors, reflecting the participant's emotional state. This interaction helps individuals recognize, understand, and manage their emotions, fostering greater emotional regulation and self-awareness.
Problem-Solving Tasks:
Participants are challenged with tasks like guiding a horse through a specific pattern without physical contact, which encourages creative thinking and problem-solving skills. These tasks require participants to strategize and adapt, promoting cognitive flexibility and resilience.
Assertiveness and Boundaries:
Horses respond best to clear, confident communication, making them excellent partners for learning about assertiveness and boundary-setting. Participants practice expressing themselves clearly and setting appropriate boundaries, skills that are crucial for healthy interpersonal relationships.
Single 60-Minute Session: $150
We will contact you to schedule once registration has been received
Specialized Programs
For students requiring more focused educational support, Horse Powered Reading and Math programs are available on a 1:1 basis. These specialized sessions integrate academic learning with equine activities, enhancing engagement and comprehension in a supportive, hands-on environment.
Equine Assisted Learning programs offer a holistic approach to development, combining emotional, cognitive, and social growth through the unique and powerful bond between humans and horses. By participating in these programs, children and teens gain valuable life skills that extend beyond the arena, equipping them with the tools they need for personal and academic success.
Participants all of abilities and learning styles are welcome. We are also able to support IEP and neurodiversity-affirming ABA goals.
Single 60-Minute Session: $150
If you’re interested in booking a package of three or five sessions at a discounted bundle rate, please contact me directly.
We will contact you to schedule once registration has been received
Pony Playtime- Kids 4 and Under
Children 4 and under can delight in our private 1:1 pony playtime sessions, where they experience hands-on healing through playful interactions with our gentle ponies. These sessions are thoughtfully designed to engage young participants in a variety of activities that promote emotional well-being and personal growth.
Imagine your child brushing the soft coat of a friendly pony, feeling a sense of accomplishment and connection with each gentle stroke. Walking side by side with a pony, they learn trust and responsibility, developing a bond that encourages empathy and compassion. The simple act of spending time with these affectionate animals can bring immense joy and a calming presence to a child's day.
Beyond the fun and excitement, these interactions are profoundly therapeutic. As children engage in these activities, they naturally build confidence and emotional resilience. The ponies provide a non-judgmental and supportive companionship that helps children express their feelings and navigate their emotions in a safe and nurturing environment.
These sessions are not just about play; they are about fostering a deeper understanding of self and others. Through the consistent and positive interactions with the ponies, children learn valuable life skills such as patience, mindfulness, and communication. Each session is tailored to meet the individual needs of the child, ensuring a personalized experience that promotes healing and growth.
At Harmony and Horses, we are committed to providing a space where children can thrive emotionally and socially through the magical connection they form with our ponies. Discover the transformative power of pony playtime and give your child the gift of healing and happiness.
Participants all of abilities and learning styles are welcome.
Single 30 Minute Session: $50
We will contact you to schedule once registration has been received.
About Horse Powered Reading®
Horse Powered Reading® is a research-based curriculum developed by Dr. Michele Pickel in 2012. Her one-of-a-kind program combines equine-assisted learning with the best educational practice to engage your child's mind, body and emoting. Dr. Pickel utilized the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) model while developing her program.
Students practice reading, comprehension, fluency and vocabulary skills in a corral with various props and toys being used to visualize their individual learning obstacles. As your child interacts with horses, a certified teacher, and trained volunteers, he or she will discover new ways to break through social and emotional barriers.
This curriculum offers the following benefits:
Each lesson is tailored to the individual student in a way which engages the whole body.
Research shows whole body learning designed to engage your child's kinesthetic and sensory modes of learning dramatically improves his ability to retain important academic skills. In other words, your child is seeing, touching, and interacting with what he is learning in a way which uses many different areas of his brain.
Your child will improve her motivation, confidence and critical thinking while learning critical academic skills.
Recommended for grades K and up.
Please be assured I will tailor the session to meet your child's individual reading struggles.
If you would like more information on Horse Powered Reading, please visit the following website, www.horsepoweredreading.com.
Why Horses?
Horses can help clients learn to build connections
They are honest in the way they react to situations
Horses are extremely sensitive to the actions of humans
Horses have an incredible ability to pick up on our non-verbal behavior
Horses will only bond with someone when they feel the person is being "authentic"
Skills addressed
Decoding - building phonics skills and sight word recognition
Vocabulary enhancement
Fluency development - reading quickly, accurately and with expression
Overcome barriers blocking comprehension
Practice study skills
Comprehend textbooks
Learn new, unfamiliar, and multi-syllable words
Achieve higher order thinking
Use critical and creative thinking
BRIDGE TO READING
PHONEMIC AWARENESS
Ability to hear, break apart, and blend individual sounds that make up words
In effective reading instruction there are 5 key areas that must be taught: Phonemic Awareness; Decoding (phonics & sight word recognition); Vocabulary; Fluency; and Comprehension.
PHONEMIC AWARENESS, the most basic and most critical skill for learning to read, is developing
the ability to hear the individual sounds (phonemes) that make up a word. Children must be able
to take apart the word sounds and blend them together. This is foundational in any alphabetic
language.
DECODING is learning to match sounds with letters and build them into words. It encompasses
both phonics (sounding out words) and sight words (learning words that don’t sound like they
are spelled).
VOCABULARY, understanding word meanings, is vital in order to understand what is read. There
is a very high correlation between vocabulary and comprehension and success in school!
FLUENCY, is the ability to read words accurately, quickly, and with expression. It forms the
“bridge” between squiggly marks on a page (text), and Comprehension. However it is impossible
for that bridge to work without the pillars of Decoding and Vocabulary build firmly on the
bedrock of Phonemic Awareness.
COMPREHENSION- making meaning from words-is the GOAL OF READING!!!
Horse Powered Math
Horse Powered Math was developed by Nancy Lyon after years of working with youth as an educator at the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center. Her approach builds upon the principles Dr. Michele Pickel used to develop Horse Powered Reading. Your child will work in a corral setting and all the work is done on the ground using various toys/props to visualize individual learning obstacles.
A whole-body learning approach is used in a way which allows your child to break through any social, emotional, or behavioral barriers which may be hindering her learning. You know your child is an awesome learner and we do, too!
Use this program to help your child develop the following math skills:
Memorizing facts
Creative Problem Solving
Discovering Patterns
Story Problems
Don't be surprised if your child acquires many more math skills along the way! Also be prepared to see your child grow in her motivation, confidence, and critical thinking.
Recommended for Grades K and up.
Please be assured I will tailor the lesson to your child's individualized needs.
Contact me to book a single or series of workshops for your child, homeschool group, & more!