Berkshire HorseWorks Equine-Assisted Reading Program for Children
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RICHMOND, Mass. — Berkshire HorseWorks, Inc. will launch a new program this spring called "Book Club at the Barn," offering an equine-assisted reading experience for children. The after-school program aims to enhance literacy, reading comprehension, and vocabulary through discussions and interactions with horses.
The program will be facilitated by Eagala-certified practitioners Hayley Sumner, an Equine Specialist, and Caitlin Scott, a Speech-Language Pathologist, at the Berkshire HorseWorks campus in Richmond.
Two series will be offered on Mondays from 4:00 PM to 5:15 PM:
Graphic Novel Series (Ages 7 and up):
- May 5 – "Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth" by Judd Winick
- May 19 – "The Moth Keeper" by Kay O’Neill
- June 9 – "Picture Day" by Sarah Sax
Chapter Book Series (Ages 9 and up):
- May 12 – "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
- June 2 – "Pages and Co: The Book Wanderers" by Anna James
- June 16 – "The BFG" by Roald Dahl
Participants are expected to read the assigned book before each session. Discussions will focus on themes such as friendship, bravery, self-esteem, and environmental care. Following the discussion, participants will engage in equine-assisted activities based on the Eagala model. The program is ground-based, and no prior horse experience or riding is required.
Individual sessions are priced at $70 per participant, and the full three-part series is $195. Sliding scales are available. The program has a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 20 participants.
Berkshire HorseWorks, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that offers equine-assisted psychotherapy, learning, and team-building programs. The "Book Club at the Barn" is a new educational initiative.
For more information, call 978-660-3442 or email bookclubatthebarn@gmail.com.
