Horse Powered Reading®: learning literacy skills with horses
Equine-Assisted Literacy Tutoring
Horse Powered Reading® at Mahogany Bay Farm develops and improves children's literacy skills through equine-assisted learning and interactive reading-based games around the farm.
Our unique and engaging literacy tutoring program is designed for struggling readers in need of extra support, reluctant readers seeking confidence and motivation, or advanced readers seeking enrichment.
Learning Reading Skills
During our literacy tutoring sessions, learners interact with horses from the ground or on horseback while being immersed in multi-sensory and play-based games to improve and develop their reading skills.
Tutoring sessions are designed for Pre-K through 2nd graders and focuses on learning the five critical reading skills: phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension through the Orton-Gillingham method.
Benefits of Equine-Assisted Learning
Research has shown that equine-assisted learning programs significantly improve communication, self-esteem, empathy, tolerance for stress, problem-solving skills, responsibility, teamwork, leadership skills, trust and interpersonal relationships.
Horse Powered Reading® was created by Literacy Education Professor, Dr. Michelle Pickel, and integrates social-emotional learning with academics. When horses and literacy learning are combined, an increase in confidence and motivation is seen in young readers.
Our equine-assisted reading tutoring program is aligned with the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy.
Literacy Tutoring Programs
Horse Powered Reading® (Small group tutoring)
This unmounted immersive and fun 1 hour program meets once a week for 5 weeks and is designed for learners in K-2nd grade. This program is limited to 4 learners.
What to Wear: Jeans or leggings (snow pants in winter) and boots with a heel. Please have your child bring a water bottle and dress for the Maine weather.
Fall Session 1 Dates for Kindergarten: (Tuesdays 10am-11am)
9/2, 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30 & Make up class 10/7 at 10am
Fall Session 1 Dates for 1st Graders: (Wednesdays 10am-11am)
9/3, 9/10, 9/17, 9/24, 10/1 & Make up class 10/8 at 10am
Fall Session 1 Dates for 2nd Graders: (Thursdays 10am-11am)
9/4, 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2 & Make up class 10/9 at 10am
Fall Session 2 Dates for Kindergarten: (Tuesdays 10am-11am)
10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, (No class 11/11), 11/18 & Make up class 11/25 at 10am
Fall Session 2 Dates for 1st Graders: (Wednesdays 10am-11am)
10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12 & Make up class 11/19 at 10am
Fall Session 2 Dates for 2nd Graders: (Thursdays 10am-11am)
10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13 & Make up class 11/20 at 10am
Cost for one Fall Session (5 weeks) is $125.
Email Erin at MahoganyBayFarm@gmail.com to sign up.
Leadline Readers (Private tutoring)
This private 1 hour program meets once a week for 5 weeks and is designed for learners in K-2nd grade who will horseback ride & do unmounted activities (when the weather is not favorable to ride) while learning and developing their reading skills.
What to Wear: Jeans or leggings (snow pants in winter) and boots with a heel. Please have your child bring a water bottle and dress for the Maine weather.
Fall Session 1 & 2 Dates:
are offered Monday through Thursday from 11am to 5pm on the same day and time for 5 weeks with a scheduled make-up class (if needed) following the Horse Powered Reading® schedule. For example, if your child is signed up for private tutoring sessions for Fall Session 1 on Tuesdays at 11am their tutoring days are 9/2, 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30 & Make up class 11/7 at 11am. Please contact Erin if you have questions and to see if your desired time is available!
Cost for the program (5 weeks) is $375.
Email Erin at MahoganyBayFarm@gmail.com to sign up.
Alphabet Academy (Small group tutoring)
Alphabet Academy is designed for Pre-K and Kindergarteners who are learning or need to learn the alphabet letters (upper and lower case) and the letter sounds (phonemes).
This unmounted program meets once a week for 5 weeks and focuses on different letters each week through games, activities and read alouds with the horses and farm animals. It's limited to 4 learners per session.
What to Wear: Jeans or leggings (snow pants in winter) and boots with a heel. Please have your child bring a water bottle and dress for the Maine weather.
Fall Session 1 Dates : (Mondays 10am-11am)
9/8, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6 & Make up class Fri 10/10 at 10am
Fall Session 1 Dates : (Mondays 4pm-5pm)
9/8, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6 & Make up class Fri 10/10 at 4pm
Fall Session 2 Dates : (Mondays 10am-11am)
10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17 & Make up class 11/24 at 10am
Fall Session 2 Dates : (Mondays 4pm-5pm)
10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17 & Make up class 11/24 at 4pm
Cost for one Fall Session (5 weeks) is $125.
Email Erin at MahoganyBayFarm@gmail.com to sign up.
Meet the Tutor
Erin Sheffer, M.Ed
Owner/Director of Riding & Educational Programs at Mahogany Bay Farm
Erin is a NH certified K-12 Teacher, a certified Horse Powered Reading® Facilitator, a certified RedRover Readers Facilitator, is trained in the Orton-Gillingham method, and holds a Master's Degree in Education. She is currently pursuing her Post Master's Certificate in K-12 Literacy Education.