Agapé Therapeutic Riding Center

Black Stallion Literacy Program

Agapé joined this national program four years ago. The program brings horses, children, and reading together in a way like no other program out there.

The program is broken down into two parts. The first part is the First Touch. Agapé goes to the school for this part of the program. We read to each first grade classroom a story about horses to peak the students' interest. Then we bring in one of our miniature horses for the kids to ooh and aah over. Each student has a chance to touch the miniature horse and ask as many horsey questions as possible. Before we leave each classroom, we distribute to each child their very own copy of Little Black, A Pony. The students and teachers have six weeks to read the book and learn about horses.

The second part of the program is the Second Touch. The students come to Agapé for a big Circus!! Instructors and volunteers perform various riding and driving demonstrations and clowns come to make the kids smile. The students also get to make a craft and a horse salad in addition to watching the circus. Before the students leave, they receive a second book, Little Black goes to the Circus, as a reward for participating in the program.