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.
New this fall: The Gentle Barn Experience — our on-farm program for adults with disabilities.
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.
On-farm program
The Gentle Barn Experience
Our on-farm program offers adults with disabilities a supportive, hands-on environment to connect with nature and animals year-round. Designed to promote social engagement, confidence, and motor skills, each session blends interactive farm animal visits, tailored Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) activities, and creative craft projects inside our fully accessible facility and heated indoor space.
Core program components
Interactive Animal Visits
Guided, hands-on time with gentle farm animals (including our miniature therapy horses), focusing on grooming, feeding, and tactile connection.
Modified Equine Assisted Learning (EAL)
Low-impact, unmounted ground exercises tailored to varying physical and cognitive abilities, promoting communication, problem-solving, and emotional regulation.
Sensory Craft & Creative Time
Structured art and craft activities that complement the farm theme, encouraging self-expression, fine motor skill development, and a tangible keepsake to take home.
Program details & pricing
Everything you need to know
Sessions run rain or shine in our fully accessible facility, with a heated indoor space that keeps programming comfortable and weather-proof year-round.
- Schedule. 6-week session (runs once per week, 1.5 hours per class).
- Start date. Mid-September.
- Cost. $300 per participant for the full 6-week session.
- Facility features. Fully accessible facility with a heated indoor space, ensuring comfortable, weather-proof programming year-round.