Horse Interaction as Motivation for Development of Literacy Skills in Emergent Readers

H Blair McKissock

doi:10.31261/ZOOPHILOLOGICA.2023.S.02

Published: 2023-06-27

2023

Horse Interaction as Motivation for Development of Literacy Skills in Emergent Readers

H Blair McKissock

Section: ARTICLES

https://doi.org/10.31261/ZOOPHILOLOGICA.2023.S.02

Abstract

Two hundred kindergarten and first grade students participated in a program to develop early literacy skills through horse interaction. The program uses a series of three-horse interaction experiences to increase motivation to read. During the introduction to the horse, students are provided with a copy of the book they will read over the next six weeks. The students participate in horse-focused activities over the next six weeks during regular classroom instruction along with practice time reading the book. At the end of the program, students attend a field trip to a farm where they are invited to read aloud and engage in further interaction with horses as a reward for their work. Early literacy skills and literacy success indicators were measured through a pre-/post-test as well as qualitative data collected from teachers and parents. Results show statistically significant increases in literacy indicators. Students also demonstrated an increase in horse knowledge.

Keywords:

horses , reading , literacy , animal- assisted , equine-assisted , miniature horses

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McKissock, H. B. (2023). Horse Interaction as Motivation for Development of Literacy Skills in Emergent Readers. Zoophilologica. Polish Journal of Animal Studies, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.31261/ZOOPHILOLOGICA.2023.S.02

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H Blair McKissock

equinecoach@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4913-6166

Affiliation:

Temple University in Philadelphia United States

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Blair McKissock, PhD, serves as the Outreach Specialist for the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University and the Director of Education and Research at Strides to Success. After college, she became a therapeutic riding instructor beginning her 25 year career as a Recreation Therapist incorporating horses. She earned her Masters in Education, leading to a PhD in applied ecopsychology, focusing her research on the mental health impact of equine interaction for Veterans and trauma survivors. She is a certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist, Certified Trauma Specialist and Master HorseWork Facilitator. She is the Co-Chair of the equine-assisted learning certification task force for PATH Intl developing the new Equine Assisted Learning Certification. She serves as the Equine-
Assisted learning community chair and sits on the equine consortium for the Veterans Administration. She is a passionate advocate for all equine-assisted services as an international speaker and author of research and evidence-based resources.

2023
Published: 2023-07-27

ISSN: 2719-2687

eISSN: 2451-3849

10.31261/ZOOPHILOLOGICA

Publisher

Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego | University of Silesia Press

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Horse Interaction as Motivation for Development of Literacy Skills in Emergent Readers

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