What is horse powered reading?

Discover a new, exciting outdoor experience partnered with horses and ponies, learning and practicing literacy skills.
Michele Pickel, Ph.D., created EAGALA Model Horse Powered Reading Instruction in 2012, as an experiential strategy to help struggling readers not only learn missing reading skills, but also to assist them in overcoming the social-emotional challenges interfering with their learning. 
Due to the success of Horse Powered Reading, and hoping to change the lives of children across the nation, Dr. Pickel developed an online class to teach other mental health professionals, equine specialists, and educators who would like to learn how to use Horse Powered Reading to help their clients and students. 

What can horse powered reading teach?

The use of experiential learning / Horse Powered Reading may include:​

• Building decoding (phonics) skills and sight word recognition
• Enhancing vocabulary development
• Reading more quickly and accurately with expression (fluency)
• Overcoming barriers blocking comprehension
• Practicing positive study skills
• Comprehending text books​

• Decoding new, unfamiliar, and multi-syllable words
• Achieving higher order thinking
• Using critical and creative thinking
• Building confidence, persistence, perseverance and patience
• Learning self-advocacy skills (ask for help, “read” the horse, bonding)

join us for equine assisted learning fun!

Register Here

Horse Powered Reading Liability Waiver

horse powered fun individual/small group reading lessons

2026 schedule

Summer Sessions 2026 Available:

Beach Party Camp (Age 5 - 12)
Thousand Oaks, CA
July 27 - 30, 2026
9am - 12pm

Super Summer Saturdays (Age 5 - 12)
Thousand Oaks / Simi Valley, CA
July 25, August 1, August 8, August 15
9am - 11am

1 to 1 with facilitator/student

Individual / Small Group Lessons
Reading, Vocabulary, Creative Writing, Storytelling, Phonemic Awareness, Natural Horsemanship & Parelli Safe Handling in a Fun and Supportive Private Environment

Our 2026 Book Buddies:
Dream Catcher, Skip, Rusty 
Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, CA

no horse experience necessary

Equine Assisted Learning "Horse Powered Reading" is not a "therapy". It is a hands-on experiential learning program taught by our Certified Facilitator, who is a professional Special Education Teacher by trade. Your child will not be riding horses. He/she will learn skills to handle, groom, halter, and lead them, including the body parts and  proper care of horses.  This creative program will build your child's self-directed learning, confidence, and love for these sentient and sweet beings, as well as build skills in language and literacy in a supported outdoor environment. 

session weeks available

2026 Summer Sessions are available for Registration!

Beach Party Camp (Age 5 - 12)
Thousand Oaks, CA
July 27 through August 30
9am - 12pm
$300 per student (sibling discount)
(sponsor/donor scholarship options)

Super Summer Saturdays (Age 5 - 12)
​Thousand Oaks / Simi Valley, CA 
July 25, August 1, August 8, August 15
9am - 11am
$200 per student (4 sessions)
(sibling discount)
​(sponsor/donor scholarship options)

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