Our Programs
Horse Powered Reading®
Horse Powered Reading® gives readers a hands-on way to strengthen literacy while also building confidence and self-awareness. Developed by Michele Pickel, PhD, the approach blends solid reading instruction with simple, engaging activities alongside horses.
Participants work with a facilitator in barn or arena spaces, using movement, props, and interaction from the ground to explore skills like sound awareness, decoding, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. The horses naturally become part of the learning. Their reactions help readers notice their own focus, emotions, and effort in a way that feels organic rather than scripted.
Many people find that the calm rhythm of the barn helps them settle in, stay present, and keep going when something feels challenging. As their confidence grows in this environment, they often see the same momentum show up in their reading and everyday learning.
It’s a good fit for anyone who benefits from movement, sensory input, or a shift from traditional instruction. Horse Powered Reading® makes literacy feel approachable and meaningful, offering readers a new way to experience success.
COMING SUMMER 2026
Horse Powered Math®
Horse Powered Math® gives learners a hands-on way to build foundational math skills through movement and problem-solving with horses. The approach blends clear math practice with straightforward, ground-based activities that make numbers feel concrete and workable.
All sessions are unmounted. Participants work with a facilitator in barn or arena space, using obstacle courses, measuring tasks, and simple step-by-step challenges to explore counting, number sense, operations, and basic problem-solving. Guiding a horse through a task requires attention, pacing, and quick decisions, which naturally tie into math concepts without feeling forced.
The structure is calm and practical. Learners get repeated chances to check their thinking, adjust, and try again. Confidence tends to grow because the math is embedded in real actions rather than confined to worksheets.
Horse Powered Math® is a good fit for anyone who benefits from active learning or needs a different way to make math “click.” It turns essential skills into something students can move through, observe, and understand with more clarity.
COMING SUMMER 2026
Homeschool Gym Class
The Homeschool Gym Class at Sterling Stables gives students a chance to build strength, balance, and coordination through both riding and horsemanship. It works as a flexible physical-education option during the school day, blending movement with meaningful time spent learning alongside horses.
Each session includes mounted and unmounted instruction. Students learn the essentials of grooming, tacking, and basic horse care, then apply those skills in the saddle at a level that matches their ability. The emphasis is on safe habits, steady progress, and sound technique.
Working in small groups keeps instruction focused and allows students to make consistent gains. They practice following directions, staying aware of their surroundings, and managing new tasks—skills that translate well beyond the barn.
It’s a practical, active class that gives students structured physical exercise while teaching responsibility and good horsemanship.
COMING FALL 2026