Why I Create Horse-Themed Educational Resources

When hauling horses, I will often see a car pass with a little girl in the back seat, her face pressed against the window, eager for a quick glimpse of the horses in the trailer. Or at a gas station, some mom will approach and sheepishly ask if her child can pet the horses whose windows I have opened. I was that child. I had a 1½-hour school bus ride in the country, and I can still tell you every horse that was on the route.

My daughter's experience was very different. I was giving lessons before she was born, and she was gifted a wonderful pony as soon as my best friend, a breeder of wonderful ponies, learned of her impending arrival. She had show opportunities; I had trail-riding opportunities she never had.

Both journeys were very different, but both were full of joy, work, frustrations, sacrifices, and rewards.

As a riding instructor, preschool teacher, and mom, I have seen what interest-based learning can do for a child. My daughter attended public school, then was homeschooled, then went back to public school. While there was no doubt homeschooling was her preference and mine, horses helped with every step of learning. When she was a 2nd grader, I remember her riding and practicing her spelling words as she posted. Combine subject material with interest, add physical movement, games, visuals, and critical thinking, and you have a student who recalls and understands material.

That belief is the foundation of everything I create. Not every child will have the opportunity to own a pony or take riding lessons, but many children are captivated by horses. My goal is to use that curiosity as a doorway to learning—combining horses with science, reading, math, critical thinking, creativity, and exploration.

Whether a child is peering out a car window at a horse trailer, spotting horses from a school bus, or spending every spare minute at the barn, that spark of interest can become something much bigger. Learning is often most powerful when it begins with wonder.

For me, horses have always been more than a hobby. They have been teachers, partners, and a pathway to learning, and I hope to share that opportunity with other children.

Thank you for visiting. If you'd like to explore horse-themed educational resources, activities, and learning materials, be sure to browse the resources available throughout the site.