Ease reading anxiety
The calm, accepting presence of a therapy horse helps reluctant readers relax and lower the stress that makes reading feel hard.
Our programs
Pony Tales Literacy Project
A program where children read aloud to a calm, qualified miniature therapy horse — a completely judgment-free audience that melts away reading anxiety and builds lasting confidence, one story at a time. Designed for schools and public libraries.
Why it works
A reader's most patient audience
Reading aloud to peers or adults can be an intimidating, high-pressure experience for a struggling child. The Pony Tales Literacy Project turns that moment from an evaluation into a shared, novel experience — breaking down situational anxiety, lowering stress, and building lasting literacy confidence.
“Animals do not correct pronunciation, sigh at hesitation, or judge reading pace. In their presence, a child is free to explore language at their own speed.”
What it sets out to do
Three simple goals
Spark reading engagement
A memorable, one-of-a-kind reading buddy motivates children who usually avoid reading programs to pick up a book and keep going.
Build speaking confidence
An unconditionally supportive listener gives children a safe space to practise reading aloud, find their voice and track the words.
How a session works
Twenty gentle minutes
Every visit follows the same calm, predictable rhythm.
Introduction & a safety promise 2 min
The handler introduces the miniature horse by name and explains how it uses its ears to “listen” to stories. The child agrees to a simple promise — gentle touches and indoor reading voices.
The story-sharing experience 15 min
The child sits on a blanket or cushion right beside the horse and reads aloud from a book of their choice — like Stormy and Friends. The handler stays close, keeping the focus entirely on the child-and-horse bond.
Reward & a literacy token 3 min
To finish, the child gives the horse a gentle scratch or brush and earns an official bookmark stamped with the horse’s real hoofprint in non-toxic ink — a badge of honour to take home.
Two ways to run it
Built for libraries and schools
Public libraries
Weekend or after-school community programming with pre-registered or drop-in slots. The horse rests on a heavy-duty decorative mat in a dedicated room, while children waiting their turn enjoy horse-themed books and safety colouring sheets in a “paddock” activity area.
Schools
A targeted, in-school intervention planned with educational resource staff. Teachers identify four to six students per visit who would benefit most — held in the school library or a quiet resource room to keep distractions low for child and horse alike.
Safe indoors, by design
Care for kids, floors and everyone in between
CMTHA teams follow strict Canadian risk-management protocols, so schools and libraries can host with total confidence.
- Clean indoor footing. Horses wear specialized rubber-soled therapy boots to prevent slips and guarantee zero flooring damage.
- Spotless sanitation. Discreet waste-catching harnesses and pre-visit routines keep every space clean and worry-free.
- Fully insured & screened. Handlers carry commercial liability insurance for animal-assisted therapy and hold valid Vulnerable Sector police checks.
Bring the Pony Tales Literacy Project to your school or library
We'll help you plan a visit that fits your space, schedule and readers.