Reading to Horses
Building confidence, connection, and a love of reading
Our Reading to Horses program invites children to experience the joy of reading in a calm, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment — alongside a gentle equine partner. Horses are exceptional listeners; they don’t interrupt or correct, allowing young readers to relax, focus, and discover the fun in storytelling.
This program supports literacy development while building social-emotional skills such as confidence, empathy, and self-regulation. Participants read aloud to their equine partner — sometimes from a favorite book or one provided by High Hopes — and engage in simple, horse-centered activities that reinforce themes of kindness, communication, and trust.
We partnered with Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School in New London first, to bring this program to life for students who benefit from alternative and engaging approaches to learning. The success of this initiative has inspired us to explore opportunities to expand Reading to Horses to additional schools and libraries across southeastern Connecticut. We would love to partner with others.
Program Highlights
- Encourages reading fluency and comprehension
- Builds self-confidence and communication skills
- Promotes empathy and calm through interaction with horses
- Accessible for children of all abilities
- Offered on-site at High Hopes or as an outreach experience
- Ideal for: Elementary school-aged students and youth literacy programs
Participant Stories
A special program
Your support funds our programs, allowing all participants to experience the power of the horse-human connection.
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Our History
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc., was founded in 1974 by Mary “Sis” Gould as the Lower Connecticut Valley Educational Riding Association (LCVERA).
The Story of High HopesCurious about Volunteering?
We put together some frequently asked questions about what it takes to be a High Hopes volunteer. We hope you join the team!
Prospective VolunteersJoin Us For an Event!
At High Hopes we host events for staff, volunteers and our participants. We also host private events at our facility. View our events calendar to see what fun things are happening at High Hopes!
Events